All motor vehicles brought in the UK at the time were subject to purchase tax, but motorhomes where considered exempt. Apparently, the regulations at the time suggested that in order to satisfy the label ‘motorhome’, all the internal fittings had to be permanent. Indeed, it was even stated that the vehicle needed to have a dinning area, beds, a cooker, a wardrobe and water carrying equipment.
All motor vehicles brought in the UK at the time were subject to purchase tax, but motorhomes where considered exempt. Apparently, the regulations at the time suggested that in order to satisfy the label ‘motorhome’, all the internal fittings had to be permanent. Indeed, it was even stated that the vehicle needed to have a dinning area, beds, a cooker, a wardrobe and water carrying equipment.
These rules also stated that the VW Transporter was a commercial vehicle and because of this it was restricted to 30mph and was also subject to purchase tax. Pitt had got around the ‘fittings’ issue by designing the Open Plan conversion in 1956, which then became the de-facto conversion in the 1960’s. However, he still had to convince the authorities that the Volkswagen Transporter; once converted should be classed as a motorhome. He did this by intentionally driving his vehicle to the Royal Park in Windsor which had a ban on commercial vehicles. He was subsequently arrested and the resulting court case ruled that Pitt’s motorhome was not a commercial vehicle. No purchase tax and the VW could be driven at more than 30 miles an hour in one hit – fantastic.
Import duties on foreign vehicles still prohibited in cost terms the commercial production of VW campers at this time and because of this Pitt still concentrated his commercial business on converting Commer’s and Austin’s. He did still build VW Motorhomes but only on a custom basis.
In 1960 Pitt used his early Open Plan design and reintroduced the Volkswagen in to the range of vehicles that he as building. The design was innovative and consisted of modular units that could be used or laid out in a variety of ways. But the real innovation this year was the introduction of a new type of elevating high roof called the Rising Sunshine Roof. The spring loaded design could be opened in a variety of ways from open only at one end to half open or fully closed. Before this, most roof units where of a fixed high-roof design. Apparently, no VW’s using this roof design survive today.
In 1961 Pitt Moto Caravans merged with Canterbury Sidecars and the operations where moved to Romford and subsequently marketed as Canterbury Pitt Conversions. In 1963 after the move to Romford the designs and fittings where updated and refined to produce the VW Canterbury Pitt Open Plan Moto-Caravan which soon became a classic and remained basically thee same until production ceased.
Here is an excerpt from one of there brochures:
“Go anywhere – see everything, free from timetable restrictions and accommodation problems. No hotel bills for your family and friends … there’s plenty of room for all … with your gear neatly stowed away in the ample locker and wardrobe space. Be free as a bird to wander as the mood takes you, stopping at will. Or, when not on pleasure bent turn your caravan in to a highly mobile office. The furniture swings into several self-locking arrangements with remarkable ease, or folds away to increase the low central floor space to 16sq ft so that your caravan becomes a willing work horse for the transport of bulky packages”
In 1965 a walk-through option was introduced and was named the ‘Open Plan Divided Gangway model. Sadly, Peter Pitt died in 1969 and because of this the production of the Caterbury Pitt Moto Caravan ceased production. There are only a few surviving vehicles left today so if you see one for sale – buy it and help preserve a part of the Volkswagen camper story
Class Campers©2007