Aston Martin is celebrating its 100th anniversary with the CC100 – but it’s not the first to do this…
25/10/2012 11:14 | By Tim Kendall, contributor, MSN Cars
The end of the road for Volkswagen's classic Camper van
VW Camper van (1950-2013) – this is your life
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Free spirits, nomadic types, hippies, surfers, design and technology teachers. Whichever stereotype you care to choose - they'll all be shedding a tear this week following the news that the original VW Camper van, aka the VW Kombi, aka the VW T2, is to slip its clogs at the end of next year.
Instead of getting all dewy-eyed about the lovable old VW's impending demise, have a trot through our VW Kombi gallery and learn about the life and times of this iconic vehicle.
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33Comments
25/10/2012 21:15
I used to work as an auto electrician in Bristol in the 1960---1970s and the caravanettes were just ordinary vans converted with whatever you could get to fit in them, it was a brilliant time as the flower power people had got hold of these and what with some of the paint jobs and with what they insisted went inside really did "blow your mind" never mind the wacky baccy etc, Then a company decided to manufacture bench seats, cookers etc, thats when they really started getting "classy" They were and are still very much loved motors.
25/10/2012 15:24
Girlfriend had one of these, the back bench/bed certainly was very useful.
25/10/2012 17:32
Sad to hear that the long-lived VW Camper is to cease in production.............although, has Volkswagen not noticed the extremely high prices which are being achieved for restored VW Campers, especially the older air-cooled versions? Perhaps the bean counters in Wolfsburg are not so clever after all.
25/10/2012 22:39
... the shape of the VW Camper was very photogenic,as was the case with a variety of other vehicles.
... model cars over the years have helped with its popularity,also.
... with its opening roof and occasional spare tyre fitted on show,it became quite a character-piece.
... it was also an excellent alternative to purchasing a touring caravan.
25/10/2012 21:26
l had no idea when i bought an old 69 bay window in 1980 to live in for the three years , whilst l was a young design tech teacher at a school in Epsom that l was becoming part of an iconic stereo type.
It was just a way of making ends meet and having mobility as l couldnt afford to rent a room and have a car..... I was so trendy l didnt even know it
25/10/2012 21:18
serious dollars, for a restored one especially..most spruced up Splitties just get carted to shows on back of trailers these days...not all...just alot of them do though, who can blame the owner I wouldnt wanna be driving something worth this much on a public highway with a spotty herbert just fresh out of driving test with his snotty nose driving anywhere near me :0)
25/10/2012 21:07
They mention Splitties & Wedges but not Bays,theres a few pics of Bays here too.I havent got all way through pics yet so may stand corrected?
26/10/2012 19:22
my mates got one,its under restoration at the moment. lots of welding etc. will be fab when its completed..????????????
26/10/2012 00:00
very sad to see another part of my childhood disappear
26/10/2012 16:30
Notable celebrity owners include Jamie Oliver - the Naked Chef having modified his to fit the flat-six motor from a Porsche 911 in the back.
I bet jamie oliver never even touched a spanner in 'his' modification of his VW
26/10/2012 19:26
rubbish go out on a week end to any county and some one some where will be the proud owner and driver of a vw try camperjam busfest volksfest thousands turn up and even ones who dont own a vw .turn up . best van and best life style we have had for years . if you dont own one then to you t is the demise of an icon .
26/10/2012 19:20
surely some company must be out there to take this on,wot a shame :(
26/10/2012 18:31
There goes my youth and all those hopes and dreams for a better world!
26/10/2012 10:13
Fab stuff...love and peace reighs:)x
26/10/2012 21:04
A design classic.
27/10/2012 04:22
What a crying shame,but i suppose nothing stays the same forever so they say..
26/10/2012 22:59
Drove round Australia in one back in the mid 80s ---spent a year doing it and though it had all manner of problems along the way , it still ranks as my favourite car --it never quit on us and that trip will always hold nothing but great memories
26/10/2012 21:56
An Icon sad news !
26/10/2012 20:51
Had two type 2's. Bought one when the kids were young- loved it. Bought another about 8 years ago- didn't enjoy it at all. too slow, but that is more a reflection on me. Driven at a pace to suit the van, 55-60mph, they are a joy. Try to hustle them and it's a battle. .All the types of people listed in the article are suited to these vehicles. Unfortunately I am no longer one of them.
26/10/2012 18:55
Most of the original campers are in Australia and New Zealand due to the better weather.. The classic camper will never die as long as it is not in the UK.. That go's for the classic VW Beetles. and Citroen 2cv's..
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