We put VW Split screen vans on the way down in our Trends for 2008, mainly due to a saturated market combined with continued high prices. For those with tighter pockets and those that want to stand out from the crowd, we thought it was worth showing you some of the alternatives on the run up to summer (in Europe at least).
Lets start with the older vans.
A good start is the Commer PB van, there are many many camper converted ones around already, they are more spacious than an equivalent VW van which makes them a very practical solution for all those show trips. What's more they come with rear wheel skirts, which is always a great thing. There are a few modified ones floating around, one of the most inspirational being this one that lives in New Zealand
They already have a following so you can jump right in safe in the knowledge there is a support network!
If you fancy a trip to Germany to pick up a camper then eschew the usual Bavarian choice and go back to a time when Ford made different cars in different European countries. The Transit FK was the van that Germany got when we had the Mk1 Transit Thames*. They can certainly look cool with a little bit of work
The joy doesn't stop there. If we cast our eyes Eastwards (at least from where I'm sitting) you get a great selection of campers and mini vans from the land of the rising sun.
The Toyota HiAce is by far the most populous of these now days with many camper converted ones from the 70's still floating around which have a reputation for reliability and can certainly be made to look the business.
We're just waiting for someone to stuff a 1JZ engine in one and take it down the strip.
The HiAce badge carries on till present day and the eighties ones really look the part as well.
Nissan offered us the Urvan and the Caravan which are both around in limited numbers in the UK and Europe and in more plentiful supply in other parts of the rest of the world.
For our money though the Toyota Space Cruiser is where its at, cheap, plentiful with parts available, can be made to look awesome, can be used as a day van or converted to camper, we'd just love to see more modified ones.
No list of cool alternative vans would be complete without the guys from Barracuda and their funky vans
This isn't even half the tip of the iceberg, you've got Transit, Liteace, Mazda E2000, Morris J and a host of others, so next time you fancy a comfortable place to sleep with wheels, have a look further than the VW classifieds, blaze your own trail.
*edit : Thanks to Dave who owns the lovely blue Transit FK for the correction
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