BERLIN RIOT BUS to CAMPER - 1980 Mercedes L608D - Kaiser
Discussion
Very nice build. However, if you think a 608D is slow, you should try hacking up and down the country in a 406D. In the early 70's I did Edinburgh to London and the South coast quite a few times in a couple of them. 55 mph on the clock v-max on the level with the accelerator pushed through the floor. They did handle quite well though and twisty B roads could be attacked without much lifting of the right foot.
I also drove a 16 seater 608D quite a lot in the early 80's and there is a significant difference.
I also drove a 16 seater 608D quite a lot in the early 80's and there is a significant difference.
GuyW said:
Wow! Nice work OP, certainly don't build them like this anymore.
I can only hope that's true of Merc vans. Those ones were terrible for rust, especially along the body seams on the side of the van. However, a casual inspection of later model Sprinters on the road suggests that they might not be much better these days. I like that a lot! Best take a year off and try to reach Beijing in it.
Trivia: Berliners call green police vans Grüne Minna - elsewhere referred to as Black Maria or Paddy Wagon.
Notadoctor said:
On 27th August 1980 the Berlin Police Force received a shiny new Riot bus, a 24ft Mercedes L608D with registration B-XU324
The reg was probably the first civil owner's. Berlin Polizei uses the pattern B-12345 and no letters, except B for Berlin.Trivia: Berliners call green police vans Grüne Minna - elsewhere referred to as Black Maria or Paddy Wagon.
Notadoctor said:
Thank you for all the positive posts.
The "bathroom tiles" are actually ultra-lightweight B&Q plastic cladding. It's bent for the internal shapes (the shower wall comes in to allow for the driver seat recline and a 90x90 shower tray) and with silicone between the cladding allows for flexing when driving along.
We are planning a sign on the back "If you think this is slow, just wait until we get to a hill". But again, on modern British A-roads the slower acceleration usually means we reach the same stationary car ahead, at traffic lights or roundabouts, a little later. For a week away, the extra few hours on the roads are no worry for us.
Take a recent Dutch jaunt, where we had oven pizza timed for motorway services, the Mrs slept in bed on the motorway whilst I drove and a delayed ferry due to rough seas meant a three hour centrally heated rest, snooze, hot shower, meal and Austalians from a nearby car borrowing our corkscrew and then coming aboard for a chat and drink. I'd keep that over a 80mph car trip. Although, Customs disappointed us ... hippy bus back from Holland, we even tidied especially for them, but simply waved through at Dover.
Motorways are 56mph affairs behind a suitable HGV. A and B roads are OK when up to speed and handling is great fun. One gets into an easy-riderish traveler zone in this camper, the journey does become part of the holiday and from setting off the camper simply forces you to relax, take it easy, put on some tunes and have a good time.
That and it's a magnet for interesting people!
Fabulous. Very interesting and fantastically well written write up. I look forward to reading more of your adventures please. The idea is certainly very appealing. I had a ride in my friend's latest purchase just a few days ago. It's a 1980s VW Devon camper with the 1.9 petrol engine. Slow, but just so much fun. I love the space, the huge upright windscreen and the comforts onboard. Yours just takes this to another level! My only concern would be the noise with that engine being so close to the driver. Is it comfortable, or does it grate after a while? Is the engine well sound proofed?zed4 said:
Fantastic, I love! I would really like a motorhome. It looks very heavy though with all of that wood, tiles and other bits! How slow is it?!
Well, it was designed to carry a lot of burly riot police and their kit! The wood is heavy, but we sacrifice say £50 a year in extra fuel against modern nasty lightweight materials found in new campers. That and wood works as insulation and will last forever looking good. The "bathroom tiles" are actually ultra-lightweight B&Q plastic cladding. It's bent for the internal shapes (the shower wall comes in to allow for the driver seat recline and a 90x90 shower tray) and with silicone between the cladding allows for flexing when driving along.
We are planning a sign on the back "If you think this is slow, just wait until we get to a hill". But again, on modern British A-roads the slower acceleration usually means we reach the same stationary car ahead, at traffic lights or roundabouts, a little later. For a week away, the extra few hours on the roads are no worry for us.
Take a recent Dutch jaunt, where we had oven pizza timed for motorway services, the Mrs slept in bed on the motorway whilst I drove and a delayed ferry due to rough seas meant a three hour centrally heated rest, snooze, hot shower, meal and Austalians from a nearby car borrowing our corkscrew and then coming aboard for a chat and drink. I'd keep that over a 80mph car trip. Although, Customs disappointed us ... hippy bus back from Holland, we even tidied especially for them, but simply waved through at Dover.
Motorways are 56mph affairs behind a suitable HGV. A and B roads are OK when up to speed and handling is great fun. One gets into an easy-riderish traveler zone in this camper, the journey does become part of the holiday and from setting off the camper simply forces you to relax, take it easy, put on some tunes and have a good time.
That and it's a magnet for interesting people!
If I had the space, I'd love to buy/build something like this.
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