VW Campervans

The Volkswagen camper van began life as a wagon in which to transport panels around the VW car plant. It may have stayed in this original form for many years but luckily a Dutch importer, Ben Pon saw it, made sketches and finally, with the collaboration of experienced engineers, began to develop and later produce the first camper van model. The original VW campervan had a split windscreen, cylindrical headlights and, of course, the highly recognizable circular logo. Between 1949 and 1954, Volkswagen developed 90 models including refrigerated vans, fire engines and ambulances.

It was in the 1960s that the campervan entered its rebellious period, appealing to hippies and other free spirited folk as well as those who campaigned to ban the bomb. Hand painting campervans became a popular trend, personalising them to make them unmissable both on and off the road. From 1970 onwards the VW campervan grew massively in popularity, with proud owners including The Who’s Pete Townshend and Roger Daltry, Jenson Button and Martin Clunes. Campervans are also a popular choice in TV ads for everything from Halifax to Dorset Cereal. You may remember Jamie Oliver driving around Italy in his campervan during the ‘Great Escape’ series. These further increased the popularity of the camper van and assured people that the vans are practical and safe but perfect for those who enjoy the open road and have a sense of adventure.

The California Campervan
Launched in 2010, the California campervan is a stylish addition to the VW brand and has been developed to the highest standards. The VW California van offers complete motoring comfort and benefits from being ergonomically designed and well built. You can even use the VW California campervan for short shopping trips or breaks to replenish food and drink supplies as it parks comfortably in multi storey and supermarket car parks.

The California campervan also has advanced safety features, an optimal all-wheel drive system and a seven speed DSG gearbox. All these features offer extra security and peace of mind whilst on the road, allowing the campervan passengers to relax and enjoy the ride.

On board the VW California
The campervan roof lifts hydraulically to allow adults to stand upright and this upstairs part can be used for two people to sleep up here as it has a good-sized double bed which is surprisingly comfortable. There is also a double bed which is located behind the seats which is easy to pull out after a hard day’s adventures.

Downstairs, both the campervan’s front seats revolve at 180 degrees which means you can swivel round to eat, chat and play games with other travellers or family members during your stops. There are plenty of well-designed storage spaces handily contained in a full-length robust metal construction in addition to a small wardrobe with hanging space. A large awning located under the rear bench seat enables to carry out your shower/toilet duties with a little privacy.

In the kitchen area you’ll find essentials such as a stainless steel sink with running hot and cold water, a good size fridge and a twin-burner gas hob. If you prefer eating alfresco, there is even a picnic table stored in the sliding door plus four chairs in the tailgate of the campervan.

The VW California is a super campervan and one to be looked at seriously by the ever-increasing number of camper van enthusiasts who want comfort, safety and nothing else to think about except their well-deserved trip and what lies ahead…