From its birth in 1950 until present day the VW Campervan has maintained cult status in the motoring world.
beginning? intoduced in March 1950 the VW Transporter and Microbus versions has developed into a cult motoring classic across generations and continents.
It has been evolved into numerous uses and variations of body types. The most popular is the VW Campervan or VW Camper.
What is not so widely understood is the huge variety of interiors that have been built and developed over these generations. Individuals through to large corporations have all taken part in developing what was originally a box on 4 wheels.
In May 1951 a VW bus with chassis number 20-13280 was received by a Dresden coach builder with instructions to change it into a camper van. It was constructed with a bench seat behind the bulkhead which hinged up to display a built in sink and a two burner cooker. It was installed 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 interesting 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 United Kingdom in 2002 where it is still being used 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 function 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 favour of modern every day life.
This change has brought about a new group of vw owners who are now investing large sums of money into a luxury leisure pursuit. However some owners prefer the rough and ready style of camping which has led to a rise in popularity of the older 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 continue for many years to come as an every day useable classic motor vehicle.
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