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JAN/FEB 1984 VOLKSWAGEN motorinq THE INDEPENDENT VW/AUDI FAMILY MAGAZINE www.vwT25camper.info - a useful website for owners and enthusiasts of VW T25 / T3 / Vanagon Campervans

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  • J A N / F E B 1 9 8 4

    V O L K S W A G E N

    m o t o r i n q T H E I N D E P E N D E N T V W / A U D I F A M I L Y M A G A Z I N E

    www.vwT25camper.info - a useful website for owners and enthusiasts of VW T25 / T3 / Vanagon Campervans

  • by Chris Burlace

    M i o t o r ca ravans t o o k a m o r e p r o m i n e n t

    p lace at t h e recent Earls Cour t

    1 Caravan S h o w t h a n fo r m a n y a year .

    T h e n u m b e r o f exh ib i to rs h a d s h o t up t o 17,

    t h e r e w e r e n e w c o m p a n i e s , n e w m o d e l s a n d

    n e w layou ts .

    The w a t e r - c o o l e d V W T r a n s p o r t e r has

    c o n t i n u e d t o a t t rac t p len ty o f a t t e n t i o n f r o m

    m o t o r caravan c o n s t r u c t o r s s ince its

    i n t r o d u c t i o n , and n o less t h a n e igh t exh ib i to rs

    s h o w e d mode ls based o n V o l k s w a g e n s . A s in

    1982, h o w e v e r , v y i n g w i t h V W f o r interest w e r e

    t h e n e w ' i n t e r n a t i o n a l ' m o d e l s bu i l t in Italy b y a

    P e u g e o t / C i t r o e n / F i a t c o n s o r t i u m and so ld here

    as t h e Ta lbo t Express or t h e Fiat D u c a t o .

    W i t h t h e T r a n s p o r t e r b a c k e d up n o t o n l y b y

    t h e LT b u t also b y t h e Gol f , h o w e v e r ,

    V o l k s w a g e n w e r e jus t a b o u t able t o keep

    abreast o f t h e n e w c o m p e t i t i o n o n a tal ly o f

    m o d e l s o f f e r e d .

    Over t h e past year m a n u f a c t u r e r s have been

    se t t i ng the i r s igh ts f i r m l y o n a par t o f t h e marke t

    p rev ious ly no t t o o we l l ca te red f o r , t h e 2 -ber th

    sec to r . A t a t i m e w h e n the re ' s n o t t o o m u c h

    m o n e y a b o u t , t h o s e able t o c o n t e m p l a t e t h e

    pu rchase of a n e w m o t o r ca ravan are o f t e n

    coup les w h o s e fami l ies have f l o w n t h e nes t .

    D i a m o n d set t h e bal l ro l l ing w i t h the i r

    i nnova t i ve Autocruiser, f e a t u r i n g a w e l l -

    e q u i p p e d rear k i t c h e n , smal l t o i l e t / s h o w e r

    cub i c le , a n d ind iv idua l rear seats set f u r t h e r

    f o r w a r d t h a n usua l , able t o t e a m up w i t h

    reversible cab seats t o f o r m a l o u n g e / d i n e t t e

    a n d a pair o f s ingles or a d o u b l e b e d .

    A t Earls C o u r t , es tab l ished c o m p a n i e s

    A u t o h o m e s a n d R i c h a r d H o l d s w o r t h , a n d

    M 1 L e i s u r e C e n t r e ( fo rmer ly M o t o r h o m e s

    In ternat iona l ) p resented the i r a n s w e r t o t h e

    n e w c o m e r f r o m t h e relat ively n e w m a k e r .

