Top iconic campervans: history’s most recognisable campers

The idea of a campervan has been around since the early 1900s, but it wasn’t until the simplified post-war panel vans hit the market that they became the recognisable campers we know and love today.

The world of campers can be a little confusing, with terms like RV, motorhome, and caravan being thrown around. So, what is a campervan? To us, it’s a van which has been fitted with beds and cooking equipment so that you can live and sleep in it, preferably with no separation between the living and driving areas.

“But, how do the beds and other gadgets get into these vans?” we hear you ask. Conversion specialist companies can fit panel vans with just about anything you can imagine, while many people choose to the DIY approach to create their own unique spaces. Alternatively, they can be designed for camping use from the get-go, like the Citroen Holidays.

Semantics aside, history has shown us many an iconic campervan: Here’s our list of some top retro rides: 

Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter

You probably saw this one coming. The first thing that comes to mind when just about anyone thinks of campervans — the Volkswagen Type 2 Transporter. Sometimes you just can’t beat the original, and for our money the first Type 2 model, the T1 (yes, slightly confusing) fits the bill.  

The Type 2 goes by many names. The Kombi, Bully, Hippy Van, Bus, or our favourite, the Splittie; affectionately dubbed due to early models’ split V shaped windscreen. This was an aerodynamic necessity due to the whopping 24 hp lurking behind its huge “barndoor” rear engine cover. Partner this with the dinner plate sized front badge, the swooping front apron design, even the silhouette itself — iconic indeed. 

Birthed in 1952, when caravan manufacturer Westfalia got hold of VW’s humble cargo hauler, and created a “camping box” conversion kit. Populating the interior with a hob, a sink, benches, a table, and even a cool-box on more advanced models, the poster vehicle for an entire generation had arrived.

With what might be an unmatched cultural impact, the Type 2 went on to become synonymous with “hippie culture”, appearing in countless films and other media forms, and laying the groundwork for the “van life” movement we see today.

Despite retiring in 1967, the spirit of the Splittie lives on today, with the technologically revamped VW I.D Buzz carrying the torch into the future — keep your eyes peeled for the official campervan edition’s release!

Bedford Dormobile

Whilst the Type 2’s mainstream success is partly attributed to its low cost and availability, the credit for inauguring affordable campervans often goes to another — the Bedford Dormobile.

Calling themselves “the original campervan converter”, Dormobile had previously converted other MPVs, but only for sleeping. Hence its Franco-phile brand name, “dormir” meaning to sleep and “mobile” meaning… well, mobile. Yet, with the release of Bedford CA’s delivery van came a new opportunity. Its roomier platform provided room for a kitchen as well, and in 1957 the Bedford Dormobile came to be.

With “Dormatic” seats which folded down into beds, this saw a step towards the flexible campervan interiors we see today, like that of the new Volkswagen California. The star of the show though, must be the instantly recognisable side-hinged pop-up roof. Thanks to this candy-striped canopy — a perfect match for the British van’s twee design — Dormobile became borderline synonymous elevated pop-top campervans.

Citroen Type H

Simple naming formats are a rarity in the early campervan market, and the Citroen Type H is no different. Split into the Citroen HY van, and the cheaper HZ model, most of which did not survive the test of time. Thus, most surviving vans are HY, known interchangeably with the simple “H” title for this French cult classic — because why bother with the second letter?

Not quite as “mainstream” as our previous entries, the Type H’s low floor and high roof have prompted conversions from delivery trucks into mobile food vans, coffee stalls, horseboxes, and you guessed it, campervans.

From the same designer as one of our favourite guilty pleasure cars, the Citroen 2CV, this geometrically shaped corrugated steel tank is instantly recognisable. With a 34-year production run from 1947-1981 with minimal changes, we reckon it might just be as durable as it looks.

With a 6-foot internal standing height, Dormobile may be disappointed to hear that journeys from sofa to sink might not require a pop-up roof. However, Citroen have partnered up with coachbuilder Caselani to keep the Type H alive through modern conversions, with a full blown Type Holidays camper in the works.

Toyota HiAce

Oh, they’ve included the VW Type 2 in their list twice? Nope, despite clear inspiration in the looks department, the Toyota HiAce is an iconic camper in its own right. 

First introduced in 1967, the HiAce range established a cult following largely through their bullet-proof durability, and although the VW-esque looks have fallen away over time, the reliability has not.

Although it may be unwise to take any of the UK’s dozen-or-so remaining pre-1980 HiAce campers off the beaten track, converters often put the more modern models’ resilient frames to use, creating 4WD off-road campervans.

Ford Transit Nugget

You may recognise the Ford Transit van as one of the best-selling commercial vehicles ever made, but its campervan roots may go deeper than you thought.

In recent years the American auto-giant has fully embraced the Ford Transit Nugget as part of its range, officially partnering up with Westfalia (yes, the same bunch as our first entry) to sell the campers though its own dealer network. However, this collaboration dates back as early as the 1970s and to the first generation of Transits, with the wonderful “Nugget” name emerging in the mid ‘80s.

Although these started out as compact, agile retro campers back in the day, as with most things on the road, the Nugget has grown into a roomier affair all round. This extra space has been put to good use, incorporating the luxuries (including two double beds!) we’ve come to expect from modern campers. 

So, from the VW Type 2 to the Nugget, there are plenty of iconic campers to choose from — but what would be your choice for camping in style?

Hero image credit: Unsplash