By Glen Woodcock

Because a new season of old car auctions is about to begin, I’ve been giving a lot of thought to the state of the hobby (if hobby is even the right word any more).

Today, it’s become more of a business than a recreational pursuit.

What triggered these dark thoughts were the promo ads on the Speed channel for its live coverage of the Barrett-Jackson auction in Scottsdale, Ariz. starting Jan. 17, 2012.

Because of its inflated prices, I think this annual televised event has done more harm than good to the average collector/restorer of vintage vehicles.

I’ve also been thinking a lot about a recent television documentary on how the fine art market has been transformed from one where knowledgeable collectors bought works for their intrinsic value to one where speculators now rule. Art is no longer bought for its beauty, but as something to be added to the wealthy investor’s portfolio. Not to be enjoyed for what it is, but for how much money it can bring a few years down the line.

I think the same thing has happened in the world of old cars. The investors have taken over and prices have gone through the roof. For those people, the term “it’s a driver” has taken on a pejorative meaning. The vehicles bringing astronomical prices are restored to an almost flawless level and to drive one, other than on and off its trailer, would instantly destroy its investment value.

But isn’t driving what cars are all about? Yes, they often can be considered works of art, but they’re also functional machines meant to be used.

There’s been a welcome backlash to all this by a growing appreciation of survivors – cars and trucks that have stood the ravages of time and travel and wear each stone chip and parking lot bruise like a badge of honour.

Maybe we’re becoming so used to high prices that we can’t see the forest for the trees – me included. Last year I wrote about a 1920 Detroit Electric that once had been owned by Margaret Haldane Gray, wife of the founder of Gray-Dort Motors in Chatham, Ont. It was sold at RM Auctions’ Hershey event in October for $44,000 – well below the pre-auction estimate of $80,000-$100,000. For this reason, I called it “a real bargain.”

That prompted an email from Stan Uher, of Blenheim, Ont., known as “Mr. Gray-Dort” because it’s his expertise that keeps many of these landmark Canadian cars (1915-24) running and on the road. “Was it a real bargain?” Stan asked, “Or was it a realistic price for that car? I know that the Michigan fellow who commissioned the restoration probably had $80,000 invested in it, but you could also invest that much in a Manic GT or a Gray-Dort. But that doesn’t make it worth $80,000!”

I wrote back that I thought the car’s provenance, being owned by such a prominent and pioneering Canadian automotive family, made it well worth the pre-sale estimate.

But I’ve been giving that a lot of thought, and now I’m not so sure Stan isn’t right.

Maybe the Detroit Electric would have been better off as a survivor – kept in the condition in which it was when Mrs. Gray last drove it – the seat cushions a little worn from use, and dirt from Chatham’s streets still on its undercarriage.

We’ve reached the point where many common cars such as 1955 Chevrolet two-door hardtops are now priced beyond the means of most collectors. For instance, at last year’s Barrett-Jackson event in Orange County, Calif., a 1963 Volkswagen Samba Microbus sold for $217,800 – more than the $159,500 a 1964 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud brought at the same sale.

The Website Westfalia.org says the bus was restored “to much-better-than-new condition … We can only wonder where and when it will pop up for auction again, since for that kind of coin we don’t imagine it will show up at any Magic Bus Extravaganzas.”

Exactly. The new owners wouldn’t dare go camping in it, so what’s the point? The Samba has ceased to be a viable automobile, to be enjoyed for what it is, and has become just another item in an investment portfolio.

I despair.

Article source: http://www.altonaecho.com/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=3439477

At that time the company was still Westfalia Van Conversion GmbH – and had financial problems. On 27 January 2010 put the – in the meantime renamed – Conversion Van Camping CVC eventually file for bankruptcy. Today is the company Westfalia Mobil GmbH, part of it since November 2010 on the French Rapido Group. The money, apparently, has again brought into the company. Because Westfalia plans to buy back the vehicles once sold out. Managing director Mike Reuer notes to know what fans and aficionados of the brand for more than two years: “We have noted with dismay that a beautiful museum was closed.”

Back then it was still called, the company’s own museum would be dissolved, because in the past few years, hardly – had been used – or not as good as. Therefore, Westfalia had decided to sell the camping vintage and classic cars and deliver the brand aficionados. Via online auction at the time they separated several VW buses with camping conversions, including a T1, two T2, a T3 and a model of a section based on the VW Westfalia Joker T3, which brought just € 4110. Also offered was a Gutbrod Superior. No buyer found then a DKW with RV structure of the model 1953/54 (other sources say 1956). As the “rapid delivery van” known DKW drives a 0.9-liter three-cylinder two-stroke engine, the motor home is – for those times – quite luxuriously furnished and has gas fired heating and cooking as well as a flush toilet. The DKW heard today, as well as a Ford Transit Nugget in 1986, the company.

