Custom Campmobile

This 1973 Campmobile combines blends stock and subtle custom styling touches to make one very distinctive looking camper.

- David Eccles

Originally built in April 1973 as a Pastel White automatic gearbox model with a Type 4 engine, it left the Hannover plant ready to be converted into a Westfalia pop-top (P31) with the D39 US spec option package, which included chrome hubcaps, heated rear window, laminated windscreen, brake servo and padded dash along; vent cab windows were also specified. The M plate also carries the destination code UK, used for US export models bound for dealership showrooms initially as a promotional model. By the time it was imported by FBI VW in 2007 it had received a quickie respray in white and a refurbished 2 litre Type 4 engine as well as being converted from the auto box to manual; documents showed the previous owner had cared for it and it had lived in Arizona, New York and South Carolina at various times in its life.

Fed up with tent camping, Greg Tebbs had been looking for a camper for some time when he spotted this for sale by FBI; timely as he was halfway through an Op tour in Iraq, for which he would receive a military Op Bonus. Due to being in Iraq he had a prepurchase inspection done by Ade at VWCamper-reborn.co.uk who found no serious rot or mechanical issues, though he did point out the rear corner /battery tray had been repaired with filler after an accident. The original Campmobile 70 furniture and fittings were also in good order, including the original cab and roof bunks, the only missing item was the spice rack, so Greg decided to go for it!