    A u t o h o m e s ' n e w m o d e l is cal led t h e Karisma,

    a n d ' f o l l o w s t h e f l oo rp lan o f t h e c o m p a n y ' s best-

    sel l ing Kamper — rear seat , w i t h w a t e r t a n k

    b e l o w , c o n v e r t i n g t o bed a n d a k i t c h e n / s t o r a g e

    un i t a long t h e o f f s i d e . The 2 - b e r t h , h o w e v e r is a

    h i g h t o p , s teeply raked t o c u t t h r o u g h t h e air up

    f r o n t a n d s t e p p e d at the rear t o a c c o m m o d a t e a

    r o o f rack .

    Ins ide, I f o u n d t h e cent ra l fea tu re in t h e

    f o r w a r d roo f area t o be a T V se t , easily v i e w e d

    f r o m t h e c o m f o r t a b l e rear seat . T o t h e sides are

    c a p a c i o u s lockers a n d ano the r l uxu ry f e a t u r e , a

    s l ide-out cock ta i l c a b i n e t .

    I w a s surpr ised t o f i n d t h e same rather plain

    s i n k / c o o k e r c o m b i n a t i o n used in t h e K a m p e r ,

    a n d n o t r i m a r o u n d t h e w i n d o w , bu t in o t h e r

    respects t h e Kar isma prov ides a lot f o r its

    c o m p e t i t i v e pr ice o f £10 ,195 w i t h t h e 60 b h p

    e n g i n e . S t a n d a r d f i t m e n t s inc lude a s e c o n d

    ba t te ry w i t h assoc ia ted Zig c o n t r o l p a n e l ; Por ta

    P o t t i ; s to rage t y p e w a t e r heater by Carver ;

    w a s t e t a n k ; sw ive l l i ng cab passenger sea t ; a n d a

    f i t t e d c rocke ry se t .

    P rov id ing c o m p e t i t i o n f o r t h e Kar isma f r o m its

    o w n stable w a s A u t o h o m e s ' n e w h i g h t o p o n t h e

    Ta lbo t Express, t h e Camelot. T h e £10 ,625 pr ice

    t a g is very c lose t o t h a t o f t h e V W m o d e l w h e n

    one cons iders t h a t t h e Camelo t c o m e s o n t h e

    Express c o m p l e t e w i t h 2-l i tre eng ine a n d 5-

    speed g e a r b o x .

    The Karisma, hightop version of the best-selling Autohomes Kamper, a high specification luxury 2-berth. BELOW: Front section of the hightop in the Karisma provides capacious lockers, one fitted as slide-out cocktail cabinet, TV is standard as is fitted crockery set.

    T h e r e ' s cons iderab le n e w t h i n k i n g in t h e

    ' t h r e e - c o m p a r t m e n t ' l ayou t o f t h e n e w m o d e l .

    U p f r o n t , cab seats sw ive l t o jo in w i t h t h e pair

    b e h i n d in c rea t ing a coup le o f 2-p lace d i n e t t e s ;

    t h e y also rec l ine a n d jo in t o m a k e t w o single

    beds a n d , w i t h t h e help o f an ingen ious ly

    c o n t r i v e d rais ing f l oo r s e c t i o n , even b e c o m e

    par t o f a d o u b l e b e d .

    Un i t s in t h e cen t re o f t h e ' van p r o v i d e a w e l l

    e q u i p p e d k i t c h e n . S ink , dra iner a n d 2 -burner -

    and-gr i l l c o o k e r are f r o m t h e s m a r t , v i t reous

    enamel led range by O p t i m u s . T h e r e ' s an o v e n , a

    f r i d g e , a n d a neat ly b u i l t - i n , c o n s t a n t f l o w w a t e r

    heater .

    O ther s t a n d a r d i t ems are a r o o f l i g h t w i t h

    ex t rac to r f a n , Carver S W 1 8 0 0 heater a n d a

    w a s t e t a n k . A t t h e rear I f o u n d a to i le t recess o n

    t h e o f f s i de , e x p a n d i n g by means o f a f o l d i n g

    d o o r to enc lose the rear o f t h e 'van as a

    t o i l e t / s h o w e r / d r e s s i n g r o o m , . w i t h t h e s h o w e r

    t ray revealed o n r e m o v i n g a l i f t -ou t f l oo r pane l .

