Lets see a picture of your classic(s)

[dmulally]

RichB said:

I just don't get the affection for these camper vans. Unless you're a wind surfer who goes down to Poole harbour at weekends they seem pointless. I had one "back in the day" a Bedford Dormobile, it was Dreadful with a capital D. Is it the Aussie surfer image of sun tanned gods performing "daring-do", I don't know? Fair play to those who like them but I'd like to understand the attraction.

I left the Army and spent nearly six months travelling around in my Sandman Panelvan. Loved it. These days my commer is to carry this inside of it.

[RichB]

dmulally said:

I left the Army and spent nearly six months travelling around in my Sandman Panelvan. Loved it. These days my commer is to carry this inside of it.

Ah ha, so the camper van has a V8 and is a transporter for the combo' - that's different!

[longshot]

RichB said:

I just don't get the affection for these camper vans. Unless you're a wind surfer who goes down to Poole harbour at weekends they seem pointless. I had one "back in the day" a Bedford Dormobile, it was Dreadful with a capital D. Is it the Aussie surfer image of sun tanned gods performing "daring-do", I don't know? Fair play to those who like them but I'd like to understand the attraction.

I've always liked old camper vans and vans in general. They come from a time when everything didn't look the same and you get some interesting and unusual designs. Look at the first Transits.

About 8 years ago I worked with a guy who had put a V8 in the back of his Commer van. That added to the attraction.
It would seem that it is a popular upgrade.

[CY88]

RichB said:

I just don't get the affection for these camper vans. Unless you're a wind surfer who goes down to Poole harbour at weekends they seem pointless. I had one "back in the day" a Bedford Dormobile, it was Dreadful with a capital D. Is it the Aussie surfer image of sun tanned gods performing "daring-do", I don't know? Fair play to those who like them but I'd like to understand the attraction.

I'd guess the attraction is not dissimilar to that felt by Aston Martin owners wanting to play on the secret agent image of spy gods performing "daring do"

[RichB]

CY88 said:

I'd guess the attraction is not dissimilar to that felt by Aston Martin owners wanting to play on the secret agent image of spy gods performing "daring do"

Oh, contraire, I imagine it's very different indeed.

[CY88]

RichB said:

CY88 said:

I'd guess the attraction is not dissimilar to that felt by Aston Martin owners wanting to play on the secret agent image of spy gods performing "daring do"

Oh, contraire, I imagine it's very different indeed.

Except that we both made sweeping statements as to why people might be "attracted" to certain types of vehicle. You were, don't forget, the one who said that you didn't understand!

Anyway, as its a picture thread about our classics, here's my camper, which sometimes does go to the beach and get used for camping - underpowered, flawed in many ways, and playing to every beach-dwelling stereotype you can think of on the front cover of "Camper Love"


Just in time for tea - Day 142 by CY2010, on Flickr

ps. I really like the Aston too - the first proper Bond one!

[RichB]

CY88 said:

...You were, don't forget, the one who said that you didn't understand!

And I still don't. However here's mine in France, best thing about it was that it got there. Never made it back though. You could latch the door open to get some fresh air in as you were driving, no seat belts either, bugger Elf & Safety eh! I was passing the garage where we left it some years later and it had chickens in the back.

[CY88]

RichB said:

And I still don't. However here's mine in France, best thing about it was that it got there. Never made it back though. You could latch the door open to get some fresh air in as you were driving, no seat belts either, bugger Elf & Safety eh! I was passing the garage where we left it some years later and it had chickens in the back.

Excellent!

[inabox]

RichB said:

I just don't get the affection for these camper vans. Unless you're a wind surfer who goes down to Poole harbour at weekends they seem pointless. I had one "back in the day" a Bedford Dormobile, it was Dreadful with a capital D. Is it the Aussie surfer image of sun tanned gods performing "daring-do", I don't know? Fair play to those who like them but I'd like to understand the attraction.

Each to their own if course but the reasons I like (love) my commer are mostly the same as to why I love my mini van. It's slow, uncomfortable and if you listen carefully at night you can hear it rusting.

But it's a celebration of the journey itself, every trip is an occasion. The comical seating position right at the front with the front wheels underneath the seat. The rolly, bouncy ride as you trundle the countryside, peering over dry stone walls. The interior is very well designed and very functional. Summer days out with my 2 year old, girlfriend and dog in the van are the things I'll remember when I'm old.

A simpler way to enjoy your free time with all the sights, sounds and smells that only add to the experience.

And I hate surfing

[RichB]

inabox said:

<clip> A simpler way to enjoy your free time with all the sights, sounds and smells that only add to the experience.<clip>

If I cast myself back almost 40 years I can empathise with that!

[inabox]

I think a big part of it is that I'm 23 years younger than my van so I don't remember them from their first time around as just a van. It's all a novelty to me.

[CY88]

inabox said:

But it's a celebration of the journey itself, every trip is an occasion. The comical seating position right at the front with the front wheels underneath the seat. The rolly, bouncy ride as you trundle the countryside, peering over dry stone walls. The interior is very well designed and very functional. Summer days out with my 2 year old, girlfriend and dog in the van are the things I'll remember when I'm old.

Amen to that!

[Yertis]

RichB said:

nd I still don't. However here's mine in France, best thing about it was that it got there. Never made it back though. You could latch the door open to get some fresh air in as you were driving, no seat belts either, bugger Elf & Safety eh! I was passing the garage where we left it some years later and it had chickens in the back.

You can see in that thing where FIAT found their inspiration for the Multipla.

[beach bum]

Sunday morning I set the alarm at 4.30,then woke up at 4.15 anxious to get going.

Three and a bit hours later I reached the first gravel special stage to watch historic rally cars battle the Greek mountains at the Historic Rally Acropolis.

Bliss.

[dmulally]

inabox said:

The rolly, bouncy ride as you trundle the countryside,

I have put adjustable coilovers in the front of mine but I hear Hilux shocks are a massive improvement.

[elephantstone]

[Corbeliere]

Here's one that I wished I had kept, a Corvette was too tempting though.
It's a 1973 Camaro LT, that's the all option model if I recall, luxury trim, RS suspension and Z28 engine. Lovely car.

[TVR Sagaris]

beach bum said:

Sunday morning I set the alarm at 4.30,then woke up at 4.15 anxious to get going.

Three and a bit hours later I reached the first gravel special stage to watch historic rally cars battle the Greek mountains at the Historic Rally Acropolis.

Bliss.

For fk's sake man you've got to stop this!

[ADEuk]

My new long term project:




Going to have some sideways fun during the summer then take it off road for a full resto. Staying completely standard and original

[RichB]

ADEuk said:

Has that been jacked-up or did they really sit so high back then? I really can't remember them looking like that.