Viscount aerolite

Submitted: Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 18:46

ThreadID: 71265 Views:7695 Replies:6 FollowUps:4

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kman1

Hi,I'm looking to purchase an 80's Viscount poptop grand tourer could someone please tell me any distiguishing features between a Viscount grand tourer poptop and a Viscount Aerolite poptop that will enable me to identify the aerolite, as I do not want an Aerolite.I have looked at a suitable van today.
katcha kman

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Reply By: mylestom - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 19:21

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 19:21

Aerolite has the punched metal chassis, Not a patch on the chassis under the Grand Tourer which is solid.

Regards

Trev

AnswerID: 377834

Follow Up By: oldpop - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:06

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:06

Aerolte crack these pressed metal chasis the flex suspension the independant rubber bushes collapse and are very expensive to have repaired Euro invention
Mate had one cost him a fortune to fix

Regards

Oldpop

FollowupID: 645224

Follow Up By: kman1 - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 21:42

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 21:42

Trev,great help.thanks
kman1

FollowupID: 645256

Reply By: Isuzumu - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:30

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:30

Our Viscount is a 78 vintage, not sure of the model could be a Tourer, here is a photo
Image Could Not Be Found
This is one tough little van, has had some work done on the chassis and suspension now has eye to eye left springs with shocks and a 2 inch solid round axle and 15 inch rims. And when fully loaded comes in at 1.7 tonne. So if you find one of these and have the time to do a bit of work on it I guarantee you won't be disappointed.

AnswerID: 377853

Reply By: Nomadic Navara - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:58

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 20:58

If it is an Aerolite it will be labelled Aerolite. If it is a Grand Tourer it will be labelled as such. This identification relies on the original decals being in place.

PeterD

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AnswerID: 377866

Follow Up By: kman1 - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 21:40

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 21:40

I thought that was the case but was'nt certain.The van in question has "Grand Tourer" across the front.
thanks a lot.kman1

FollowupID: 645255

Reply By: Roughasguts - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 21:46

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 21:46

As described before the aerolite has a punched steel frame.

Just behind the gas bottles on the drawer bar ! the Aerolite has a long fairly wide hole punched out of the side of the steel frame, you can't miss it if you look at the Drawer bar.

AnswerID: 377877

Reply By: disco driver - Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:31

Thursday, Aug 06, 2009 at 22:31

Hi kman,
I have a Viscount Grand Tourer of that vintage.

Here are a few clues to identify them from an Aerolite.

1. Grand Tourer chassis is either RHS or angle iron, depending on where the framing is. Main frame is RHS and the crossmembers either angle or RHS
The drawbar is RHS about 100x40 section.
Shock absorbers are usually fitted in a horizontal position behind the rear spring shackles and attached to the lower bush on the shackle.

These are recognized as one of the best ever vans from Viscount.

The Aerolite has a stamped lightweight chassis and subframe and usually a different suspension system of european design.

There is a marked difference in the weight of these vans, the Aerolite being around 650-700kg and the Grand Tourer around 850-900kg for the same size van.

The Grand Tourer, while a strongly built unit, is NOT an offroad van but will cope with most gravel roads with careful driving.

The Aerolite is definitely only an on road unit with a poor reputation for staying together.

Hope this helps

Disco.

AnswerID: 377887