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Mid north Coast Motors & Sunliner Caravans

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grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#1044862
In the November/December NRMA Open Road magazine there is an article about the Sunliner caravans.

These vans were designed by Bert Tickner and the independent suspension by Norm Milligan they were manufactured in a factory at Forster. Bert was the agent for VW, Rover, Land Rover & Rambler vehicles and built the sunliner that could be towed by the VW beetle, he made over 800 of the Sunliners and production finished in 1969.

I started my apprenticeship with Mid North Coast Motors in the latter part of 1966 and one of my tasks as an apprentice mechanic was to clean & polish the fleet of rental Sunliner vans that he had available at the dealership.

During the weeks prior to Taree Show the service manager towed some of the vans to the showground with his 1957 beetle for the carnival people whilst the show was on, regardless of how bad the weather was the little beetle towed the vans in and out of the showground.


Both Bert Tickner and Owen Mathias were awesome people who gave me a great start in the motor trade.

beetleboyjeff Custom Title Time!

1,790 posts · joined Feb 2009 ·

#1044865
Great story. I haven't read my Open Road yet - even more keen now
From your ole' mate Jeff

bushed Wolfsburg Elder

3,541 posts · joined Dec 2006 ·

#1044867
beetleboyjeff wrote:Great story. I haven't read my Open Road yet - even more keen now
love yer werk too Les n Geoff, b.
want any vw bits old but like me, Made in Germany!!!

grumble Son of Jim - Creator of Good

2,672 posts · joined Jun 2008 ·

#1044871
vw54 wrote:Les where was Mid North Coast Motors located
Hi Dave it was originally located on the corner of the Pacific Highway and Beeton Parade just north of Taree business area but with the flooding of the Manning River, Browns Creek backed up inundating the premises and Bert and Owen Mathias (Service Manager) drove in from Forster each day and the Purfleet straight flooded making it impossible to get to the business.
Bert Tickner built a new workshop and showroom between Purfleet and Taree in 1965, this was one of the biggest dealerships between Newcastle and the QLD border.
All aspects of the motor trade were done in shop apart from machining and crank grinding, there was a panelshop for repairs and rust repairs in the back section of the workshop, a designated Unit room for engine, transmission overhauls.
We sold and service VW, Rover, Land Rover, Rambler, Fiat and Citroen vehicles and in 1967 took on the Datsun franchise too in addition to selling Bob Brown surfboards. (Bert's son Robert loved surfing)
Unfortunately the building was bulldozed last year and a Mobil Service station has been built there.