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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 6:44 am Post subject: Vintage Roof Top Tents... |
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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
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! _________________ Gaffa Tape Tourist - Touring Europe at 45mph
Editor - Split Screen Scene, the Journal of the SSVC.
My flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/ |
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50 Kafer Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006 Posts: 243 Location: Leavenworth, Kansas
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 7:00 am Post subject: |
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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. _________________ John
1950 Kafer Deluxe (10/50)
1955 Beetle Deluxe (6/55)
1968 Beetle (11/67)
1982 Westy
1986 Cabriolet (6/86)
WTB Air-Camping roof top mount http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1499947 |
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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 2:07 pm Post subject: |
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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!
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There is one in classifieds at the minute. _________________ Gaffa Tape Tourist - Touring Europe at 45mph
Editor - Split Screen Scene, the Journal of the SSVC.
My flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/ |
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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 2:23 pm Post subject: |
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Another from the gallery. I've never seen anything like this before and would love any info on it.
Deutsches Autohaus wrote: |
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_________________ Gaffa Tape Tourist - Touring Europe at 45mph
Editor - Split Screen Scene, the Journal of the SSVC.
My flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/ |
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hazetguy Samba Member
Joined: April 06, 2001 Posts: 10773 Location: iT StiNgeD iTseLf tO dEAd
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 3:09 pm Post subject: |
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also: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/album_search.php?...t_dir=DESC
_________________ thebucket: I invested in hoodride, now DBD won't return my call?
hazetguy: invested?
thebucket: Yeah Haze, its where people put money into a company in hopes of a return on their money |
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Culito 11010101
Joined: December 07, 2006 Posts: 5866 Location: Columbia Missourah
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Posted: Sun May 23, 2010 9:02 pm Post subject: |
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That almost looks like it would fit on an SC. I need one for my truck! _________________ Copyright CJ Industries, Inc.
'64 standard w/2.0L type 4
'62 bug
johnnypan wrote: |
...dont pay no attention to Culito,he's a cornhole.. |
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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Tue Jun 01, 2010 3:51 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ Gaffa Tape Tourist - Touring Europe at 45mph
Editor - Split Screen Scene, the Journal of the SSVC.
My flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/ |
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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Tue Jun 08, 2010 4:13 am Post subject: |
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Another successful camp out for the roof tent, big hit with the little people
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... _________________ Gaffa Tape Tourist - Touring Europe at 45mph
Editor - Split Screen Scene, the Journal of the SSVC.
My flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/ |
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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 2:31 am Post subject: |
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Recent tour of Scotland ...
_________________ Gaffa Tape Tourist - Touring Europe at 45mph
Editor - Split Screen Scene, the Journal of the SSVC.
My flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/ |
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volksfahrer.nl Samba Member
Joined: September 18, 2003 Posts: 2128 Location: Delft Holland
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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:05 am Post subject: |
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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 ) _________________ www.volksfahrer.nl
www.theundutchables.nl
66 panel |
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hoffvw Samba Member
Joined: June 20, 2001 Posts: 161
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Posted: Thu Sep 30, 2010 6:37 am Post subject: |
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Fresh from last weekend's show:
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dani137800 Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2006 Posts: 34 Location: Spain
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Posted: Sat Oct 02, 2010 8:35 am Post subject: Re: Vintage Roof Top Tents... |
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I want one! ajjajaaj _________________ www.westfaliaso23.com |
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dani137800 Samba Member
Joined: April 22, 2006 Posts: 34 Location: Spain
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Karmannut Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2007 Posts: 139 Location: North Canton Ohio
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Posted: Sat Oct 09, 2010 7:00 pm Post subject: |
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my 64 with Dove lodgette camping tent with add-a-room option my Grandparents bought the tent new in June of 66
Last edited by Karmannut on Sun Oct 10, 2010 5:11 pm; edited 2 times in total |
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iVolkswagen The Modern-Day Hippie
Joined: October 21, 2008 Posts: 1436 Location: Huntsville, Alabama
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Posted: Sun Oct 10, 2010 2:13 am Post subject: |
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Took a bunch of pics of this tent at CYW:
_________________ TJ
\/OLKSWAGEN
- 1963 Beetle - 1987 Cabriolet |
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cru62 Samba Member
Joined: December 31, 2002 Posts: 4117 Location: Margaritaville.....24/7
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 6:56 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ "My biggest worry is that when I die, my wife will sell all my parts for what I told her I paid for them"-Jon
Jokes about German sausage are the wurst.
Stop dead photo links! Post your photos to The Samba Gallery! |
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stale air Samba Member
Joined: August 23, 2007 Posts: 5154 Location: Senoia Ga, formally NorCal
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Posted: Sat Dec 29, 2012 7:36 pm Post subject: |
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My good buddy Tonys' roof tent on top of his all original 61. From Sac Bugoramma some years back. _________________ WANTED: Henry Veale Santa Rosa plate frames
WANTED: Brittsan Motors Fresno plate frames
WANTED: Any Georgia plate frames
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sierra_charlie Samba Member
Joined: November 08, 2009 Posts: 3
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Posted: Mon Apr 29, 2013 5:47 pm Post subject: |
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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:
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Mike1973 Samba Member
Joined: August 05, 2005 Posts: 498 Location: Southampton UK
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Posted: Thu May 16, 2013 1:10 pm Post subject: |
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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 _________________ Gaffa Tape Tourist - Touring Europe at 45mph
Editor - Split Screen Scene, the Journal of the SSVC.
My flickr http://www.flickr.com/photos/29051501@N08/ |
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