Death of the VW camper van.
- 24 September 2013 10:47245803Yes indeed its all over.. the witheringly grim news that hippies and surfers everywhere were dreading to hear..Volkswagen are axing their long standing camper van. The vehicle of legend...never a summer goes by here in Dover without squadrons of them showing up usually with tousled surfhaired youngsters at the wheel, and they come from all corners. It seems recent health and safety regulations have done for it.
Here are a couple from the seafront in June.
These ones above have a well fed air about them but they come in all states of decor and condition. Quite a group showed up on the day featured, presumably attending a rally somewhere, and I halfheartedly took this picture but now i wish I had concentrated more, as the vehicle is now destined to become a rare beast but I suppose the second hand market will carry on.
Have you ever got stuck behind one in a traffic jam? They usually addle along at 35mph no matter what the speed limit.email: dover7@msn.com - 24 September 2013 11:07245806Heard this sad news on the radio this morning. My petrol head husband reckons their top speed is about 55 mph.
- 24 September 2013 11:29245809One of the music teachers at St Edmund's Canterbury about 20 years ago had one with a Porsche 3.2 litre air cooled flat-6 tucked away in the back. It used to go a bit quicker than 55mph and I seem to remember him boasting of a sub-7 second 0-60 time.I'm an optimist. But I'm an optimist who takes my raincoat - Harold Wilson
- 24 September 2013 11:33245811Yes, I understand that the VW camper and the Porsche have identical engine mountings, so a lot of that goes on.Ignorance is bliss, bliss is happiness, I am happy...to draw your attention to the possible connectivity in the foregoing.
- 24 September 2013 12:56245814The annual VW Festival at Coldred showcases many Campers in various states of restoration, it seems you either love em or hate em. The amount of merchandise associated with them keeps the nostalgia very "current".
- 24 September 2013 13:01245818Sad news. I used to hate them but they kind of grew on me (still wouldn't own one though, but some look cute!)
- 24 September 2013 13:06245821Surprising how much they fetch, certainly hold their money. A Thanet based restorer can transform virtual wrecks back to original condition or custom them.
- 25 September 2013 08:16245894Interesting stuff..can you imagine the one with the Porsche engine..whoosh! so different than the norm.
Look at this one. years ago in 2008 in fact, this pic was sent to me by none other than Kathy Bailes of DExpress fame. I think I'm remembering this rightly, we must have been doing a thread at the time or something.
It is her very own VW.. herself and partner were aficionados if I'm remembering rightly.
It looks like a de-luxe model with panoramic roof viewing platform!
Dont know where Kathy is now, I know she left.
email: dover7@msn.com - Brian Dixon
- Location: Dover
- Registered: 23 Sep 2008
- Posts: 23,940
25 September 2013 08:29245896thanet area paulb. - 25 September 2013 19:33245972I have been told that the rights to the classic body shape has been brought by Danby ( maybe Denby) and can be seen on E bay.
