Official Aussie Dormobile conversion thread

[mcdonaldneal]

OK, I'm sure we all know that Dormobile was one of the popular camper conversions for Bay window buses, some would say one of the best, with the side hinged pop top, masses of headroom, tartan hammocks and well designed interiors.
Campmobile and Sopru were the commonest Australian Bay campers and Westfalia conversions were only imported privately.
Less well known is that from 1971, Dormobile UK licensed Dormobile Australia, based in Fyshwick, near Canberra to offer conversion of Australian Bays. These buses had some unique and distinctive features, including their own pop top canvas and internal cabinet materials and fittings.
We're starting this thread to document some of the history of the company, but also for people to post pictures and stories of their Aussie Dormobile buses and their particular features to serve as a reference for everyone.
A few of these buses crossed the Tasman Sea to New Zealand, and a few will have migrated even further. Ours floated 10,500 miles back to Europe, and I'm sure that some other well preserved examples will have done the same!
l'll post more details of ours later, meanwhile a picture of Dormobile heaven to start with...

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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[orchidkombi]

Thanks McDonaldNeal,

I'm a little biased, but I agree that Dormobile is one of the best conversions - and I think certainly the best produced in Australia.

My bus was converted in 10/1976, and was number '707' according to the stamp underneath the seat.

The stickers confirm it was a local conversion, done at 9 Wiluna St Fyshwick, which was an authorised Dormobile factory established by the Cusack family, which had the VW dealership at that time.

I'll post some bits and pieces that I've learned about the local conversions as time permits. But to start with, here's a few photos of our camper.

[orchidkombi]

And a few more...

[orchidkombi]

Here's a little on the Dormobile Australia enterprise, as it existed in the 1970s.

From what we know, the Canberra-based Cusack family was licensed by Dormobile UK in 1971, to begin operations converting vans of various makes in 1971. The VW Transporter (panel van) was the most popular conversion, but not the only vehicle type converted here.

The vans were a hit from very early days, and the local VW conversions came with some useful options - like front-mounted spare tyres (mounted not on a 'roo bar' but a smaller bumper-mounted bracket), and Donaldson brand air-cleaners (presumably for Austrlalia's dusty conditions).

It was quite common to see these vans for resale within a few years of rolling off the factory floor - maybe, like today, families and retirees bought them for a special holiday or trip, and then found them slightly impractical for everyday driving. Some - like ours - were carefully garaged away at that point, only to be rediscovered decades later, and given a second lease on life.

Cusack family members have told me tales of a long queue of VW vans, all waiting at the factory parking lot, for their time on the factory floor. They hated having to cut holes in perfectly good van roofs, but were justifiably proud of the beautiful craftsmanship in the end result that rolled out the door. They said that the cabinet fitters were very quick, and each van was processed with amazing speed. Presumably the cabinetry was pre-assembled and simply slotted into place.

Judging by the quality and options available, many of the parts were shipped from the UK factory - the bunks, for example, are identical to the UK ones. Similarly the cabinets were of a similar design, although I think the laminates were sourced locally and cut in Australia. I would say the fibreglass poptops/window units were shipped from the UK for local assembly.

The pop-top vinyl bellows seem to be a single colour only - a lemony-yellow. I'd be keen to know if this was an option in any other country. The press stud vinyl rivets were stamped with a local company's name, indicating they were sourced locally.

The fibreglass roofs were positioned further forward than previously available overseas versions - to make cooking in the van more practical. It also allowed for the fitting of a steel frame roof rack at the rear of the van.

I can only assume that the interior fabrics were sourced locally, and there must have been many options available, because I'm yet to find another van with our same brown boucle-style woven seat material, or our green curtains.

Operations continued in Fyshwick until the late 1970s, when VW stopped importing / assembling vans in Australia. The factory continued for a few more years, offering conversion on other makes, but obviously the peak had passed by then. Eventually the company was wound up - as was the Cusacks VW empire - and nothing remains of the company records today. Greg Cusack (snr) died back in the early 1980s, and his son, Greg (jnr) has only fading memories of the factory as it operated back then. It was after all, just a part of the Cusack family's vast furniture, property and motorcar empire.

There are still quite a few Dormobiles getting around Australia, although curiously more in the southern states - fewer seem to have made it north to Queensland for example.

The quality of the materials and assembly has meant that some vans are still found in excellent condition. Dormobile cabinetry, like many conversions of the 1970s, suffers predominantly from water damage, as it consists of plastic woodgrain laminate-faced chipboard. This wasn't helped by the positioning of the sink and water source - behind the drivers seat - which made washing up difficult at times (even with a very high roofline with the pop top elevated). Even the most careful washer-upper had trouble keeping the cabinets dry. Our solution was to abandon the sink, and only use water outside the van. But that's just us!

