Motorhome

Terje's cars are not about big new motorhomes. We refer to the motorhomes that have a few years behind them and that were made for most people in the 60s, 70s or 80s.

Motorhome with pig snout

Posted 12/12/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

peugeot d4 — The model that became known for its pig snout. Here converted into a camping car.

If you convert a vintage car into a camper, you can create your own time bubble and spend many days in it.

A rolling project

The car in the pictures has registration numbers from more recent times, but lacks a visible insurance certificate in the windscreen, which is mandatory in France. Through the front window I could make out the wood or wood veneer furnishings that are typical for camper vans. The superstructure above the roof looks like a sleeping alcove and the patina testifies that it has accompanied the car for many years. This may seem like a rolling project. A fully equipped car can be used for retro camping.

Hippie culture

I took the photos earlier this autumn - in a village in the south of France. There, it is possible for people seeking freedom to live in mobile homes all year round. Not big, expensive camper vans, but simple "hippie buses" based on older Volkswagen T3, Ford Transit or similar that can easily be parked in regular public car parks with public toilets nearby.

Few copies left

The vehicle in the pictures may have had a past as a hippie bus, but now it was parked in a nice residential area. A car like this is special in several ways. First of all because it is more than 60 years old Peugeot D4 - a model that is very rare - even in France. The Doningen is also interesting for its very special superstructure. With some work, this could be the coolest RV on any campsite!

It's not every day you come across a Peugeot D4 with active registration numbers.

Model history

The first edition of this model was called D3. It was developed during the war and put into production from 1947 by the car manufacturer Chenard-Walcker. The engines were supplied by Peugeot and were the same engine that was in the Peugeot 202 of the time. However, the engines went out of production when the Peugeot 203 was launched. According to the websites of Friends of Chenard & Walcker refused Peugeot to deliver the new 203 engines to Chenard-Walcker, which contributed to the company's failure and eventually being taken over by Peugeot. The D3 was the company's last model - which became a new, long-awaited model at Peugeot. The Peugeot D3 was produced in several series - all with engines taken from Peugeot's passenger car programme, first from the 203, - later from the 403. From 1955, the model was called the Peugeot D4.

Modern technology

Apart from the changes under the engine compartment, only minimal changes were made to the appearance. In the vernacular, the special front part was referred to as the "pig's snout" (nez de cochon). Despite the old-fashioned appearance, the D3 and D4 were advanced cars for their time with self-supporting bodywork, front-wheel drive and independent suspension on all 4 wheels and a 12-volt electrical system – thanks to Chenard-Walcker who had been producing cars since 1898.

In public service

The Peugeot D3/D4 could be delivered as a bus and van - and many cars were delivered to the police, fire and rescue services. The cars were also popular as stretchers. Some were specially decorated as food trucks. It is unknown whether anyone offered furnishing solutions and conversion to a camper van. The successor, the Peugeot J7, had in any case been very popular as a camping car. Several roof solutions for camping were made for this model - in the same way as for the Volkswagen T2 and T3. Nevertheless, certain Peugeot D3/D4s live on as sympathetic motorhomes, but most likely rebuilt afterwards.

peugeot j7 — Peugeot J7 (1965-1980) (source: FavCars.com)

Peugeot D4B with sliding door (source: FavCars.com)

Facts about the Peugeot D3/D4

Production series:
1947-1950 Chenard-Walker D3 with engine from Peugeot 202. 1,3 liter 30 HP with 3-speed gearbox.
1950-1952 Peugeot D3A with engine from Peugeot 203. 1,3 liter 32 HP.
1952-1955 Peugeot D3B with stronger engine 40 HP.
1955-1960 Peugeot D4A with engines from Peugeot 403. First 1,5 liter 45 HP - later 1,8 liter diesel 48 HP - all with 4-speed gearbox.
1960-1965 Peugeot D4B with a stronger petrol engine of 55 HP.
Length, width and height in cm: 443 x 184 x 211
Height of depicted model: Approximately 300 cm.
Top speed: Approximately 80 km/h.
The car depicted is a Peugeot P4A produced between 1955 and 1960.

peugeot utility — Advertisement for Peugeot commercial vehicle 1964

See

Viking Camp from Åndalsnes

Posted 22/07/2021 by Terje Bjørnstad

After the credit policy was liberalized in the 80s, many were able to realize their dreams of luxury. It was then that motorhomes really came to Norway. Some started with imports, while others started production.

I came across this great camper van the other day. It had Møre plates and was registered as a Volkswagen Transporter, which indicates that it has been rebuilt by first registration in Norway.

But where?

The name "Viking" gives a small clue. I had to do a deep dive into previous editions of Caravan - the membership magazine of the Norwegian caravan club. In 1987, the magazine produced a report from the Caravan fair at Sjølyst. Then they presented Viking-Camp in the following way (quote):

From Øranprodukter in Åndalsnes comes a motorhome with the name Viking. The company has existed for 10 years, of which the last 3 have focused more on motorhomes. All furnishings are hand-produced in our own factory and made of teak veneer, with matching fabric upholstery in medium blue. The car offers sleeping space for 4 people and has a number of clever detail solutions. Either the Citroën D25 with a long chassis or the VW Transporter serves as the basis.