    H o l d s w o r t h w a s a n o t h e r o f t h e lead ing

    m a n u f a c t u r e r s t o i n t r o d u c e seeming ly

    c o m p e t i n g m o d e l s o n t h e V W , a n d th i s t i m e t h e

    badge-eng inee red b r o t h e r o f t h e Express, t h e

    Fiat D u c a t o . The n e w V W Variety is f i rst and

    f o r e m o s t a 2 - b e r t h , a l t h o u g h roo f b e d sec t ions

    can be p r o v i d e d fo r t h o s e w h o insist o n m o r e

    s leep ing a c c o m m o d a t i o n .

    The Fanfare m o d e l s c o m e in e levat ing roof

    f o r m , o r as h i g h t o p s us ing t h e s t a n d a r d Fiat r o o f

    a n d re ta in ing t h e fu l l - he igh t rear d o o r s . The

    m o d e l w i t h t h e H o l d s w o r t h Giant Riser roof a n d

    t h e basic H T vers ion o f t h e h i g h t o p wi l l p robab ly

    be b o u g h t f o r fami l y use ; t h e de- luxe h i g h t o p ,

    t h e H T L , w i t h t h e bene f i t o f a co rner

    t o i l e t / s h o w e r r o o m , wi l l appeal t o coup les

    seek ing l uxu ry in c o m p a c t d i m e n s i o n s .

    G. T. Motorised showed their Miami model on the 6-cylinder VW LT. Plain exterior hides a spacious and well equipped living unit.

    T h e m o s t e y e - c a t c h i n g f e a t u r e o f

    t h e n e w m o d e l s f r o m R e a d i n g is t h e

    r o u n d e d e d g e d e t a i l o f t h e f u r n i t u r e

    — e x p e n s i v e t o m a n u f a c t u r e a n d

    b r i n g i n g t h e H o l d s w o r t h ' v a n s u p t o

    t h e s t a n d a r d s s e t b y s o m e o f t h e b e s t

    m o t o r c a r a v a n s f r o m E u r o p e .

    I n n o v a t i o n is aga in very a p p a r e n t in t h e

    H o l d s w o r t h V W Var ie ty . A U-plan k i t chen over

    a n d f o r w a r d o f t h e f r o n t p o r t i o n o f t h e eng ine

    d e c k has c o o k e r o n o n e side a n d separa te s ink

    a n d dra iner o p p o s i t e , again O p t i m u s f i t t i n g s .

    B e l o w are c u p b o a r d s and an Elect ro lux 122

    f r i d g e . The layou t p rov ides t h e m o s t spac ious

    k i t c h e n a r r a n g e m e n t yet seen in t h e smal l V W .

    A t t h e rear are a b ig w a r d r o b e and m a t c h i n g

    c u p b o a r d o p p o s i t e , w h i l e f u r t h e r h igh level

    lockers in t h e h i g h t o p ensure t h a t t h e Var ie ty is

    n o t s h o r t o f s to rage space . Beh ind t h e

    s w i v e l l i n g cab sea ts , w h i c h f o r m a 2-place

    d i n e t t e , are t w o versat i le H o l d s w o r t h Flexi -

    seats . T h e y face f o r w a r d fo r t r a v e l , f o l d f o r w a r d

    t o m a k e t w o b e n c h seats f o r d in ing a n d

    l o u n g i n g , and t e a m w i t h cab seats t o m a k e

    s ingle b e d s ; t h e y can also be qu ick l y l i f ted o u t to

    create load s p a c e .

    Fibreglass m o u l d i n g s a n d carpe t are used t o

    g o o d e f fec t f o r t r i m a n d I l iked t h e n e w b lues -

    a n d - g r e y s co lour s c h e m e . A s bef i ts a luxu ry

    m o d e l , b o t h t h e 78 b h p eng ine a n d a w a t e r

    heater are inc luded in t h e s t a n d a r d pr ice o f

    £ 1 0 , 7 5 2 .

