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Van of the day
Dodge Van Commercial
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Van of the day
VW Combi turns 60
The Volkswagen camper van celebrates 60 years of production this year – and for its generations of fans, the love affair is far from over.
They lie on their backs in oil, get pulled from side to side by their brakes and greet steep hills with a nervous sigh but when you are truly in love nothing really matters.
The owners of vintage VW camper vans are a dedicated bunch, lavishing care, attention and money on their beloved wheels.
They are the first to admit their “Combis” stop badly, weigh a ton, are underpowered and prone to electrical failure – but despite the faults, they remain a magnetic pull.
Campers have been the vehicle of choice for globe trotters, festival-goers, surfers and rock stars for six decades.
Love wagon: Romeo and Juliet in the Globe theatre’s touring production
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So what is the appeal, and why, like the Routemaster bus or Mini, is the humble van so revered?
Long-term owner Adrian Ward, 45, has more than 25 years experience restoring them and runs a dedicated Camper van garage in Bournemouth.
“They force you to take it easy, force you to slow down, if you’re in a hurry then forget it,” he explains.
“There’s a driving position you develop – this slouch with your elbows resting on the wheel and you lent over it. All of a sudden you can take it easy and watch everyone fly past you.
“There’s a well known phrase, ‘it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey’ – that’s very apt when you’re in a camper.”
‘Mobile office’
Mr Ward owns one of the rarest of all models – a 23-window Samba from 1962, originally built for touring in the Alps and worth about £30,000.
He has bought more than 40 Combis over the years, which he says are fun, yet versatile enough to “run to the shops or take the family away on holiday”.
Former farmer Rev Lockett uses his van to get to know his flock better
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But it is not just those “in the scene” who have fallen for the dual charms of form and function.
In 2007, when the Globe theatre sent a company out on tour for the first time in 400 years, they wheeled in a camper.
Just like the Elizabethan horse and cart it replaced, the van was packed with costumes and props then incorporated into the production – in this case Romeo and Juliet.
In rural Herefordshire, a vicar of five Wye Dore parishes still uses his 1973 model to reach out to his flock and spread his message.
Rev Simon Lockett, or the Rolling Rev to locals, says he spends a week at a time in the summer camping out in three parish villages to made himself more accessible and visible.
The 43-year-old said: “I guess it’s the iconic status that appeals. The youngsters love it but it also acts as a mobile office and I can sit and use the laptop.”
Campers, particularly the rarer split-screen models, have become increasingly collectable. Good examples fetch about £13,000 and the best upwards of £25,000.
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CAMPER VAN BY ANY OTHER NAME
 Hippy van – popularity with the 1960s/70s counterculture movement
Vee-dub – two syllable variation of company name VW
Transporter, Kombi – the original German names, spawning the variant Combi
Splitty – Versions produced before 1967 used a split front windshield
Breadloaf – its design looks like bread baked in a mould
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The rarest of all – an early Barndoor Samba, of which there are just a handful worldwide – would set you back at least £60,000.
One producer in Germany will even ship one containing a six cylinder Porsche 911 engine for 150,000 euros (£127,000) – but the waiting list is five years.
The camper van began life as a wagon to carry panels around VW’s car plant in Wolfsburg, until it was spotted in the late 1940s by Dutch importer Ben Pon.
He made sketches based on the vehicle then struck a deal with engineers to develop them – spawning the first model complete with cylindrical headlights, split windscreen and famous circular logo.
Synonymous with 1960s counter culture, the vehicles have never lost their popularity.
Celebrity chef Jamie Oliver travelled around Italy in one for his Great Escape TV show and they continue to feature in countless TV adverts – Dorset Cereals and the Halifax to name two recent examples.
60,000-mile trek
Mike Johnson, 36, from Southampton edits the newsletter of the Split Screen Van Club (SSVC) and has owned his 1959 model for six years.
“Even though they are iconic and cool vehicles, it’s function not form that really sets them apart from other classics,” he says.
“We use it as a family camper, a run around, a parts hauler and for VW shows… and I love every minute.”
SSVC president Neil Smart, 48, says the media has driven much of the interest, along with renewed interest in 60s and 70s music, and surf wear.
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CELEBRITY OWNERS
 F1 racer Jenson Button
The Who’s Pete Townshend
The Who’s Roger Daltry
Actor Martin Clunes
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He says more than anything else, he values the friendships and camaraderie he has developed with fellow enthusiasts.
VW drivers famously acknowledge each other on the road with a special wave or sign – an open hand with the three middle fingers folded to the palm.
There are upwards of 65 Volkswagen shows and rallies in England every year, plus a handful in Wales, Scotland and Ireland.
