There
many different conversions around in the 60s differing slightly from a cupboard
here and a extinguisher there. In Britain, Europe, America, Africa and Australia
the motor caravan industry had grown enormously and plenty people started to do
the job themselves. In 1968 when the type 2 was launched the specialists had a
field day with the extra room inside, but still Westfalia continued to be the official
VW converter in Germany. A six passenger campmobile was equipped with new storage
lockers under the rear seat and a tilting elevating roof doubled as a Childs
bedroom. The centre of the vehicle was designed to provide seating for up to
four people. Curtains was fitted all round, a large tent was available at extra
cost. Still VW remained on top out selling competitors several times over,
because the VW was the right size with being easy to drive and park. In south
Africa, Jurgens caravans marketed it with their own conversion, which was a
large over hanging styled caravan. The caravan and frame work were both made
from aluminium. This seated up to six people which converted in sleeping berths
and had a double bunk which was situated over the cab and was reached by a step
ladder. The Sportsmobile (above right) was converted in America by a company which took your
bus and converted it in their factory, or they supplied a kit for home installation.
Including the elevating roof the Sportsmobile could sleep up to four adults and
two children. Amongst the rarest and the most useful had to be the Kemperlinks
(right) which were made in Holland, they specialized in stretching the vehicle up to
four feet in length by inserting a section in the middle of the van. There is no
more than ten examples to exist in Britain. Only one or two were fully kitted
out with camping equipment. Four feet doors were added to the rear and side
doors, inserting small windows in the side of the bodywork and a home used
conversion was added. Included in the Kemperlink was a 3 way fridge, cassette
toilet, cooker with oven, 240V mains hook up, twin batteries, hot water heater,
sink with drainer, shower unit, twin gas bottle locker a pressurized water
system with sleeping accommodation for two adults and two
children.
What a van this was and there are probably hundreds of other conversions out
there that we still don't know about.
Want to know if there is a VW event on this weekend then please
press here to find out more.
and
spin off to a show below?
There
many different conversions around in the 60s differing slightly from a cupboard
here and a extinguisher there. In Britain, Europe, America, Africa and Australia
the motor caravan industry had grown enormously and plenty people started to do
the job themselves. In 1968 when the type 2 was launched the specialists had a
field day with the extra room inside, but still Westfalia continued to be the official
VW converter in Germany. A six passenger campmobile was equipped with new storage
lockers under the rear seat and a tilting elevating roof doubled as a Childs
bedroom. The centre of the vehicle was designed to provide seating for up to
four people. Curtains was fitted all round, a large tent was available at extra
cost. Still VW remained on top out selling competitors several times over,
because the VW was the right size with being easy to drive and park. In south
Africa, Jurgens caravans marketed it with their own conversion, which was a
large over hanging styled caravan. The caravan and frame work were both made
from aluminium. This seated up to six people which converted in sleeping berths
and had a double bunk which was situated over the cab and was reached by a step
ladder. The Sportsmobile (above right) was converted in America by a company which took your
bus and converted it in their factory, or they supplied a kit for home installation.
Including the elevating roof the Sportsmobile could sleep up to four adults and
two children. Amongst the rarest and the most useful
had to be the Kemperlinks
(right) which were made in Holland, they specialized in stretching the vehicle up to
four feet in length by inserting a section in the middle of the van. There is no
more than ten examples to exist in Britain. Only one or two were fully kitted
out with camping equipment. Four feet doors were added to the rear and side
doors, inserting small windows in the side of the bodywork and a home used
conversion was added. Included in the Kemperlink was a 3 way fridge, cassette
toilet, cooker with oven, 240V mains hook up, twin batteries, hot water heater,
sink with drainer, shower unit, twin gas bottle locker a pressurized water
system with sleeping accommodation for two adults and two
children.