TheSamba.com :: View topic

Mon Sep 06, 2004 10:35 pm

According to The Samba home page:

"VW Fact #327: On April 12, 1964, an initial supply of American Campmobile kits (deluxe Model #404) were shipped to Hanover for installation in VW panel delivery trucks. "

Does anyone know more about this? I had never heard this.

*Moderator edit***
From Sportsmobile (Previously Sportswagons) - supplier of Campmobile interiors to VWOA:
"The first two years or so, the cabinets and paneling were solid
birch. In '63 or '64, we started using ½" plywood with a Westinhouse countertop type laminate on both sides.

For the first number of years, all our production was sold through VW of
America and our Fords through the Ford Motor Company. We discontinued
our VW conversions in the late 70s. Actually, I didn't start the business. My
father did in El Paso, Texas. I joined him shortly after. My father
ended his participation in '64 when we became a division of the Travel
Equipment Corp. in Elkhart, Indiana."

Tue Sep 07, 2004 6:54 am

is that the sportsmobile camper?

the earliest ones i've seen have been '64/'65

Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:07 am

I had a Travel Equipment Corp camper - it was a '67 walkthrough panel, but it had the windows cut in, 3 on the passenger side, and the big window on the driver's side...It didn't have that label, but did have the TEC badge on the shelf over the bed. BTW, the interior was really cheesy, so I pulled it out and put in a Westy bed & cabinet...

Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:17 am

did it look like the one i have in the gallery? (i need better pics)

Tue Sep 07, 2004 7:50 am

The windows were different - the single windows were jalousies like the later split Westies. The driver's side had a big window - a fixed plate window in the middle with a jalousie on each side of it. Interior was different too, although that paneling on the wall looks similar. Does it have a badge on the shelf over the bed?

Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:41 pm

i haven't been able to find any markings. the picture of the tag above came from 65busstop.
here is the thread

Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:45 pm

Hey Swevyjoe I have the same interior, as you know. If you have any pictures of your bed base and the inside area with the bed arms etc. I would love to see them. I am trying to figure why when I open my bed it is not level with the cushion over engine. With the sticker saying Volkswagen Campmobile it makes sence that Volkswagen would have a say in the conversion. I don't know if you could put the word "Volkswagen" on without their permission. If I remember correctly when I restored my camper 10 years ago the thickness of the floor plywood was metric. So maybe it was done in Germany.

Tue Sep 07, 2004 1:53 pm

teamspatula wrote: . Does it have a badge on the shelf over the bed?
No the sticker is on the side of the closet by rear seat. Also this conversion has 5 HEHR single pane windows that crank out. Yours sounds like windows they put in Riviera campers to me. But I am no expert.

Mon Oct 30, 2006 9:24 pm

cris torlasco wrote: According to The Samba home page:

"VW Fact #327: On April 12, 1964, an initial supply of American Campmobile kits (deluxe Model #404) were shipped to Hanover for installation in VW panel delivery trucks. "

Does anyone know more about this? I had never heard this.

65Busstop sent me some awesome information on this today. Basically, the Campmobile of VWOA brochures in '62 and '63 became the Sportmobile of '65 and later when VWOA severed ties w/ Travel Equipment Corporation of Indiana, who had manufactured the Campmobile kits which were sent to Germany to be installed. Cool stuff, the American Camper puzzle becomes a little more clear!

This begs the question, who came up w/ the SO-42 layout, Westfalia or Travel Equipment Corporation? :twisted:

Mon Oct 30, 2006 10:46 pm

Picks from a splitty camper just before it was hacked, inside and outside badges If I remember correctly.

Tue Oct 31, 2006 8:52 pm

Ive had a Sportsmobile a few years back but let it go. I actually enetered it in a contest of theirs for the oldest Sportsmobile.

The company is still in business today, proudly displaying a 1961 VW bus and logo "Sportsmobile, siince 1961" on their home page.

http://www.sportsmobile.com/

Check it out.

Tue Oct 31, 2006 9:07 pm

Cool, a little more evidence for the link between the VWOA Campmobile and the TEC Sportmobile, that image on their website is the Campmobile all the way.

Thu Nov 02, 2006 9:31 pm

At last, one of these surfaces!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=380563

That's a pretty significant vehicle. Anybody know of any others? I doubt if the boys in Auburn Hills (VWOA HQ) even have the slightest clue as to how strongly they should pursue this vehicle...

Thu Nov 02, 2006 10:20 pm

dieselnut wrote: At last, one of these surfaces!

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=380563

That's a pretty significant vehicle. Anybody know of any others? I doubt if the boys in Auburn Hills (VWOA HQ) even have the slightest clue as to how strongly they should pursue this vehicle...

Man, I want that! That looks like a very good deal.

Fri Nov 03, 2006 7:00 am

Greyshins wrote: Picks from a splitty camper just before it was hacked, inside and outside badges If I remember correctly.

Yep, those look like mine - top badge on the cabinet over the rear bed, bottom on the side of the small, square poptop.

Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:10 am

how about this one? i didn't think westfalia used panels, and the windows are the hehr type...
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=380623

Fri Nov 03, 2006 8:20 am

Short profile on the roof too. But it's too new to be a Campmobile, probably the same company though, methinks Sportmobile. YMMV

Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:32 am

The interior in the one for sale looks a lot like the one in my 63?

Mine.

Fri Nov 03, 2006 9:33 am

Hmm..well actually, looking again, a little closer, they are different, nevermind.

Fri Nov 03, 2006 10:32 am

Germanpride wrote: The interior in the one for sale looks a lot like the one in my 63?

Mine.

Holy hell! It looks like it got pulled up from the bottom of a lake!