A special camping conversion carried out by European Cars in the early 60's incorporating a Calthrope elevating roof.  Most often this conversion is referred to as the "European Cars", conversion but we know different.  The Slumberwagen is perhaps the most intriguing and strange looking conversions ever made (closely followed by the Palomino).

Volkswagen Palomino

The Volkswagen Camper with a boat on its roof!

Right well we are still trying to find out more about the Volkswagen Palomino as we think it is one of the best conversions ever made. As far as we can tell these conversions where made by Heritage Motorhomes between 1979 and 1986.  Please tell us if we are wrong.

Volkswagen began subcontracting to the Westfalia-werke in Rheda-Wiedenbrück, or more typically Westfalia, to build the official Volkswagen Camper cars sold in the early 1950's through 2003. Many models and interesting options were available for these vehicles. Early Volkswagen Split Screen windshield Kombi models between 1950 and 1967 are highly sought after collector vehicles.

The Devon Moonraker was a combination of the Caravette and the Eurovette conversions which where earlier buses.  It combined the best of the two conversions and clearly slotted in to growing market for people who wanted a little more luxury when out on the road.  The advertising literature at the time stated that the Moonraker was “the ultimate in luxury”, and it certainly lived up to its name!

In 1947 the Dutch company Ames (Ames Campers Dordrecht) , started to import Volkswagen’s in to Holland, primarily for sales; however they also had commercial vehicle workshops in order to fulfil customer requirements in terms of customisation of the interiors of VW buses. 

Richard Holdsworth started to convert Volkswagen Bay window buses to campers in 1967.  They where based in Ashford, Middlesex but as they got established they moved in 1972 to Reading.

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.