Although it’s perhaps not the first thing that springs to mind when talking about camping, the Volkswagen camper was once the most fashionable way to travel and still has a firm place in many a camper’s heart.
It is, then, with a certain nostalgic sadness that the world is bidding farewell to the Type 2. Production ceases this year (2013) after a 56-year run, with a final special edition of 600 models from the Brazil plant. These can seat up to nine people and will feature Atlantic Blue upholstery and an instrument cluster with a retro design. Each will come with a special certificate of authenticity.
So what is it that made the humble camper so popular? Well, aside from the sense of freedom and adventure it imparts and its ties to the super-cool California surf scene of the 60s and 70s, its tendency to break down seems to have something to do with it. “It was very unreliable,” remembers Rob Fearn, who owned a Type 2 in the late 90s. “It was always breaking down, usually at the traffic lights.” The vehicle’s simple engine made it easy to fix, giving drivers a stronger sense of ownership and ultimately reinforcing its appeal.
There’s also the camaraderie between owners that transcends any material benefits or failures of the model. Much like Mini drivers, there are owners’ clubs and rallies for VW campervanners; for example, the Volkswagen Type 2 Owners Club.
Whatever the individual reasons for owning this icon of free-spirited adventure, there's no doubt that it will be sorely missed.
Author
Rob Fearn
Editor - Alan Rogers Guides
Rob has been involved in the leisure industry since completing a BTEC in Travel & Tourism in 1993. Previous roles have included the promotion of tourism in Yorkshire and running a motorcycle touring company in the Australian Outback.
He is the General Manager at Alan Rogers Travel Group, responsible for the ongoing development of the Alan Rogers website and the publication of the Alan Rogers Guides and 'Destinations' magazine.
He regularly travels with his wife and young daughter in their Dethleffs 'Campy' caravan. A keen cycling fan, Rob can often be found in a field in Belgium during the 'Spring Classics' season or riding his Royal Enfield Himalayan motorcycle.
