Talbot Express, Auto-Sleeper Harmony The Harmony campervan was a hightop model from the 1980s and early 90s based on the Talbot Express/Fiat Ducato van. This was a 2+2 berth example, with a double bed below and two children sleeping area in the roof. The upper bed was made up using sliding board sections with a foam covering, only really suitable for children or perhaps one small(ish) adult. There were opening windows either side of the roof (with fitted curtains), and a 12v light. This was a five door model, with cab doors, side sliding door, and two rear opening doors. Most examples ..read more

 It was a long time coming, but finally a book dedicated purely to the various campervans and motorhomes produced on the Rootes/Chrysler Commer chassis. The papaerback edition is A5 in size, and printed in full colour throughout. Similar in style and format to the much loved 'Olyslager' motor manuals of the 60s and 70s. Pictured alongside the Commer manual by Olyslager, the Commer campervan book is a similar size I became a little frustrated that there were no titles available in print which were exclusively about the various Commer campervans, especially in light of the fact ..read more

 Classic & retro vanlife, vehicle profiles... In this blog, I am going to take a look back at some campervan profile sheets I produced some years ago for the now defunct 'Motor Caravan Magazine' in the UK. These were a 'cut-out-and-keep' profile included within the magazine over a period of weeks, featuring some of the popular classic British campers and motorhomes. These were written under the pseudonym of 'Perry Thacker', but of course I am better known as Martin Watts, campervan historian/author and general classic motorhome nut!  Let's start with on ..read more

                  The Best Vanlife Books  Since the pandemic, the #vanlife phenomenon has gone absolutely nuts! Prior to the phrase 'vanlife', most of us, well versed in all things leisure vehicle related, were simply referring to it as campervanlife, but as is the trend these days, words are being shortened and language is evolving. Why bother saying 'delicious' when 'delish' will suffice or definatley when 'deffo' will do, you get my drift? So what is 'vanlife'? Well, there are generally two schools of thought, for those that live f ..read more

 Beatles tour vans 1960-66... and other famous band-vans An Austin van, similar to this one, also with two-tone pantwork, was owned by the first Beatles manager Alan Williams, and used by them in the UK and on their journey to Hamburg As a freelance writer, author of four books, and historian on the subject of campervans and motorhomes, I also have an avid interest in classic light commercial vehicles/vans of the 50s, 60s and 70s.Another of my interests is music (listening not playing), and in particular the music and bands of the 60s and 70s. I was fortunate to see ..read more

                                                  The Beatles in Worcester....shire Given that The Beatles played just about every corner of the UK during their pre-1966 touring career, it was only natural that they would play some counties in Britain more than once. First performing as the 'Quarrymen' and later 'The Silver Beatles', before becoming simply, 'The Beatles', it goes without saying that their hometown of Liverpool was treated to more performances than ..read more

Making minor improvements to the interior of a Westfalia Joker, based on the VW T25/Vanagon. As any owner of a panel van camper conversion is well aware, making use of all available space within the confines of such a small living area is vital. Some owners go to the extreme when adding additional storage space by cutting, removing and altering units within the van. Personally, I prefer to simply keep the originality of a classic vehicle by adding storage pockets, or creating extra storage from voids not used by the manufacturer. When I use the term 'void', I am referring to the spaces su ..read more

 Warners motorhome shows have been a staple 'must visit' attraction on the UK scene for several years. They combine the camaraderie of camping with fellow motorhome/campervan enthusiasts, with a themed music event which lasts for four days. Dotted around the UK at various well known showgrounds, they are well attended, well organised and represent excellent value, given that they include four nights camping with a variety of live music acts. Check out the various shows around the UK here; Motorhome & Caravan Shows - Out and About Live  The themed music events will appeal ..read more

 Those residents outside of the UK might be unfamiliar with the light commercial van chassis launched in 1952 by Vauxhall in the Britain. 2022 marks the 70th anniversary of a vehicle which would not only change the face of deliveries in the UK,  but would create a new base for a campervan, that would come to be known as the 'Dormobile'. The brainchild of Martin Walter Ltd, based in Folkestone,  the Bedford CA Dormobile would bring the outdoor leisure lifestyle to postwar Britain. It would also alter the face of road transport in the UK as it became a familiar sight in various ..read more

  Anyone with a passion for bygones, be they antique items, mid-century collectibles, and of course,  vehicles, will no doubt have made many purchases of said items in their preferred field; mine of course is classic British motorhomes and campervans. Someone asked me recently how many I had owned over the years, and starting to recall them all, sort of amazed me to be honest. I/we have jumped between smaller campervans with poptop roofs and hightop fibreglass roofs, to the larger coachbuilt motorhome, depending on our lifestyle at that moment in time. The collage above is just a ..read more