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nai
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Joined: February 19, 2008
Posts: 177
Location: malta
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 Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:37 pm Post subject: 1979 Super viking space maker conversion |
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hello every one Ive just bought a 1979 vw camper van its an original conversion and its pretty rare. its got a sink a portable toilet a 3 way fridge a factory extractor a cooker with grille that comes out to cook outside an extractor to take out the hot air inside and much more ... a factory extra was the roof rack molded in the fiber glass its a uk conversion and it came from uk
hope you like it tell me what you think about it and if you have ever sen like it or if you own one like to see some other vikings pics some say its the best camper ever done....
ian
cheers
i know the roof needed a good clean ive cleaned it now but here is a before pic
press photo
here is a link of one like it but without the roof rack on top
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HH3NYfOekSQ
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Last edited by nai on Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:58 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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BellePlaine
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Location: Minnesota
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:55 pm Post subject: |
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Dig it. A lot.
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'75 Riviera
Whether you are a novice or know your way around an ACVW, a day with Amskeptic is money well spent. My mechanical ability/knowledge/bus is always better after Colin visits.
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notchboy
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patayres
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:12 pm Post subject: |
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First of all... very cool bus in great shape.
Secondly, why do you call it a Riviera? Riviera conversions were made right here in the Pacific Northwest...
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1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
yuthi'so'coro |
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notchboy
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:38 pm Post subject: |
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| patayres wrote: |
First of all... very cool bus in great shape.
Secondly, why do you call it a Riviera? Riviera conversions were made right here in the Pacific Northwest... |
Viking was probably the most popular UK pop top. It had tons of space up top to sleep adults with no problem. Like most coach builders they offered their product to the public how ever they wanted it. It was possible to see a Viking pop top on a Riviera camper.
But this is not the case. That frige and back seat set up is a true Viking interior. It apears to be a Viking Spacemaker-top of the line-kitted with everything. The cheapo would be the Pioneer. They were made by Motorhomes International in Stanbridge, Bedfordshire UK.
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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fastmc25
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Joined: January 01, 2004
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Location: East Tennessee
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:43 pm Post subject: |
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Alright.............. Anyone notice the rear wiper........... I wanna see more of that......... 
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Peace,
Paul
1973 Type181 Kubelwagen (Thing 2 ) 2110cc
1971 Transporter (Pickle) 1914cc
1961 Deluxe Beetle (Christine) 1776cc
1973 Adventurewagen Baja Bus (Clyde) 3.4L
1970 Formula Vee Beetle 2276cc
I identify as: “A Pissed Old GI ” |
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patayres
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Location: Bend, Orygun
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:49 pm Post subject: |
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| It was possible to see a Viking pop top on a Riviera camper. |
So they sent that top to Portland/Vancouver to fit on some of their conversions? Never seen it... got pics? Pretty huge item to ship half way around the world not mounted to a vehicle; I suppose a Riviera could have been exported to the UK and then retro-fitted with the Viking Top, but as I understand it Riviera was purely for the North American market.
And I would argue that the Martin Walter (Dormobile) tops were far more popular than the Viking. Those I know were fitted by Dormobile (UK) as well as Westfalia.
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1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
yuthi'so'coro |
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nai
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Location: malta
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:55 pm Post subject: |
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correct me if i am wrong
so the van is not a riviera... ive said its a rivera because in the vid thats what it was called  its got all og interior ive got loads of manuals of every thing in the bus the list of extras that it came with and much more stuff like that ill add pics later 
im removing the rivera title because it seems to create a large chaos
thanks everyone for all your feedback any one has one like it?? thanks again
IAN from Malta
| notchboy wrote: |
| patayres wrote: |
First of all... very cool bus in great shape.
Secondly, why do you call it a Riviera? Riviera conversions were made right here in the Pacific Northwest... |
Viking was probably the most popular UK pop top. It had tons of space up top to sleep adults with no problem. Like most coach builders they offered their product to the public how ever they wanted it. It was possible to see a Viking pop top on a Riviera camper.
