carlight history |
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The “Carlight Super Streamline” was spacious,
very light and strong, and low to the ground due to its special
axle.
A Company brochure from 1935 describes the construction in
detail.
“The walls are of steam-exploded Presdwood,
which will not warp or rot, and possesses excellent insulating
qualities. The roof is of a special type of insulation board
that prevents condensation and gives an extremely clean
interior finish. On the outside it is covered with Durex
leathercloth, which is far superior to painted canvas, so
commonly used. Aluminium spouting is fitted extensively;
all rain water is carried right down to the bottom of the
body and thrown clear of the caravan. The whole is built
on a frame of finest quality seasoned ash.”
The 15ft 6in model had 8 windows; across the range, great
care was taken to ensure that the driver had an uninterrupted
rear view through the caravan to the road.
A feature greatly admired at the RAC Rally in Cheltenham,
1933, was the unique drawbar which absorbed the majority of
the caravan forward pitch, making the Carlight a “delight
to tow in comparison with the ordinary ridged drawbar.”
Inside, the standard Super Streamline was painted in apple-green
and cream but could be painted in a colour scheme of the customer’s
choice, at no extra charge. The interior was divided into
two bedrooms at night, by means of an open wardrobe door.
There were ample storage facilities; one cupboard was specially
designed to store the paraffin tin to fuel the two Valor stoves
and oven. A concealed four-gallon water tank and pump-operated
washing facility were a luxury in the days of 1930s caravanning
but the Carlight featured them both.
In fact, just as with today’s Carlight Caravans, no
detail went unconsidered. The washbasin cover hinged out to
form a draining board while bronze fasteners on locker doors
meant there were “no bright parts to keep clean”.
Lighting was powered by electricity from the car tail lights.
Each caravan included crockery, knives, forks, spoons, cooker
and oven and cooking utensils. The “Best Caravan in
the World” could be purchased at £104 (2-berth)
up to £150 (4-berth), or hired at around 4 guineas a
week...
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