Mini-Cab from Straume

Camper superstructures on pickups are typically American. Something you associate with lumber jackets and wilderness. The other day we came across an all-Norwegian superstructure from Straume outside Bergen.

 

Solid and simple

We had to delve into old issues of "Caravan" - the Norwegian Caravan Club's member magazine to find out more about this superstructure. It is cast in fiberglass, is approximately 3,5 meters long and fully insulated with Divinycell. It weighs 500 kg and can be attached in 10 minutes. In the car in the photo, the camping section appears to be attached with cargo straps. There is sleeping space for 4. According to the owner, the table can be folded down and the bed upstairs pulled out, so it becomes 20 cm wider.

Produced in the 80s

The company that made the Mini-Cab was registered under A/S Bolig Installasjon. According to the telephone number for the production department, it is a local production at Straume outside Bergen. The magazine Caravan contains both advertisements and mentions of the Mini-Cab throughout 1988, but from 1989 all tracks end. Mini-Cab is then no longer included in product overviews. Bolig Installasjon exists at the same address, but was established in 1989 - i.e. after production of the Mini-Cab stopped. Probably a re-establishment.

 

For older Japanese pickups

Mini-Cab superstructures appear in the used columns in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. The picture (th) is one that has been for sale. They are tight and can withstand being left outside. According to the advertisement, they are adapted to Japanese pickups such as Nissan King Cab, Toyota Hilux and Mitsubishi L200. Ideally, it is perhaps best suited to a 1,5-cabin pickup. The car pictured is a 2005 Ford Ranger Single Cab manufactured in Rayong, Thailand. It takes a payload of 1075 kg. Since it is a single cabin, the plane is so large that there is a small space between the camper and the cabin on the pickup. If you have a newer or American car, you should check that the outer dimensions of the frames are not too wide.

Uncertain fate

We do not know whether the production of the Mini-Cab was taken over by others, or whether it continued under a different name. Maybe other fiberglass production? In any case, the Mini-Cab is part of Norwegian car history.

Mini-Cab Straume - photos

About the pictures

The photos were taken at Skillebekk in Oslo.

 

The owner, Jan Hansgard, has provided information which I have corrected in the text. He also had the old advertisement on Finn.no with the original catalogue. Front and back. Click on the images to view them in full size.

 

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