But this is not the case. That frige and back seat set up is a true Viking interior. It apears to be a Viking Spacemaker-top of the line-kitted with everything. The cheapo would be the Pioneer. They were made by Motorhomes International in Stanbridge, Bedfordshire UK. |
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nai
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:00 pm Post subject: |
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| fastmc25 wrote: |
| Alright.............. Anyone notice the rear wiper........... I wanna see more of that......... |
Someone added that i think il put some pics of it too shall I remove it or keep buggin` with it on?
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patayres
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:06 pm Post subject: |
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No worries, Ian... it's all semantics anyway.
Regardless of conversion branding you have an extremely cool camper. What kind of engine is in it? Please post more pics as it gets cleaned up.
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1975 Westfalia Helsinki - 1800 EFI w/ Pertronix
1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
yuthi'so'coro |
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notchboy
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:10 pm Post subject: |
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The Martin Walker was sold in mass due to its cheaper cost. But if you wanted to do it right and go with the best-The Viking wins hands down. Who can sleep in a Martin Walker top? Your kids-maybe wife or you if your built like an elf, midget or jocky? In the Viking-you slept in the pent house baby.
As for the possibilities of a Viking pop on a Rivi body? Here in San Antonio we have a huge Airforce contingent. At the local VW bone yard I see 70s busses with no city designation-meant for home market and weird miss matched combos like a Doormobile top on a Westy body. Trust me it wouldnt be a streatch to see a Riviera with a Viking top 
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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nai
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Location: malta
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:29 pm Post subject: |
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thanks allot notch boy i really appreciate your pics they are really helpful. some things i realized are some differences between these vans is one has bunks like myne the other one has sort of stretcher style beds. from what i can see i think super vikings came with bunks like myne with a very large part of the top coming out
the viking version had a small part of the roof coming out with stretcher style beds..
also some differences i noticed were the side glass some of the vikings seem to have been former panel vans because the glass seal is popping out of the body panels and have sliding windows... mine seems to be based on a combi because the glass seals are straight with the body panels and have looverd windows..
| notchboy wrote: |
The Martin Walker was sold in mass due to its cheaper cost. But if you wanted to do it right and go with the best-The Viking wins hands down. Who can sleep in a Martin Walker top? Your kids-maybe wife or you if your built like an elf, midget or jocky? In the Viking-you slept in the pent house baby.
As for the possibilities of a Viking pop on a Rivi body? Here in San Antonio we have a huge Airforce contingent. At the local VW bone yard I see 70s busses with no city designation-meant for home market and weird miss matched combos like a Doormobile top on a Westy body. Trust me it wouldnt be a streatch to see a Riviera with a Viking top
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nai
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 3:47 pm Post subject: |
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| patayres wrote: |
No worries, Ian... it's all semantics anyway.
Regardless of conversion branding you have an extremely cool camper. What kind of engine is in it? Please post more pics as it gets cleaned up. |
thanks a lot dude and sorry for my bad English as English is my second language.. Ive seen some pics of one with a viking roof top and the van apparently was first a westy model it still has its westy interior but has a viking roof....
it also has got stretcher style beds... the engine is a 16 twin port it was rebuilt about 15 years ago... but its much faster than my 73 bays freshly rebuilt engine with new pistons and heads has it got to be something because its a later model the other bus is a twin port too the engine has a tag on it some thing like made in Brasil will take pics of it too..
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I`d rather push a volkswagen than drive a ford....
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notchboy
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chimneyfish
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:44 pm Post subject: |
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That's a cool van Ian, nice score.
| notchboy wrote: |
| ...But if you wanted to do it right and go with the best-The Viking wins hands down. Who can sleep in a Martin Walker top? Your kids-maybe wife or you if your built like an elf, midget or jocky? In the Viking-you slept in the pent house baby. |
I totally agree, the Viking has always been one of my favourite campers, I'v only had previously a Danbury and a Devon, currently have a Microbus, but if I was to go for another camper I'd be weighing up whether to go Viking or Westfalia. I think the roof gives them a pretty cool, unique and fierce look, a real vehicle for the outdoors, Viking is an apt name.
