Commer Camper Van Wanted

[oman5]

I reckon classic campers not really effected by "scene" tax that you are likely to find easily are the Bedford CF and to a lesser extent the CA, sherpa and mk2 transit (although these are now on the rise)

Having driven both, I cannot believe how expensive Commers and VWs are, I'd describe them as mediocre at best. the commer is a '50s design and shows it- unless you have overdrive 55mph is the realistic cruising speed due to low gearing- similar deal with the VW, and they are both crap on fuel. I would like a commer, but it was left behind dynamically in 1965. however, with the front wheel handbrake they are great for doing stoppies.

[catsinthewelder]

We spent a while half heartedly looking for a camper project. I didn't want a VW due to the whole scene thing and was looking out for an old Transit or Commer.

 

A friend offered us the bay for £500 as she wanted rid and if me and another mate hadn't been able to get it started I probably wouldn't have bothered.

 

I'm glad that I did though, the patten parts might be crap at times but at least they are easily obtainable. The scene doesn't begin and end with the mouth breathers on Vzi either, theres plenty of nice intelligent people interested in old VW's especially if you look at the people who are more interested in the camping than the "me too's" at the shows.

 

Another big plus point of the side door VW campers is the interior layout generally gives you a back seat that you can fit seatbelts to for kids. I'm sure you could use this layout in a Sherpa or Transit but they always seem to come with side facing seats at the back which converts to a bed, much like a caravan.

 

So all in all I'm going to stick with her (and muse on a Commer fitted with an XUD for when the kids leave home)

 

Barefoot, is that cheap awning on offer to any of us? Where are you again?

[worldofceri]

...one of the things that does annoy about the Camper scene is that it attracts folk who actually don't understand that these vehicles are essentially classic cars and need a degree of mechanical competance and or support to keep on the road safely,

 

A friend of mine's sister has just spent the best part of £10K on a Bay Window camper, blowing a large proportion of an inheritance in the process. She already has a '64 Beetle (although she's selling it) and an MX-5. She's would never even have considered a Commer, Bedford, Transit or Sherpa; she bought the VW because they're cool and have a 'scene'. This is what scene tax is: people like her will pay inflated prices in order to be trendy. (If Nina off of Nina & the Neurons has one it must be groovy.)

 

The value of all campers has definitely shot up though. I paid £820 for my old CF a few years ago and hardly had to spend a penny on it for at least six months, by which time I must have covered around 2500 miles. I don't think there's anything other than projects out there for less than a grand now.