To Catch a Fallen Star

How did I end up buying another caravan? Well personally I blame Chris and Cameron from the Retro Caravan Club, who imported a French Star earlier this year. This was undeniably cute and had a fold down bed which I found bizarrely appealing!
So I just happened to be browsing e bay as you do and spotted another Star on sale ending that evening. OK it had a fold out out bed rather than a pull down one so I was hooked and SWMBO (Alison) did not dissuade so I put in a snipe bid and despite the best efforts of another Retro club member Colin (oops) I won it.
I would stress I was stone cold sober and broke every rule by buying blind. This could have ended in tears.
So armed with a laptop to transfer the dough  me and camper trekked down to near Didcot to collect it. Fortunately there were no nasty surprises so money changed hands and I connected something with all the aerodynamic features of a house brick to the back and we set off home

Seen here at Cherwell Valley services on the way back

Well what does it look like? Below are a selection of images most from the original advert

It also came with its French Log book. confirming it was built in 1975 and imported into the UK earlier this year.

So what sort of condition is it in? Well fortunately it is bone dry and nothing appears broken. As usual all gas, water and electric show the usual French eccentricity so will need some work. The hideous and not original front box has bitten the dust and is about to be replaced.
Obviously parts are not as easy to find so some lateral thinking will be needed. So far much hunting on French websites has sourced replacement outside lights and these are the first to be replaced. The front ones and one of the rears came from a specialist French outlet

http://www.retroptic-auto.com/fr/

So what of other jobs? Well....
Curtain Fabric  - Arrived
Upholstery fabric - arrived
Curtain rails -arrived
Missing outside trim - Cunning Plan! - more later
Gas - Being professionally sorted as I write
Electricity - Not as bad as I first thought so hopefully just convert to UK
Water - I have a plan
New Gas Box  - Cunning Plan ! - more later

There will undoubtedly be more so watch this space

Also from hence forth it will be called "Eleanor"