On first glance, the fitout of the Dormobile camper compared to, say, the better-known Westfalia, appears quite sparse. Mainly because the cabinets are aligned down the RHS side of the van, with just a single stove/gas bottle cabinet behind the passenger seat (some vans had a dickie seat here inbuilt as well). Once the roof is elevated, the Dormobile certainly has a tremendous sense of space, again, compared with the Westy. This is a van even the most claustraphobic camper can feel happy in! The Westy also has a more 'cohesive' decor - including the matched fabric seat inserts, curtains and rear seat. The Dormobile kept the original vinyl seats and vinyl door panels, and made no real attempt to match curtains with seat materials! But they do have a charm of their own. I'm sure others who own them agree.

[mcdonaldneal]

Some photos of our 1978, Dormobile Bay, ex Melbourne Victoria. I can't find a plate to confirm that it was put together in the Canberra factory, but it's very likely. I'll say what I think is Dormobile, and what isn't...

Fridge, rail for the table, countertops and cupboards are Dormy, shelf above windows and drawer above fridge are PO add-ones. Grey laminate above shelf and grey covers for the hammocks in the poptop are also Dormy. 'Carpet' on panel behind drivers seat I'm not sure, probably Dormobile (front seats a replacements).

This shows the cupboard doors, handles and edging strips, the silver and black edging above the seat is Dormobile, the tap is replacement. The seat material is Dormy,(but needs a clean!) The original rail for the table is better seen here. I'm not sure why there is a vent in the storage cupboard, or whether that was there originally.

Distinctive yellow poptop vinyl, and Australian stamped rivet.

Shows light grey interior paneling, 'carpet' on the sliding door and panel the same as behind the front seat. Curtain rails I think are original, take the 'Silent Gliss' loop tape and eared sliders, below...

This shows the rear cupboard, the vertical edging strip is a replacement, the rear cushion for the bed is not in place.

This shows the non Dormobile vent covers in the roof, and the 'D' stamped in the side of the poptop. There is also a 'D' plate for the tailgate, but it's not in place at the moment (it's in the glovebox!)
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[orchidkombi]

[quote]I'm not sure why there is a vent in the storage cupboard, or whether that was there originally.

Yes, it was there originally!

[orchidkombi]

Here's a couple more Aussie Dormys spotted recently. Subtle differences, but the same basic design inside.

[notchboy]

Holley shit balls thats a big visor Is it meant to net the roo after you hit it?

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[mcdonaldneal]

[orchidkombi]

[orchidkombi]

[mcdonaldneal]

My stone screen brackets are attached by a pretty shoddy arrangement of three self tapping screws into holes in the seam of the A pillar.
Talk about a rust trap!
Luckily it doesn't hold water and mine are rust free for now.
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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[notchboy]

That a serious piece of Kit for your bus

Reminds me a a face guard for your bus

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[orchidkombi]

[mcdonaldneal]

Just finishing a long refurbishment of our Dormy interior. The cabinets are made of particleboard, which is the shittest material possible for the purpose. It absorbs water and swells and splits. I wanted to keep the original cupboards, and couldn't match the laminate, so I clamped the split parts and used strong wood glue and superglue. Worked out ok! The fridge has been cleaned, polished and repainted the original colour and the trim strips on the cupboards cleaned and bleached.

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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[notchboy]

Yep a good clean and a tweak here and there goes far! Looking good
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[NASkeet]

[mcdonaldneal]

Something had always bothered me about our Aussie Dormobile. The production number and stamp wasn't under the rock and roll bed, as it is with the earlier models.
I can't believe I've never seen this before, so I probably have, but not noticed it enough to register! Behind the drivers seat, near the Australian approval plate, is riveted a Dormobile conversion plaque. Just thought I'd post for info!

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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[mcdonaldneal]

Australian? Check.
Dormobile? Check.
Slickly filmed, beautifully lit, short video. Shot in the Highlands and Islands of Scotland, featuring a ?'72 Dormobile camper. Almost certainly a UK conversion. (Old-style British number plate, first registered in Liverpool)
Looks like just another Scottish holiday video to me!...
Thanks to Unfazed, and the VW Kombi Aussie Dormobiles Facebook page (shameless plug!)


Link

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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!

[mcdonaldneal]

There’s more to this story than meets the eye, but I wanted to add to this thread with some more documentation pictures of another very original Australian Dormobile conversion. In fact, it came off the Dormobile production line in 1976 only five vehicles before the white Kombi belonging to orchidkombi above!

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1978 marino yellow Bay Dormobile camper
1969 signal orange Karmann Ghia convertible
1976 martini olive Bay Dormobile camper

Stop dead photo links! Post photos to The Samba Gallery!