    D u c a t o Fanfare mode ls ranged f r o m jus t

    £9 ,744 fo r t h e basic e leva t ing r o o f m o d e l (1800

    e n g i n e a n d 4-speed ' b o x ) t o £11 ,586 fo r t h e H T L

    w i t h 2-l i t re eng ine a n d 5 speeds . Neat f ib reg lass

    in ter ior panels w e r e again in e v i d e n c e ; Flexi-

    seats fu l f i l led the i r role up f r o n t , and rear

    6 4 www.vwT25camper.info - a useful website for owners and enthusiasts of VW T25 / T3 / Vanagon Campervans

  • fu rn i tu re w a s similar to t h a t in H o l d s w o r t h ' s

    Renaul t Romance m o d e l s w i t h ' w r a p - a r o u n d '

    k i tchens, pract ica l a n d wel l f i t t e d , a n d p len ty o f

    c u p b o a r d space .

    A u t o - S l e e p e r s m a d e m i n o r , ma in ly c o s m e t i c ,

    changes t o the i r VT20 m o d e l o n t h e V W

    Transpor te r earlier in the year , and i t 's

    u n c h a n g e d for ' 84 . There ' s a U-shaped rear seat

    un i t , k i t chen uni t o n t h e o f f s ide w i t h t h e

    s i n k / d r a i n e r t o p f o l d i n g f o r w a r d over t h e d r i v ing

    seat to p rov ide a w o r k t o p , a n d g o o d s to rage

    prov is ion w i t h a capac ious c u p b o a r d beside the

    side d o o r a n d a large w a r d r o b e / c u p b o a r d at t h e

    rear.

    Ext remely h igh m a n u f a c t u r i n g s tandards

    ensure tha t an A u t o - S l e e p e r is a lways in

    c o n t e n t i o n , a n d t h e V W has t h e usua l ,

    i m m a c u l a t e l igh t -oak c a b i n e t w o r k t e a m e d w i t h

    superb upho ls te ry and t r i m . Se t t i ng an e x a m p l e

    t o o t h e r s , A u t o - S l e e p e r s t r i m a r o u n d t h e

    w i n d o w s in t h e caravan area. W i t h the 60 b h p

    e n g i n e , and s tanda rd f r i dge a n d louvre w i n d o w ,

    the V T 2 0 is keenly pr iced at £9 ,550 .

    D i a m o n d , w h o s tar ted t h e 2-ber th t r e n d ,

    s h o w e d the i r vehic les o n t h e T r a v e l w o r l d s t a n d ,

    and o n c e aga in th is d y n a m i c y o u n g c o m p a n y

    h a d s o m e t h i n g in te res t ing t o o f fe r . The

    Autostrada VW, p rev ious ly a lmos t ident ica l to

    the m o d e l inher i ted f r o m t h e or ig inal D a n b u r y

    c o m p a n y , has been c o m p l e t e l y rev ised.

    Ava i lab le in e i ther e leva t ing roo f or h i g h t o p

    f o r m , it fea tu res swive l cab seats c o m b i n i n g

    w i t h a s ing le , s imi lar seat in t h e cen t re o f the

    ' v a n t o m a k e a 3-seater g r o u p , and w i t h t h e rear

    b e n c h seat t o a c c o m m o d a t e f i ve — all f ac ing

    f o r w a r d fo r t rave l . The rear seat sl ides and

    recl ines t o m a k e the b e d w i t h the ove r -eng ine

    c u s h i o n , a n d t w o b u n k s can be f i t t ed a l o f t .