I have read up quite a lot on these. In the UK, three companies, Danbury, Devon and Dormobile had official VW approval to perform camper conversions, with VW warranty etc. There were a whole load of others doing conversions, with the main unendorsed (but serious quality) rival being Viking.
From what I'v read, in 1972 the then VW GB entered into an exclusive deal with Devon to carry out the conversions, and Devon also entered into a deal with Westfalia through VW, where Devon produced their own conversions in the UK, whilst also importing RHD Westfalias from Germany badged as the "Devon Continental". (There must have been one hell of a row going on after Devon and Danbury got side lined, as Danbury and Dormobile both got their approvals back later in the 70's alongside Devon, ending Devon's "approval" monopoly).
Sadly though, this heralded things to come. VAG moved to centralise things in the fragmented UK market created super dealerships with a select few dealers, ending the relationships with small VW approved service stations which had helped build the brand up in the UK (I have always used one of those, a small garage, they no longer have a VW logo outside, but they have carried on as specialists in German cars, including fully catering to the air cooled community, unfortunately the same can't be said of the two large official VW dealers around my way). Did similar happen in the US?
Regarding the Viking roof, whilst in their exclusive contract with Devon, VW particularly singled out Viking as being non-VW approved (note not naming Danbury or Dormobile, but still having a dig, politics!), and issued a "VW Warning on Unauthorized Motor Caravans".
The 1970s UK Motor Press saw through all this as just VW control, and trying to bump up Devon and Westfalia sales, as there was never any indication that the Viking roof conversion was structurally unsound.
The bit I like is Viking's fight back, in David Eccle's book 'VW Camper - The inside story', he quotes a Viking press release of the time:
"The Viking invaders have arrived. The biggest battle in motor caravan history has begun. It will be hard. It will be long. And you are a witness. Viking Motorhomes on one side; Devon and Westfalia on the other. David and Goliath all over again. You were born to be free. Your freedom gives you the right to choose. Before you buy, insist on seeing a Viking. We'll send a Viking to your door. If you're sure it's what you want we'll build one just for you. One more Viking on our side. One more blow for freedom."
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1965 Type 1 Deluxe (1200cc)
1976 Type 2 T2b Microbus L (1800cc Type 4)
Previously...
1972 T2 Camper (Devon), 1988 Golf, 1972 Type 1, 1984 Polo, 1972 T2 Camper (Danbury) |
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notchboy
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Cheers chimneyfish 
The US market VW dealers did as they were told. Changing product as needed. I dont think there were small "official" stores as in the UK but rather bigger car lots. There were lots of VW repair shops that had used VWs for sale. These would either sink or swim with prevailing popular cars of the day. Now a days it is very hard to find any knowledgeable ACVW mechanic. Unfortunately they are a dying breed.
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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aopisa
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:43 pm Post subject: |
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They look like they are texting on Blackberries from the future!
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patayres
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 5:44 pm Post subject: |
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| Quote: |
| weird miss matched combos like a Doormobile top on a Westy body. Trust me it wouldnt be a streatch to see a Riviera with a Viking top Rolling Eyes |
I like a good debate, so here goes (respectfully) -- A Dormobile/Martin-Walter top w/ Westfalia interior wouldn't be weird at all because Westfalia used those tops on some of their conversions. Here is a beautiful, all original example of a '66 Westfalia w/ 'Dormobile' top
And although possible, I think it would be a streeeeeeeetch to see a Viking top w/ Riviera interior simply because of the geography of the conversion sites. Doubt seriously that it ever happened contemporary to the production years. Now that we've got lots of US-delivered/converted buses exported back over to Europe it's feasible that someone has retro-fitted a Viking top to a Riviera conversion.
