Author(s): David & Cee Eccles

Literature

'A camper is not just a camper. It's whatever you want it to be.'

Introduced in the 1950s, the campervan was designed to be multi- functional. Since then, it has taken on a life of its own, or rather, it has been taken into the lives of its owners.
Some treat them as an extension of their home, others undertake epic journeys in them, across desert and sea, through Europe, Asia and Africa. Some strap surfboards to the roof and head for the nearest beach, while others soup up the engines and take them drag racing in Santa Pod. All will spend hours restoring and customising them and even more talking about them with fellow bus owners.

Campervan Crazy is a tribute to this passion, to the owners who have lavished time, effort and inspiration on their vans, and, of course, to the campervan itself. It traces the cult of the campervan, from family runabouts to holiday home and design icon. Above all else, the campervan is living history and you will find chapters dedicated to 'births, marriages and deaths', 'wide-eyed wanderers' as well as some 'buses behaving badly'. 'Paint your volkswagon!', 'interior design' and 'showing off' are devoted to the campervan as a sign of individuality, whether expressed in loving restoration or creative adaptation.
Obsession or addiction? See for yourself.