Brand new from Autocult

The newest models from Autocult include a camper that's a must for my museum collection:

1957 Renault Projet 600

The beginning of the development of the car, which went down in Renault’s history as the ‘Projet 600’, dates back to the mid-1950s. It was the era when company president Pierre Dreyfus had ideas for a future city car worked out. Innovation for the future, even while turning away from well-known and classic car concepts, was the motto issued. The defining word to the in-house developers was ‘compact’, because this was to serve as a basic value for the test vehicles. This specification was based on the denser city traffic that was already gaining awareness at the time and the associated search for alternative cars that did not take up much space.

Under the responsible hands of Fernand Picard and Maurice Holleville, a completely new type of vehicle design was created based on the substructure of a standard Dauphine model. It was striking that there was no front bonnet and thus the front seats slipped directly over the front wheel axle – this was previously only known form trucks and vans.

Of course, the questions immediately arose as to where the engine was placed. This – an 845cc series engine – was placed by the responsible developers directly in front of the rear axle.

In 1957, the concept was finished and the design was brought to live as an original model at the Italian Ghia factory. However, this type did not find its way into series production.

1973 Ford Transit Mk1 Camper

In the first half of the 1960s, when the sales successes for the VW Transporter T1 became more and more, the management at Ford planned to counter the bestseller. The German and British Ford plants were to jointly develop a type that could stand up to the VW, but above all, of course, steal customers.

The project finally culminated in a completely new van, which saw the light of day in 1965. Subsequently, the Ford Transit Mk1 became the bestseller among delivery vans in Great Britain.

The enormous success on the British Isles led to the Transit Mk1 also being embraced by the accessories industry, above all the best-known English camping outfitter, the company ‘Dormobile’.

“The side elevation roof” was how the factory in Keystone named its folding roof and initially only intended to be installed for the Bedford van. With the installation of the folding roof, the plant also took over the conversion of the vehicle interior. Seating for four people, a bed for two travelers and storage spaces characterized the Bedford campers from then on.

In the course of the next few years, the systematic expansion of the basic types followed. From 1961 it was also possible to order a Dormobile camper based on a VW bus. Finally, in 1970, the Ford Transit Mk1 was added to the range of the Folkstone-based company.

The side-hinged roof section with the fully equipped interior was offered under the designation ‘Freeway’. This top equipment included the interior fittings with a sink, gas cooker, curtains on the rear window in the tailgate, a wardrobe, two beds mounted to the hinted roof area, an opening skylight and cupboards in which a refrigerator could also be installed.

And from their Avenue43 line, this Wartburg 355 in two color choices.