    The o f fs ide k i t chen is O p t i m u s - e q u i p p e d ;

    t he re ' s s m a r t , l ight oak c a b i n e t w o r k ;

    c o m p r e h e n s i v e t r i m ( inc lud ing a r o u n d

    w i n d o w s ) ; t h o r o u g h insu la t ion and l ined

    c u r t a i n s . O p t i o n s inc lude w a t e r heater , w a s t e

    t a n k , ma ins inpu t a n d cent ra l h e a t i n g .

    B o t h D i a m o n d m o d e l s , A u t o c r u i s e r

    a n d A u t o s t r a d a , o n t h e T r a n s p o r t e r

    a re n o w a l s o a v a i l a b l e w i t h t h e ' E l i t e '

    New concept interior of Holdsworth's VW Variety. U-shaped kitchen provides most space ever in a Transporter, storage is grouped in rear and Flexi-seat units give versatile arrange-ments in lounge/sleeping

    p a c k a g e . E x t e r n a l l y i t a d d s a s p a r k l e

    t o t h e D i a m o n d s w h i c h c a n n o t b e

    i g n o r e d . T h e r e ' s a 4 - h e a d l i g h t

    c o n v e r s i o n , b u m p e r c o w l s f r o n t a n d

    r e a r w i t h i n t e g r a l s p o i l e r s , a n d i n t h e

    s a m e b r o n z e c o l o u r , r o o f s i d e p a n e l s

    a n d g r o u n d e f f e c t s k i r t p a n e l s .

    Internal ex t ras w i t h the p a c k a g e , w h i c h l i f ts

    t h e D i a m o n d m o d e l s in to t h e £11 ,000 b r a c k e t ,

    inc lude s tandard w a t e r heater and cent ra l

    hea t ing and a ' w i n t e r i z i n g ' kit t o m a k e the 'vans

    t r u e a l l - year - rounders .

    Last bu t n o t least o f t h e n e w T r a n s p o r t e r

    m o d e l s at Earls Cour t w a s the Hi/ton f r o m M 1

    Leisure Cent re . The nove l k i t chen a r r a n g e m e n t

    is set at t h e f o r w a r d e d g e o f t h e eng ine d e c k ,

    and we l l e q u i p p e d . N u m e r o u s c u p b o a r d s m a k e

    for a m p l e s to rage , one be ing ded ica ted t o t h e

    Por ta P o t t i , wh i le louvre doo rs at the cent re o f

    t h e rear un i t g ive in terna l access t o t h e rear

    s to rage w e l l . A c lever a r r a n g e m e n t o f a f o l d i n g

    door a n d a door s l id ing o u t across t h e rear

    w o r k t o p pact ions o f f the space at the o f fs ide o f

    t h e k i t c h e n area as a t o i l e t / s h o w e r

    c o m p a r t m e n t .

    Channels in t h e f lat f loor p rov ide for d ra inage

    w h e n s h o w e r i n g , b u t I a m d o u b t f u l o f the i r l ikely

    e f f i c i ency . A t the f r o n t o f the ' van swive l l ing cab

    seats and a doub le seat beh ind prov ide seats fo r

    t rave l , d in ing and l o u n g i n g , a n d , th is clever

    s y s t e m can also p rov ide a .pe rmuta t i on o f bed

    a r r a n g e m e n t s . I d i d n ' t see a pr ice o n th is

    in terest ing n e w c o m e r , w h i c h c o n t r a s t e d w i t h

    the d a t e d look o f t h e rest o f t h e ' vans s h o w n by

    M l .

    V o l k s w a g e n ' s LT has lost g r o u n d t o the

    M e r c e d e s 200 and 300 series vehic les as a m o t o r

    ca ravan base in recent years , a n d pr ice has h a d

    a lot t o do w i t h t h a t . It w a s g o o d t o see t h e V W

    back in c o n t e n t i o n th is year, re juvenated by

    superb 6-cy l inder pe t ro l and diesel eng ines

    w h i c h deserve t o b r ing t h e m o d e l success .