Tales of marathon journeys are not uncommon. In 2000 a US couple gave up their corporate jobs and clocked up 60,000 miles over three years touring Mexico, Central America, South America and Africa in their 1978 van.
Two years ago Mr Smart made his favourite of all road trips in Europe along with five other split-screen van owners.
“We took six splitties down to Austria, driving 2,500 miles in 13 days, and it [his van] never missed a beat,” he said.
“Everyone was waving and taking pictures, we were treated like kings and queens because we’d made such an effort to go.”
source BBC
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The Queen’s fire service
On a jaunt into town,
I couldn’t help but notice what van our regent’s fire service drives.
I do like the livery, very impressive.
So what do you think, Vauxhall or Renault?
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UK Police Livery
Its interesting to see the different usages our Bobbies have for the Sprinter and the different colours they use around the country.
We’ll start in the North and work our way South.
Here, West Yorkshire Police
Merseyside police, video unit
The Met with a nine seater immediate response
And Devon and Cornwall
Have you seen any other interesting versions?
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MB Sprinter Safety Van 2010
Speaks for itself really…
Loading ...Technology / Going green, Van of the day
Battery-electric drive Vito in Lapland
Brrr, it’s chilly out there! With temperatures of up to minus 30 degrees, handling tests on sheet ice, compacted snow and public roads: these were the conditions faced recently by the prototype of the Mercedes-Benz Vito with battery-electric drive.
The Vito with electric drive has to also pass all the same tests as combustion-engine Vito.
Van developers traditionally test new vehicles and components each winter in the far north, in Arjeplog/Sweden, just an hour’s drive from the Artic circle.
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It’s a ch-ch-chainreaction!
I am sure you all know where this is going.
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Intelligent commercial vehicle
No it is not kit from Knight Rider but the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter
Sprinter range
State-of-the-art and dynamic, the stabilizing system includes;
ABS,
Acceleration Skid Control,
Load Adaptive Control,
electronic brake force distribution,
brake assist,
Roll Over Mitigation, and understeering control.
Safety Sprinter
Protecting drivers and passengers: the most important job the Mercedes-Benz Sprinter performs – a job that shouldn’t be left to just one feature alone.
Three-point integral safety belts and headrests keep you seated securely.
Standard driver and front passenger, optional thorax and side-curtain air bags add extra protection. And, self-adjusting, high intensity headlights illuminate the road ahead while an optional, rear view camera aids in reversing and maneuvering.
For a work van or truck, it’s always good looking out for what’s inside as well as outside.
Do you know of any features I’ve missed?
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Firetruck gone wild!
Wheelys are always worth watching.
This time its a firetruck.
Don’t try this at home!
And if you do make sure that your home is big enough.
Loading ...Custom Vans, Off Topics, Van of the day, Vintage Vans
The A-Team Van is for sale/rent
The van we all wanted to drive since we were kids...
I just joined the community here, but thought it would be nice to share my newest finding on the web with you guys: The A-Team Van!
Did you watch the A-Team series back when you were a kid? And didn’t we all wished to have a van just like the A-Team? Watch this video on youtube:
And the best, you can even buy or rent the A-Team Van yourself, just have a look at http://www.theateamvan.com. This van certainly rocks! What do you think? Any other cool Vans you came across?
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Happy Birthday Sprinter
Since January 1995 2 Million Mercedes-Benz Sprinters have found their way on to the road.
It was the company’s first commercial vehicle to be known by a name instead of an abbreviation or combination of numbers.
The Sprinter had some very big shoes to fill at the time: it was the successor to the T1 van, also referred to internally as the “Bremen” van.
The Mercedes-Benz TN light van startet out in 1977 and was named after the plant where it was first built. This production site used to be a former production plant of Borgward. A company that produced famous cars like the Borgward Isabella. In 18 years nearly 1million vans of the Bremen type have been built, but that’s another story.
Back to the Sprinter. Since 1995 almost 2 million Sprinters have left the plant. This number, in combination with the countless new safety features onleaves the impression that the Sprinter is defintely the van of a decade.
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Avoid suprises
This was a tip from my mate the Van master, check it out!
Thanks V.M
Loading ...Off Topics, Van of the day
THE MOST LUXURIOUS BUS IN THE WORLD
So, ok I admit it is a motor home but just check this thing out!!
Is there room for an helicopter landing pad on top?
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Mercedes vito or VW Transporter T5? See for yourself.
Here is a good look at the two.
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It is all about safety and one firm is leading the way!
Especially at this time of year with tough road conditions safety is the focus!
One firm is leading the way, just watch this……
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