TheSamba.com :: View topic

Sun May 23, 2010 6:44 am

I've been looking for one on and off since we got our Kombi in 2004. My search was restricted by wanting a vintage one, and by having no budget :roll:

Then my wife came up trumps by spotting an old Italian 'Air-Camping' on ebay. Being sold by the son-in-law of the couple who bought it new in 1967, and used it in the late 60's and 70's for trips to Portugal. It had even been used on a VW camper! (But I'm not sure what model, I'm guessing bay window. I'm working on getting pictures)
The tent in use in Lisbon around '67 on a Thames van.

It's in not bad nick for a 43 year old tent, no mould or funny smells. A few holes on one side that need repairs. It needs a cover, and a new mattress wouldn't go amiss either.

Sellers ebay photos -

And our first test fit last weekend

The bad side that needs repairs

Tent has faded a lot in 43 years. The top was originally a dark grey. (see photo from '67)

Roof bar clamps

Plate on ladder

It looks great! But we've got a few issues to sort out to make is usable. Main problem is it's really heavy, about 45kg, and lifting it on and off the bus is a problem, a 3 man job. (And it won't fir in our garage with it on)

There is a good pdf document brochure about Air-camping here, it takes a while to download but is a good read. Air-Camping tents started in about '59, and were the first on the market.
http://www.air-camping.it/images/pdf/Air-Camping-UK.pdf

Hopefully we'll have better pictures of it in use soon. Until then I'm very interested in seeing who eles uses a vintage, or vintage style roof tent out there, and how they get on with them.

Show me what you got! 8)

Sun May 23, 2010 7:00 am

I have one made in Ohio, I have found little info in my searching several years, if you do a search on samba you will find some info & pics. They were also made in Canada in the 80's. It is such a pita to post pics here though.

Sun May 23, 2010 2:07 pm

Cheers kafer, is it one like mine? I found one that was half round on top as well.

While searching the gallery I also found this 'Camp'otel'

2muchbusbsPic wrote: of my CAR TOPPER roof top tent, This is it closed up. Open's to sleep 4 people on the roof of the bus! Note the water tanks on the side. There is one on each side of the tent. I also have the original camp kitchen that came with it. This tent is (was) NOS. It was a display at a VW dealership till they closed in 1978 and was stored since then!

splitpile wrote:

There is one in classifieds at the minute.

Sun May 23, 2010 2:23 pm

Another from the gallery. I've never seen anything like this before and would love any info on it.

UZI wrote:

Deutsches Autohaus wrote:

Sun May 23, 2010 3:09 pm

also: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

Sun May 23, 2010 9:02 pm

hazetguy wrote: also: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC

That almost looks like it would fit on an SC. I need one for my truck!

Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:51 pm

Roof tent got some action this weekend in North Devon. Apart from the struggle getting the lump on and off a stock height bus it performed really well. 30hp motor struggled, but this was expected and we just took it steady.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/sets/72157624179763280/

Nipper#2 loved it to bits. Nipper#1 wasn't so sure and moaned about it being cold and uncomfortable... New mattress should keep him a bit happier.

I patched and proofed it before we left, and it kept the rain out which was our main concern. Looking forward to using it more now 8)

Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:13 am

Another successful camp out for the roof tent, big hit with the little people 8)

Then onto Stonor Park vw show for Sunday.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/sets/72157624094403597/

Tent got a lot of interest, and I had a good chat with someone else who had one exactly the same. His bus belonged to a headmaster of a school, and they used a couple of buses for school camping trips. He used a caravan and the kids used the bus (a Devon) and a roof tent.

They are coming out of the woodwork now... 8)

Tue Aug 31, 2010 12:40 pm

This was forwarded to me a couple of days ago. Awesome pics 8)

Ex - Swiss Army bus, Egypt 1992.

http://www.germanaircooled.com/swiss_army_bus.htm

Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:31 am

Recent tour of Scotland ...

Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:05 am

Great pics!
I'd love too take my bus on a trip through the UK one day
(still a bit uncertain about the weather though :oops: )

Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:37 am

Fresh from last weekend's show:

Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:35 am

I want one! ajjajaaj

Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:44 am

My Bus ....

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/img]

Sat Oct 09, 2010 7:00 pm

my 64 with Dove lodgette camping tent with add-a-room option my Grandparents bought the tent new in June of 66

Sun Oct 10, 2010 2:13 am

hazetguy wrote:

Took a bunch of pics of this tent at CYW:

Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:56 pm

A few pics of my old Camp'otel on my old '67 Bug-

It is in Canada now. I hardly ever used it but I sure miss it anyway :cry:

Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:36 pm

My good buddy Tonys' roof tent on top of his all original 61. From Sac Bugoramma some years back.

Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:47 pm

Thanks for the great picture of my bug. The top is a "Cool Tent" which is a replica, one of 200 built by Lenny Copp. I saw the article in the July 97 Hot VW Mag and had to have one. Picked it up in 2001. Have been using it about 6 times a year since restoring the Bug in 2009. Sam Carbaugh

hoffvw wrote: Fresh from last weekend's show:

Thu May 16, 2013 1:10 pm

An absolute pup of another Air-Camping roof tent I bought on ebay last year. When I went to pick it up I really should have walked away as me and the seller had different interpretations of 'usable'.
It had a rotten base board, no mattress and was missing all 4 of the very important clamps. Like a schmuck I fancied the challange though ...

Roof tent was pretty easy to fix up. Only thing I'm not happy with is I used marine ply, without realising how much heavier it is. I'll probably fix this later in the year as it's bloody heavy now.
Still need to fabricate new clamps for it, using the ones from my older tent for now.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/sets/72157631489953770/with/8718951056/

Air-Camping Kombi by zombikombi1959, on Flickr