    A u t o - T r a i l had a coachbu i l t o f c o n v e n t i o n a l ,

    rear d i n e t t e , layout o n the L T 3 5 . C a b i n e t w o r k in

    a l ight oak f in ish a n d upho ls te ry are exce l len t ,

    a l t h o u g h I w o u l d have e x p e c t e d a h igher

    spec i f i ca t ion fo r a 'van in th is c lass. The r o u n d ,

    stainless sink and 2-burner -p lus-gr i l l cooker are

    s u c h as o n e f i nds in b u d g e t - p r i c e d panel v a n

    c o n v e r s i o n s , but there is an o v e n and a Pa loma

    V w a t e r heater .

    The pr ice is keenly p i t ched at £ 1 4 , 9 4 1 , jus t a

    f e w p o u n d s less t h a n t h e same b o d y on t h e

    Mercedes 207D chassis , a l t h o u g h tha t o f fe rs the

    a d v a n t a g e of a diesel eng ine (£1,400 ext ra o n

    t h e L T ) .

    For the really we l l -hee led V W m o t o r caravan

    en thus ias t w i t h a r o u n d £20,000 t o s p e n d , G T

    M o t o r i s e d s h o w e d thei r Miami b o d y o n t h e

    LT40 chass is (and o f f e r e d as an o p t i o n t o s u p p l y

    the m o d e l on the 105 b h p tu rbo-d iese l LT501) .

    There w a s rear to i le t r o o m , cen t re k i t chen w i t h

    4 - b u r n e r - a n d - o v e n c o o k e r a n d t h e b ig Elect ro lux

    R M 4 0 0 f r i dge m o u n t e d o p p o s i t e , a n d a long

    set tee a n d a d ine t te in t h e f o r w a r d part o f the

    l iv ing area.

    VIV LT Miami has large rear toilet compartment, kitchen complete with 4-burner and oven cooker, and dinette plus 'Gaucho' settee forward.

    L ight oak w a s again t h e cho ice fo r

    c a b i n e t w o r k , the l ight co lou r c o n t r i b u t i n g to the

    air o f spac iousness , a n d there w a s b l o w n air

    cent ra l hea t ing a n d e v e r y t h i n g else o n e w o u l d

    expec t fo r t h e p r ice .

    T h e M i a m i m i g h t b e t h e ' v a n t o

    d r e a m a b o u t , b u t f e w c o u l d r a i s e t h e

    p r i c e . T h o s e w h o c o n t e m p l a t e a n e w

    V W - b a s e d m o t o r c a r a v a n t o d a y h a v e

    t o t h i n k o f r a i s i n g a r o u n d £10 ,000 ,

    a n d f o r t h a t p r i c e t h e r e is n o w a

    c o m p l e t e l y n e w c o n c e p t V W - b a s e d

    m o t o r c a r a v a n a v a i l a b l e . I t ' s b u i l t o n

    t h e G o l f p i c k - u p ( t h e C a d d y , s a d l y

    n o t n o r m a l l y a v a i l a b l e i n t h e U K a n d

    o n l y b u i l t i n l e f t - h a n d d r i v e f o r m ) , i t

    d r i v e s l i k e a c a r a n d i t ' s a v e h i c l e f o r

    e v e r y d a y , f o r p l e a s u r e o r b u s i n e s s .

    For b o t h p e r f o r m a n c e a n d e c o n o m y it w i l l

    be t te r v i r tua l ly a n y t h i n g tha t calls itself a m o t o r

    c a r a v a n . I t 's ca l led the B ischo fberger Family, is

    bu i l t in G e r m a n y a n d i m p o r t e d by M a d i s o n s

    M o t o r Caravan Centre o f P res ton .

