There are some vehicles that seem to scream adventure. One of those, perhaps the most adventurous, is the VW Campervan. And with the summer upon us, it’s tempting to fantasise about buying one, taking out some van breakdown cover – and heading for the continent.
So what is it that makes them so special? The styling of the early versions of the Campervan owed much to the iconic Beetle, but the general layout and design of the vehicle was rather unique. As soon as the campervan came out it was a hit, and, like the Beetle that came before it, it inspired a wide range of nicknames – including ‘microbus’, ‘minibus’, kombi’ and not forgetting ‘hippie van’.
The 1950s and 1960s saw a huge increase in the expendable income of normal people. This meant that they had a lot more time off, which meant many of them did a lot more travelling. A vehicle such as the VW Campervan offered a great way to travel and cut accommodation costs. It was thus a huge success. But other versions were made too. As well as versions that carried passengers, there were cargo and pick up Campervans manufactured as well.
The success of the vehicle compelled many other manufacturers to build similar vehicles for a market that, in a sense, the Campervan created. In North America the Ford Econoline, the Dodge A100 and the Corvair 95 Corvan provided the competition for the Campervan. In Europe, Renault brought out the Estafette and Ford brought out the less glamorous but comparably popular Transit van.
So next time you see a Campervan whizz by, remember just how much it contributed to the motoring world.