First full day's work

The first job I did on arrival with the van, was to install a replacement door lock. Googling this suggested it was difficult - it was not! Once it was the right way up etc. it was a straight swap. Not very impressed with the door/ lock combo, not much more than a cupboard latch - anyway, moving on.
I arrive today with my bag of tools, find the key, and can't unlock the door! I try again and again. I check it's the right one, find I can see the handle wiggle a bit through the front window if I lean around the corner. But it's no use. I try to test the windows and quickly find one of them is not secure, and I open it easily.

I climb through and open the door from the inside - not a good start! It seems the lock does function properly but needs a bit more force, the key is very small. Tactic going forward is to use a pair of pliers with the key, maybe I can adjust it.
Make lots of progress stripping out the interior.

Get both side benches out, strip the front back to the frame by removing the ply and insulation. Frame in this area is very rotten as expected, especially around the right hand window where I got in.

Lift the carpet, and find the floor is in good condition.
Strip off some of the ceiling as well, unfortunately it is clear that the top join of the aluminium panels is also leaking.... not sure how to access that!

Two finds.
1. A Caravan Club badge - 1985, I think that means I have to revise my estimate of the age of the van, 31 years.

2. A peculiar money box, welded steel. There are coins inside, but no way to open it.

Collection

So the big day comes. I arranged storage at a caravan storage place near my 'weekend home', it has access to power and water. The owner had agreed to me doing the work there - great. Have been and collected the key etc., ready to go.

Persuaded caravaner friends, Stuart and Lynne to come with Alan and I, we are going to drive in convoy. Find the address easy enough, easy to spot with a scrappy caravan on the drive! Give it the once over, it's about as expected- Stuart is a bit shocked at how bad it is! We don't go in, seller has wound up the legs and rolled it out to go (this meant we didn't notice the tool to wind the legs up is missing). Hitches up fine, handbrake useless but that won't matter for now. One indicator bulb is blown, Stuart is concerned there is no stabiliser - I don't know what he means, it'll be fine...
We set off down the road, it seems OK, no wobbles - we agree to meet up a bit further down to see how it's going. Feels solid, after a few hundred yards we notice a bit of aluminium trim trailing onto the road, try to spot somewhere to pull over, manage to do this after a mile or so. The trim pulls off easy, it doesn't look important and is chucked in the car.

Now to reverse it. Oh dear, I have no clue. Despite close guidance I give up and let Alan take over, not sure I would ever have got out of that car park backwards... I persuade my companions to help me get to the friendly caravan shop (10 miles out of the way), I had spoken to them yesterday.
I have a short shopping list/ questions and they are helpful. Get a couple of bulbs, oh my, you should see the inside of the light assembly.

The side light was just the same I later found.
We get a replacement lock, prompted by the critical question - is it a right hand or a left hand door? Would not have thought of that (and picked up the wrong one), and a crank for the legs. They are quite busy, with new and not very old vans around- we attract a mixture of horror, bemusement and amusement. I assure them I'll be back! Return to new base is without incident, except I forget to honour the site's lock the gate immediately behind you rule in the excitement to get the van set up. Time for a late lunch!

Now what?

So it is clear that this van needs checks before I move it, distance is 30 miles.
Called a mechanic, who immediately suggested the van could be stolen as there is no key! I must say I hadn't thought about that, checked as many stolen caravan sites as I could find, and given its age and condition I don't think so.
Anyway the mechanic agreed to do a 'drive by' with a view to servicing. The news was fair, he reckoned the rusty hitch would be OK, i.e. would not straight out need replacing.

Tried to set up a time for the servicing, but the seller starts being funny with me. After a delay he suggests I tow it home, and get it serviced there - surely he realises that kind of misses the point!!! Eventually he agreed to allow the servicing on his drive, he failed to tell me that he had told the mechanic an adamant 'no'. Eventually sorted and serving goes ahead. Not too bad, brakes on one side seized, so freed up, handbrake failed (leave it for now), and 2 new tyres required - apparently they were original...

Got it

After about 2 months watching old caravan sales online, I took the plunge and won an eBay auction for £150. The van is a Swift Silhouette, estimated date 1989-1991, it's in a bit of a state.
It is about 12 foot by 6 foot, and reasonably solid, but has clearly been neglected for many years. There is a lot of water ingress around the front panel, with 3 fairly ugly windows - all seals dodgy. Some internal furniture has already been stripped out and there is no toilet. The floor, roof, back and side panels seem to be in quite good condition. The kitchen appliances are original and probably useless.
Photos from seller
(Exterior)

(Interior)