The VW T1 Campingbox of 1953 with only 41 miles on the clock at the auction brought around 41,000 €.
For a private company Westfalia museum lacked the time the money. It already financially squeezed at every corner. Thus, then also the veterans auctioned – some voices say “wasted” and sold off. For a small budget. The auction brought a total time less than 200,000 €. The sum is, as we know now, Westfalia not saved. Therefore, the collection was scattered to the winds. But maybe not forever. Because the traditional company remembers well but now back to its own history – and wants to bring the early examples of holidays back in the van owned by the expansion. Thus, the mobile Westfalia Westfalia GmbH might ventilate the museum again and back to life.

The company wrote to the purchaser of the museum pieces: “Our great desire,” it said in letters to the owners of the former museum pieces, “is the Westfalia museum rebuild in order to revive so the history again this reason. ask us … “.. Signed, the letters managing director Mike Reuer The manager reminded of the history and significance of the work in Rheda-Wiedenbrück for the German motor homes and states:”. The first German camper van was launched in 1951 by Westfalia “The former Owner of Westfalia, the family puzzle have to keep from everyone at Westfalia manufactured vehicle one each from the first series in the works. Now you think on the vintage market initially for this collection of ten to twelve campers lookout. Reuer said that they knew from Westfalia at . the value of the vehicles and he absorbs too much hope the owners to sudden wealth, by referring to a “modest budget” for the purchase and he adds:. “We can not pay high prices.” It would, however, with the owners of “fair” deal. That seems to be a promising recipe. Cologne was one of the works he bought back a 1981-camper based on the T3. Perhaps this is the vehicle, together with the remaining DKW and Ford, the foundation for the emerging factory museum of Westfalia.

SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Joe Ingram, a high school teacher of history and government, learned a welcome lesson here on Saturday. The Barrett-Jackson auction still has room for the little guy.

Mr. Ingram, who teaches at Twentynine Palms High School in California’s Mojave Desert, threw his weight around with help from his 1963 Volkswagen Microbus and matching trailer.

The Deluxe Samba 23-window bus, a rolling testimonial to automotive fenestration, towed a 1971 Eriba Puck camper across the auction block on Saturday before selling for $128,700.

A Westfalia roof basket holding Samsonite luggage, a rack with a Schwinn Twinn tandem bicycle, a cargo hold filled with Coleman camping gear and a dashboard hula girl completed the ensemble. The bike and trailer were painted in the van’s turquoise and white.

Mr. Ingram, who afterward said he had expected $125,000, was jubilant after the sale. “In a volatile market, we hit it right where we wanted it,” he said.

Ronald Ahrens for The New York TimesJennifer and Joe Ingram, on Saturday at the Barrett-Jackson auctions.

His wife, Jennifer, who accompanied him onto the dais before several thousand spectators, didn’t share her husband’s glowing assessment of the experience. “It was horrible, actually,” she said.

Even at such a significant price, the transaction, which included 18 percent in commission fees from the seller and buyer, did not set a record. Last June, another Samba bus, albeit without a trailer, fetched $217,800 at Barrett-Jackson’s Orange County sale in Southern California.

Mr. Ingram said he paid $11,500 for the Samba bus 10 years ago. Not counting the middleman who quickly sold the vehicle after finding it in the California desert city of Barstow, he was the third owner.

By 2006, Mr. Ingram had repainted and retrimmed the bus. None of the original glass needed to be replaced. The 1.5-liter engine was rebuilt and the electrical system converted from six-volt to 12-volt.

The 800-pound trailer was acquired in 2007 from its original owner in Tustin, Calif., and restored, although the information sheet that accompanied the bus and trailer indicated that the propane in the stove’s supply tank was original.

Mr. Ingram said he decided to sell the van and all its accoutrements to make way for his next project, a 1958 Volkswagen single-cab pickup.

“We enjoyed it for six years,” he said of the Samba when reached on Sunday evening by phone at his home in Joshua Tree, Calif. “I do have some other projects lined up behind it. This is a hobby, and you really can’t keep everything.”

Article source: http://wheels.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/01/23/a-volkswagen-bus-with-no-junk-in-its-trunk/

As David Cameron announces plans to measure the nation’s happiness, a recent study has revealed that the simple joys of camping can help to ward off stress and improve well-being. Indeed, caravan sales and UK holidays experts, Park Resorts, can confirm a continual rise in the number of their holiday bookings and static caravan sales.

In the ‘Real Richness’ study carried out by Liverpool John Moores University on behalf of The Camping and Caravanning Club, people who camp were found to be healthier, happier and less stressed, and reported feeling more socially connected while benefiting from closer family relationships.