Anyway, Notchboy... at least we both agree that the Viking top is sweet
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1965 Singlecab - 1600dp
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notchboy
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:20 pm Post subject: |
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| patayres wrote: |
| Quote: |
| weird miss matched combos like a Doormobile top on a Westy body. Trust me it wouldnt be a streatch to see a Riviera with a Viking top Rolling Eyes |
I like a good debate, so here goes (respectfully) -- A Dormobile/Martin-Walter top w/ Westfalia interior wouldn't be weird at all because Westfalia used those tops on some of their conversions. Here is a beautiful, all original example of a '66 Westfalia w/ 'Dormobile' top
And although possible, I think it would be a streeeeeeeetch to see a Viking top w/ Riviera interior simply because of the geography of the conversion sites. Doubt seriously that it ever happened contemporary to the production years. Now that we've got lots of US-delivered/converted buses exported back over to Europe it's feasible that someone has retro-fitted a Viking top to a Riviera conversion.
Anyway, Notchboy... at least we both agree that the Viking top is sweet |
I would say it never happened due to the cost. I bet Vikings were way more costly. But then Id say its possible due to the amount of back and forth delivery of US servicemen and women. Kinda where I was going before with the above statement. Working here in San Antonio I meet lots of people-families who bounce back and forth between here and Europe, taking all they have-even cars back and forth too. Just as they did from WW2 to now. When ratherbebuggin and I walked around a VW bone yard here we noticed alot of the busses didnt have US destination codes.(meaning they were not sold here-more like Germany) Im talking 30 bays out of 60-not a small amount. Among these busses we see the odd variations.
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| t3kg wrote: |
OK, this thread is over. You win. |
Jason "notchboy" Weigel
1964 1500 S
1964 T34 S Convertible
1977 Westfalia Camper pop-top |
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chimneyfish
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Joined: July 28, 2009
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| Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 6:30 pm Post subject: |
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| notchboy wrote: |
Cheers chimneyfish
The US market VW dealers did as they were told. Changing product as needed. I dont think there were small "official" stores as in the UK but rather bigger car lots. There were lots of VW repair shops that had used VWs for sale. These would either sink or swim with prevailing popular cars of the day. Now a days it is very hard to find any knowledgeable ACVW mechanic. Unfortunately they are a dying breed. |
Thanks, thats interesting stuff, I'm picturing the US market back at the beginning (ever seen the film 'Tin Men' set in the 50s, when Richard Dreyfus and Danny Devito decide to start a VW dealership at the end?) I have read about how in California Joe Vittone of the original EMPI had rows with VW when he started doing his own thing whilst still having a VW dealership. We have big dealers here in the UK, not the massive car lots like in the US, but big in our small island terms.
The UK was a bit of an odd ball for VW who like centralised control, but then again the British army did get Wolfsburg back up and running after the war, so maybe we had a bit more agency for a while.
The Westfalia was the official conversion in mainland Europe, but here in the UK it sat equally as VW endorsed alongside Devon plus Danbury and Dormobile as described.
I would have to look into it more, as I'm not 100% on the history, but I think the small guys over here werent 'dealers' as such, I think there were larger dealers importing the bulk of cars, first one opened here in 1952 apparently, but select competent smaller garages (I assume more mechanical than selling new cars) had this sort of thing outside (sorry, quick google on that, as it's got's a "Z" in it so must be a US sign, in the UK we would have been Authorised):
You don't see that anymore, which objectively I can appreciate as a fragmented supply chain can be chaotic for quality control, and VW switching to more models and water cooled, but it was a different world back then 'back in the day'.
I kind of like the Viking story as it was an independent taking on the big boys, it also shows how cars like the Beetle and the Bus had evolved into something more than just another car, but it's all helped VW in the long run, creating an iconic global brand. Cheers.
_________________
1965 Type 1 Deluxe (1200cc)
1976 Type 2 T2b Microbus L (1800cc Type 4)
Previously...
1972 T2 Camper (Devon), 1988 Golf, 1972 Type 1, 1984 Polo, 1972 T2 Camper (Danbury) |
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