The CEO of Volkswagen, Eckhard Scholz, got behind the wheel of a vintage camper van to lead a parade of more than 350 of the iconic vehicles recently. The convoy, which marked the end of the VW Bus Summer Festival, traveled from Wolfsburg to Hanover in a symbolic journey following the move of production of the camper in 1956.
Scholz drove a 1965 model T1 in aquamarine and white, but he was followed by campers from across the decades. Campers, which were also known as the Kombi, Microbus or Transporter depending on the model, were first produced in 1951.
The festival took place in Wolfsburg and lasted four days. The focus was the camper, but attendees also enjoyed live music and a vibrant social scene accompanying the vehicle displays.
History of the Camper
During the ’60s, the campers reached their cult status. They came to symbolise the spirit of freedom that pervaded that decade. With custom paint jobs, they allowed people to travel and be social in a way that wasn’t possible before.
Modern Campers
Although Volkswagen is no longer producing the van, companies provide custom conversions of modern vans that are still very much in the spirit of the original. This includes technology like Fleet Vehicle Tracking systems which is sourced from sites including https://www.vehicle-accessories.net/vehicle-tracking/fleet-tracking/ . You can browse their eBay store online http://www.ebay.com/usr/welsh-coast-campers/all-follows to see examples.
For those who are not ready to commit to buying, many holiday companies now offer campers to hire for a week or two. These vans, which have often been stylishly refurbished, give a taste of the camper life without the cost commitment.
If you do choose a camper holiday, think about whether you’re using an awning before you decide how often to change sites.
Although the beauty of the van is its mobility – and you do literally go everywhere in it! – taking the awning down and packing it away does take time and effort, so think about how often you’d want to do that.
Enthusiasts of the VW camper can be found all around the world. There are shows and conventions here in the UK, but the beauty of a camper is that it is mobile. Why limit yourself to sharing your passion only in Great Britain? Hop a ferry and take your camper van ut further afield, and next year, you could be joining that convoy in Wolfsburg!
