Ford Cortina and 1972 Lunar Venus

Back in December 2012 I went to look at a 1972 Lunar Venus MK2 for a few articles I did - here is a video of the day!

[@annirvin6555]

Enjoyed the video . The Luna looks very basic, but just as much fun as the caravans today. Plus not as much to go wrong. We had the same model cortina in beige.👍

[@DavidWilson-eu3dq]

Great video Andy, brung back childhood memories from about 1975-76 when my dad had an Ace Ambassador which he towed with a mk3 Cortina. I’d have been 6-7 years old but can remember using the foot pump for cold water…I’m still caravaning now and seeing this video makes your realise just how far caravans have come on.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Great David - good to hear and you may like my book caravanning in the 1970's - dad had a mk4 1.6 XL so a bit more trim such as fake wood effect inside we towed a Welton with it - great to hear your memories too

[@trucker5722]

A great bit of nostalgia there Andy. The cortina a great car of the day, we were little more than kids late teens early 20s and we could easily change an engine on those in a day. The luner looks like it had been treasured, a real credit to its previous owners. The price of £522 is just 50 quid more than I pay for storage these days. It would be great if you could track it down again. Keep up the great work

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Thank you for liking this vid - took some putting together - classed as medium priced Lunars sold well - i remember seing one of the first in 1970my parents were keen but by that time were confirmed Elddis fans - hope I can track it down - great price - cheers Andy

[@alexrankin8263]

I do remember seeing loads of Swifts and Abbeys. Avondale too of course, with the Leda. They certainly were the glory days of caravanning. We have few makes to chose from these days sadly.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

They were the best days Alan so much going on with new makes designs etc - I was drawn to all what was happening and found it a big interest in how the industry operated - lucky to talk to some long time caravan folk.

[@kevinflood8212]

Great video Andy, enjoyed seeing the slides of the Lunar and the Ford Cortina. Nice simple caravan with very little to go wrong. Manufacturers today could take something from those simple lightweight designs. Those seat covers in the Cortina were very popular back in the day. The Cortina is a much sought-after Classic Car at the shows over here in Ireland. Hope you are able to locate those caravans it would make a nice video.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Thank you Kevin - Cortinas now rare mk3 rusted quickly - dad had a 1.6 xl with sporty seats a brand new car and it was missing New plugs were put in and it was fine we towed a Welton - thank you Kevin

[@fionastuart7825]

I think so too, a 4 berth at 635kg!

[@alexrankin2235]

Lovely video Andy, a great look back at the simple days of caravanning. I do hope the caravan is safe and secure somewhere. My dad started towing with a 1.3 (Marina) but moved to a 1.6 Cortina in 1977. He started in 1974, and I can remember the 50mph sticker on the back of our 1969 Thomson. I’d no idea the speed limit was on 40mph not long before we started caravanning.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

I hope its okay too - 50 came in in 1973 but car and caravan kerbweights had to be displayed in window pllus a 50 mph sticker added to the caravan My dad had a sticker on the caravan pre 50 with a message saying sorry to cars behind that 40 was towing limit Thanks for watching

[@alexrankin8263]

Considerate of him Andy. How times have changed eh

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

@@alexrankin8263 dad always said the spped limit for towing was to low at the time - he got pulled with the van on by a patrol car who stopped us for speeding-but the policeman let dad off when he said the caravan was towing well and stable police agreed and told him to watch it!

[@cyborg7116]

Really enjoyed that. Thanks Andy.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Thank you it took some putting together but was worth it - thank you for the comment.

[@paulbower5274]

thanks for that. i hope u can find the missing tourers

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Hi Paul - thats great thank you - yes nose to the ground on this one

[@markanderson298]

Great video Andy, thank-you. Lots of memories… mum and dad had a 1.6xl mk3 cortina towing our ci Europa throughout the 70s. Really looked very 70s with plastic rounded front window and different to that lovely Lunar.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Ahh the Europa with plastic front window it would have been a 1972 model at the earliest - Europa was a popular range for CI exporting many too - in 79 they made a all weather model with Alde heating built for the Swedish market. Thanks for the great comment on the video Mark

[@markanderson298]

Thanks Andy. Cortina came first then think the Europa was 1975, smallest 4 berth, front window two thirds the front dinette and 1/3rd cupboard/washroom near side front. Then there was a single dinette across the back with a hammock style bunk above. Went all over the UK from Inverness to Cornwall. Must try and find some photos.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

@@markanderson298 that was a layout used back then in a small tourer - but not ssure off top of my head if that was a 355 - one not far from me in a garden a 74 /5 looking sorry for itself. Yes some pix would be great thank you

[@thomas05ish]

Amazing light weight compared to today’s monster caravans. Lovely Rostyle wheels on the Cortina and those seat covers:wow !

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Yes caravans were lighter less equipment and simpler days I loved caravanning as a kid back then - most cortina 1.3 L s were two doors so a four door version was rarer - glad you liked the video thank you

[@brianbuist4039]

What ever happened to Thomson caravans? I remember the tay and the mini glen etc

[@alexrankin2235]

We had a Glendale.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Thomson were lovely and very popular my parents looked at a Glenevis in 1969- bu the mid 70s they had lost ground as makers such as ABI and Swift, Abbey gained market share. Many Thomsons were exported and some built in Canada at a factory their. sadly by 1982 they had gone.

[@annirvin6555]

Be great if you can trace the caravans. Do you know what happened to the cortina?

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Cortina was in safe hands - the van I lost the trail on sadly

[@nigelburland187]

Hi Andy ,Scottish Caravanner - top magazine. You will know better than me , but I understood all of the Lunar moulds /jigs etc where 'spirited' away into a warehouse near to you? (Could the Venus be there?). I remember going to see the very last Lunar's after the new 'owner' supposedly was going to do a relaunch - the demo vans ended up at a dealer not too far from me.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

On the channel Nigel are reviews on the last of the 2020 Lunars - yes they were near me I went searching but they had gone - reckless new owner - I hope to find both at some stage - I did hear they were still around so fingers crossed Nigel - hope to say hello face to face again at some stage - yes Scots s great mag - upset when it all finished