VW Campers

The appeal of the VW camper van spreads far beyond owners. It's become a design icon and popular motif for everything from moneyboxes to memory sticks.

You can rent a VW Camper for a holiday or special event such as a wedding, and they're often used for promotional events.

Just what is so endearing and enduring about the design?

The early split screen VW campers are rounded and friendly with a face-like front end. The design appeal is like the original mini, the Fiat 500 and of course the Beetle - all rounded friendly machines that have become design classics. We seem to relate to emotionally to this type of design.

There's the nostalgia thing too of course. All these models are associated with the past - which we often view fondly. The 60's are seen as a decade of huge social (and design) change and its excitement and energy is very appealing. The VW camper van is also strongly associated with the hippy, surfing and outdoor lifestyle - simple, free lifestyles away from authority and structured daily routines.

'Splitties' are also slow, can be cramped and reflect the design and engineering standards of fifty years ago, so although the legendary air-cooled engines have a long life, most won't have survived this long. Cars and vans built in the 60's and 70's were much more prone to rust too.

The slightly later 'bay' models are still rounded, with more space, bigger engines and 12volt electrics. Interiors come in a wide range of configurations as a range of companies carried out conversions - and many have been re-fitted over time.

Design and colours of restored VW Campers often reflect the 60's and 70's -ranging from the psychedelic approach to pastels with cream or reflecting the origins of the vehicle - for example they were used a police vans and military vehicles.

So that's another appeal of the VW Camper van- the ability to put your own stamp on a camper - retro style or modern.

The two practical factors in the appeal of VW Campers are cost and simplicity.
Although fully restored vehicles fetch high prices, it's still possible to pick up a restoration project cheaply and there's plenty of information and advice available on restoration. VW vans are also not complicated - although a full restoration project is daunting and there are plenty of examples of people falling for a basket case and not being able to follow through.

You can buy a serviceable van to use for a trip for a few thousand, and assuming you have no major mishaps, it can be traded afterwards. That's a fantastic way for people to go exploring. But often vans become part of the family and are kept for ages - even following their owners as they move from one side of the world to another.

There are clubs and meets, blogs and information sites, numerous books and an array of gifts and gizmos all VW. The appeal is worldwide and seems to be pretty enduring