    The Fami ly b o d y is all f ib reg lass, sleek and

    s ty l i sh , and is d e m o u n t a b l e us ing fou r j ack ing

    legs . On t h e Gol f C a d d y it g ives an overal l l e n g t h

    o f 16 f t , w i t h o n l y 1 ft 8 in o v e r h a n g b e y o n d the

    C a d d y ' s load p l a t f o r m ; is 6 f t 3 in w i d e a n d 6 f t

    6^ in h i g h . A f r o n t - h i n g e d e levat ing roo f

    p rov ides h e a d r o o m a n d a c c o m m o d a t e s an

    upper b e d , a fu l l d o u b l e , w h i c h pul ls o u t f r o m

    above the c a b .

    I n w a r d fac ing seats in t h e f o r w a r d part o f the

    b o d y c o n v e r t t o a t ransverse b e d , bu t o n l y 5 f t 7

    in l o n g , or by ex t ra -cos t o p t i o n s a 6 - foo t -p lus

    bed can be f o r m e d e x t e n d i n g in to t h e c a b . Uni ts

    at t h e rear p rov ide o n o n e side a k i t chen un i t

    w i t h s ink, 2 -burner cooke r , f r idge a n d a smal l

    w o r k t o p area, a n d oppos i te a w a r d r o b e a n d a

    large c u p b o a r d w i t h gas bo t t l e locker in its base.

    For t ravel t h e caravan seat ing can be rear ranged

    to f o r m a car -s ty le , f o r w a r d fac ing seat f o r t w o .

    T h e c o m p a c t B ischo fberger uni t p rov ides all

    t h a t o n e e x p e c t s in a g o o d panel van

    c o n v e r s i o n , w h i l e its level o f insulat ion s h o u l d

    be t te r tha t o f any m e t a l - b o d i e d ' v a n ; it has

    2 5 m m th i ck plast ic f o a m l in ing and d o u b l e

    g lazed w i n d o w s . Ava i lab le w i t h t h e 1.6 l i tre

    pe t ro l or diesel eng ines , it can prov ide

    o u t s t a n d i n g e c o n o m y by m o t o r caravan

    s tandards — over 30 m p g in pet ro l f o r m , w h i l e

    t h o s e w i t h a gen t le r ight f o o t m i g h t squeeze 50

    m p g f r o m the d iesel . The basic m o d e l w i l l cost

    £9 ,995 e x - w o r k s , a l t h o u g h t h e S h o w m o d e l ,

    d ressed up w i t h Kamei ex t ras ( inc lud ing t h e

    rep lacemen t f r o n t gri l le w i t h 4-headl ight

    conve rs ion and spoi ler) a n d w i t h v i r tua l ly the

    w h o l e range of op t i ona l ex t ras , w o u l d have cost

    near ly £2 ,000 m o r e .

    M a d i s o n s , w h o have been i m p o r t i n g Tabbert

    m o t o r h o m e s s ince early last year , have b e c o m e

    special is ts in G e r m a n m o t o r ca ravans . A l so o n

    the i r Earls Cour t s tand w e r e A-c lass (purpose-

    bui l t b o d y a n d cab) m o d e l s f r o m G e r m a n y ' s

    lead ing p r o d u c e r H y m e r . T h e Ford Trans i t

    based 522 , a 1 7 i - f o o t e r , l o o k e d excep t iona l

    va lue at £14 ,995 , spac ious w i t h a h igh s tandard

    o f c o n s t r u c t i o n a n d wel l e q u i p p e d . Other

    m o d e l s are all o n t h e Mercedes chassis a n d run

    u p t o pr ices o f over £ 4 0 , 0 0 0 !

    There ' s no V W LT-based m o d e l in the

    H y m b e r m o b i l range ye t , but the n e w 6-cyl inder

    V o l k s w a g e n s are t o o g o o d t o i gno re . Perhaps

    nex t year w e ' l l see German-bu i l t m o t o r h o m e s o n

    t h e LT to add still m o r e interest to t h e L o n d o n

    s h o w for V o l k s w a g e n fans .

    6 5 www.vwT25camper.info - a useful website for owners and enthusiasts of VW T25 / T3 / Vanagon Campervans

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