From its birth in 1950 until today the Volkswagen Campervan has maintained cult status in the motoring world.
Introduced in March 1950 the VW Transporter and Microbus versions has now developed into a cult classic across generations and continents.
It has been developed into many 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 decades. Individuals through to large companies have all been involved in personalising what was originally a box on 4 wheels.
In May 1951 a Volkswagen bus with chassis number 20-13280 was delivered to a Dresden coach constructor with orders to change it into a camper van. It was built with a bench seat behind the bulkhead which lifted up to show 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 vehicle 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 number of uses has been the major attraction of the Volkswagen Campervan over the previous generations. The “Barn door Bus” was purchased and brought to the United Kingdom in 2002 where it is still going strong today. This Volkswagen 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 job it was developed for over 50 years ago.
VW Campervan interiors have been the subject of much competition between manufacturers. Companies such as Westfalia and Devon Camping Conversions Auto Sleeper and many more have devised a whole range of fixtures and fittings for these popular vans.
Over the years the Volkswagen 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 living.
This change has brought about a new audiance of vw owners who are now investing 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 older models. So much so that the Bay Window model is manufactured today in its original design but not by Volkswagen itself. These campervans 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.