History of the VW Campervan
From its first appearance in 1950 until present day the Volkswagen Campervan has achieved cult status in the motoring world.
First intoduced in March 1950 the VW Transporter and Microbus versions has now evolved into a cult motoring classic across generations and continents.
It has been evolved into numerous uses and variations of body types. The most famous is the VW Campervan or VW Camper.
What is not so widely known is the substantial variety of interiors that have been manufactured and developed over these decades. Individuals through to large corporations have all been involved in personalising what was originally a box on 4 wheels.
In May 1951 a VW bus with chassis number 20-13280 was delivered to a Dresden coach constructor with instructions to change it into a camper van. It was built with a bench seat behind the bulkhead which lifted up to reveal a built in sink and a two burner cooker. It was fitted with a sink but no tap but it did have a petrol heater. It had a number of storage units made out of oak.This VW became known as the “Barn door bus” and had a intriguing life with many owners including a fire chief who used it during the week to pull water pumps about and at weekends it became his family campervan.
Edit this text This flexibility of uses has been the major attraction of the Volkswagen Campervan over the past generations. The “Barn door Bus” was purchased and brought to the UK in 2002 where it is still going strong today. This vw campervan demonstrates the mystique and cult of the Campervan as it is not stored away in a garage or displayed in a museum. It is still doing the task it was designed for over 50 years ago.
VW Campervan interiors have been the subject of much competition between makers. Companies such as Westfalia and Devon Camping Conversions Auto Sleeper and many more have developed a whole range of fixtures and fittings for these popular vans.
Over the years the VW Campervan has gone through a number of make overs and redesigns.Long gone is the van concept wherebay the inside is removed for use as a working van during the week and re installed at the weekend to fulfil its role as a family campervan.Modern VW Campervans are equiped with TV, showers,fridges,satelite navigation and much more. The rustic camping concept has been left behind in favor of modern every day life.
This change has brought about a new audiance of vw owners who are now putting large sums of money into a luxury leisure pursuit. However some owners like the rough and ready style of camping which has led to a rise in popularity of the traditional models. So much so that the Bay Window model is manufactured today in its original design but not by Volkswagen itself. These vans have only had the most essential upgrading for modern safety standards but to all outward apperance they look and feel like a traditional VW Campervan.
This shows the VW Enthusiast exists today and the model will go forward for many years to come as an every day useable classic motor vehicle.
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