I find it difficult to believe that no matter what car you currently drive and spend your time & money modifying, you have a little list, be it in your head, on Facebook, written down on a Post-It note or a group of pictures on your PC, of cars that are your dream projects, or dream cars to own. I’d also like to place money that in amongst dream this list, 90% of you will have a VW Campervan on it!
So when “The Worlds Largest VW Transporter Show” hit the Malvern Hills in Worcestershire, I felt the urge to get down there to take a look round some of these amazing vans to find out exactly why people go mad for them!
Now, I’m no dubber, I own a fleet of Japanese vehicles, and am often known for ribbing mates, and other car owners for having VWs and laughing at their reliability etc, however it’s also common knowledge that given the choice, all my vehicles would go for the chance to own a lovely split window bus!
I can’t put my finger on what it is, it’s basically a 50 year old MPV, with a crappy air-cooled engine, about the same break horsepower I expect to find in most of my kitchen appliances and more rotten panels than solid ones, there is just something magical about VW’s brand when it comes to Campers and Transporters, a brand that has developed right up to this present day with Volkswagen itself proudly displaying the latest MY60 ‘plate models of the Transporter.
Vanfest is huge, and I mean huge, there are 5 or 6 fields, and I mean fields filled to the brim with VWs from all ages and owners from all ages, whole families show up with the family bus, there are late teen, surf dudes (and dudettes) with their practical Transporters, usually covered in surfboards and stickers right through to your retired couple, with Bertie the ‘72 bay window bus that the tootle round the country in, it couldn’t get any more diverse!
The standard at Vanfest has to be seen to be believed, the photos I’ve put on Garage Awesome are just a mere snapshot of a wide range of amazing machines, some that date back to the ‘50s that have been perfectly restored to better than factory condition, some customised to scrape the road with the chassis and bumpers, and the ones that have an inside that you would more than fancy in your own lounge or bedroom!
It’s also the only brand where walking round, the crappy ones get the same attention and looks that the mint ones do, honestly, take a look at some of the pics in the gallery, some look like they have been dug up the day before, they have dents, and rust, and scrapes, and bits hanging off, but again they have this charm and have had a whole scene built around them.
Now these vehicles ain’t cheap, walking round the few that were for sale, windscreen prices of 15, 20 and even 25k were common, you can get some for around £10,000 but be prepared for some work to be done and right at the top end it’s not too unusual for show winners to change hands for £40,000 especially those really early split screen vans.
The community is what makes Vanfest; the campers all come together at night, they’re all sharing stories, there’s hundreds of traders and specialists to help with restorations and projects, and Vanfest is an ideal place to pick up that bargain or part you were looking all over for.
Being my 3rd year at Vanfest I knew what to expect, but every year I come away thinking ‘what a great day’, and I must start saving for one, and at a day entry price of just £10, it’s gotta be on your list for 2011, take the kids, take the missus and have a look round some of the most interesting and loved vehicles you’re ever likely to see in one place! Garage Awesome loves Vanfest!
Pic Credits – Ollie Novell