From Transporter to camping car

The car in our picture is a 1988 model Transporter registered as a camping car with 4 seats. If we imagine that the starting point was a Transporter with Caravelle side windows, the roof must be cut up and replaced with a fixed fiberglass top - and any partition to the cargo compartment removed. On the left side (business side) a hatch has been made for gas and water tanks, as well as an intake for electricity. That's what we can see from the outside. There are many people who have made roof solutions for the Volkswagen T3. Most are more practical than beautiful. Viking-Camp suits the car well. It has a simple shape that nicely completes the existing lines (shutlines).

Handmade

The picture of the camper was recently taken at the Oslo Concert Hall. After 32 years, it is great that the car's origins are marked. I am not sure what text or decor the cars were originally delivered with. "Viking", "Viking-Camp" or "Viking-Camping". It probably varied over time. Each car was handmade.

The car builder

I have managed to track down some information about the camping car production at Øranprodukter. In older editions of Døves Tidsskrift - an organ of the Norwegian Association of the Deaf - it says to read about Torbjørn Tokle who has had many irons in the fire - not only in the Deaf Association - but also at Øranprodukter where he converted vans into camper vans - mostly alone. A few years earlier, he had single-handedly converted a Fiat van into a motorhome. He and two friends from Norway drove it throughout Africa. He further tells Døves Tidsskrift that he worked with several car brands at Øranprodukter. Mainly it was the Caravelle and the Mazda E2000.

At most, there were approximately 50 employees in the rehabilitation company which was owned by the county council. The conversion of vans was only part of the business. It took place during roughly the same years that Tokle worked there - from 1984 to 1990. In 1999, the entire company went bankrupt.

More still on the way

There are many indications that the camper vans that were converted by Øran products maintained good quality. In a later interview with Døves Tidsskrift, Tokle says that several of the cars are still driving around. It shows professional pride from the man who probably built the beautiful car in the picture.

Sources:
Døves Tidsskrift 1986-38 (pdf)
Døves Tidsskrift 2000-4 (pdf)

viking camp — Motorhome based on the Mazda E2000. Not sure if it is Viking Camp.

See

Live retro - drive veteran!

Posted 01/08/2020 by Terje Bjørnstad

One of the year's big searches on the Internet this year is "motorhome". Cabin on wheels that you can take wherever you want. Forget cabin shame and closed borders!

The stroller doesn't have to cost a million

In the 60s and 70s, tents and caravans dominated. Motorhomes did not become common until the 80s. Many of the first motorhomes are still on the road. But it is safe to say that there is not much new excitement about an early motorhome on a Fiat Ducato chassis. You have to like both the car and the bodywork. I saw such a craft the other day. A - by Norwegian standards - large American Gulfstream superstructure over a Toyota Hilux.

A good combo

In my eyes, a 21-foot American "motor home" is a full-fledged motorhome. It has all the comforts and is big enough for a family. And even though it's 30 years old, it looks great. No one makes as good motorhomes as the Americans, and no one can make more reliable cars than Toyota. Remember how the Top Gear team struggled to kill their Toyota Hilux?

toyota motorhome — The Business side of the Gulfstream Ultra.

Petrol and automatic transmission

Toyota began offering motorhome chassis from the late 70s. Winnibago and several other RV manufacturers sold 18 and 21/22 foot RVs based on the Toyota as an alternative to the Dodge. Chevy/GMC and Ford. The little Toyota's big advantage was fuel consumption. Yes, we are talking about gas - not diesel. The first models were equipped with Hilux's 2,4-litre inline-four petrol with 122 HP and automatic – later upgraded to 3,0 V6. Petrol consumption with camping body and automatic transmission is between 1,3 and 1,5 liters per mile. By comparison, a V8 can guzzle almost 3 liters per mile with a heavy accelerator.

Was not profitable for Toyota

Toyota's American motorhome flirtation was not a financial success. The first vintages had problems with the rear axle. The load on the small twin wheels was too great. The hubs got hot - something that could be dangerous on the road. Toyota and the motorhome manufacturers had to share the bill to recall all the cars and replace the rear axles from "semi-float" to "full-float". Full-float axles rotate and drive the wheels without having the weight of the car over them.

More warranty cases should appear

Some cars were driven hard. It takes on when the donnings weigh around 3 tonnes. On cars with 3,0 V6s, the owners had early engine problems and Toyota had to replace the tops. Another expensive warranty issue. Toyota withdrew from the American motorhome market in 1993 due to poor profitability. The cars, however, still roll on.

hilux motorhome — The cozy side of the Gulfstream Conquest

The best of both worlds

For around 100 you can find dry and maintained American motorhomes on Toyota chassis both in Europe and in the USA. Americans expect a high level of comfort, and many carriages are therefore properly air-conditioned. American fabrics do not stand the test of time very well. But luckily that can be replaced. The cars were manufactured in Japan – not in the USA. If the frame is intact, I think most things can be fixed here at home. If you are a practitioner, you can convert to a diesel drive, while romantics can enjoy a slightly underpowered, raucous petrol engine with automatic transmission on the steering wheel. It's holiday.

It gets to hoot, he who hoots wants to. (From Øystein Sunde "Captain Snutebil")

Pictures of the Toyota Hilux motorhome

toyota camper — The interior of an American superstructure with the passageway into the cab.

See

Mitsubishi l300 — Mitsubishi L300 Camper.

Toyota Motorhomes on Pinterest