The University’s leading academics reviewed over 60 research studies and carried out an online survey polling 2,000 campers and non-campers, finding:

• 77% of campers are satisfied with their quality of life compared to 59% of non-campers

• 21% of campers feel stressed on an average day compared to 33% of non-campers

• 93% of campers say that camping can make you happier

• 91% of all children say spending time exploring the outdoors with their families makes them happy

• 84% of campers think camping can make you healthier

• Almost 50% of campers think the pastime should be prescribed on the NHS

Caroline Doyle at Park Resorts, commenting on the study’s findings, adds:

“Here at Park Resorts we are always overwhelmed by the buoyant atmosphere our parks generate among adults and kids alike. Our parks are full of cheer, there’s a real sense of community spirit and our smiles really are contagious! In the current climate, where understanding family values should be at the top of the agenda, I believe that our industry is at the forefront of something quite remarkable in terms of family cohesion, connection and quality of life.”

Park Resorts, the first choice for UK holidays and static caravan sales, have seen sales figures of their parks rise this year despite the gloomy economic climate. As financial strains lead more UK families to staycation at home, Park Resorts offer affordable camping and caravanning holidays that are designed to help families spend more quality time together.

Visit Park Resorts today for the latest 2012 holiday deals and see what keeps families of all ages returning to Park Resorts again and again!

About Park Resorts

Park Resorts, who offer caravan holidays across the UK, including in Essex, Yorkshire, Kent, Sussex and Scotland, offer all manner of caravan holidays. Whether you are a family, couple or large group of friends, they have the right caravan for you. Accommodation is available to suit all age groups and price limits, from bronze, silver and gold, with a real emphasis on catering for the family.

SOURCE Park Resorts

Article source: http://www.sacbee.com/2011/12/22/4140149/happiness-isa-camping-holiday.html

If there’s an age limit on playing with Legos, we don’t want to know about it. The plastic blocks are the perfect time waster, and while we’re sad to say that we’ve let our maniac skills waste away over the past two decades or so, we’re still glad to know that there are people out there keeping the magic alive. People like Marshal Matlock. Matlock recently decided to whip up the Volkswagen T1 Camper Van set in his spare time and was kind enough to shoot a time-lapse video of the endeavor.

The feat required over 1,800 photographs all compressed into 24 frames per second, and the result is a video that soaks up a little over a minute and a half of your day. Watching the van assemble itself and ride off frame is well worth your time, though be warned: you’ll probably want to pick the kit up for yourself after you’re done watching the clip. Hit the jump to check it out.

News Source: FBTB via YouTube

Article source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/10/11/lego-vw-van-time-lapse-build-is-the-best-advertisement/

Lego Westfalia on YouTube 

Now you can afford a dozen Westfalias that you can build yourself!

Click here to see the Lego Westfalia at lego.com

Volkswagen buyers in the Netherlands will soon have the opportunity to get their hands on a brand-new 2012 Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus. That’s right, the original hippie van will be available brand-new in Holland starting soon.

How is that possible? Well, while the buses went out of production a long time ago in Europe and the states, South Americans have been enjoying unfettered access to the Type 2 (currently sold there as the Kombi) for decades. The Type 2s slated for the streets of Holland will be built and sold in Brazil with their South American-market counterparts and shipped to the Dutch market.

For now, the campers are only scheduled to be available in Holland, but they’ll be eligible for registration anywhere within the European Union. We think things will stay that way, so don’t expect any to make it Stateside.

Article source: http://www.autoblog.com/2011/11/12/volkswagen-type-2-camper-van-returns-to-europe-via-brazil/

Driver can steer the eT! by ‘drive stick’ from passenger’s side as alternative

Wolfsburg / Potsdam, 18 November 2011 – For over 60 years now, commercial vehicles from Volkswagen have maintained a visual presence on the world’s streets. They are helpers in everyday life, which bring us people goods, services, postal deliveries and occasionally emergency assistance as well. Volkswagen Group Research, which is responsible for the world of tomorrow, together with the German Post Office (‘Deutsche Post AG’), which is one of the largest customers of lightweight commercial vehicles – as well as the University of Art at Braunschweig – formed a think tank on future transport and mobility issues. Finally, these research activities led to a completely new vehicle concept for the delivery and logistics field: eT!

Prof. Dr. Jürgen Leohold, Director of Volkswagen Group Research: “We analyzed process flows and customer needs in detail, and from these analyses we derived ideas on how the segment of delivery and courier vehicles could be further developed over the long term. In this context, we focused on zero-emissions driving and available space in urban areas, semi-automatic driving functions that offer relevant support and simplify work processes and the integration of new communication technologies. On top of that, we also set out to design a very emotionally appealing commercial vehicle. To attain these goals, our teams not only looked towards the future from the past, but also worked from a future perspective to implement an advanced development concept based on technologies available today.”

The eT! research vehicle could someday actually revolutionise the world of lightweight commercial vehicles. Completely reconceptualised, driven with zero emissions, thought through to the last detail and driving semi-automatically if necessary! Just how wide-ranging the significance of this research project could be for sustainability in the transportation field is underscored by the support for the eT! project by the German Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation and Nuclear Safety. “The eT! research vehicle,” explains Dr. Wolfgang Schreiber, spokesperson for the Board of Management of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, “unifies a whole gamut of innovative functions, which will gain in future importance, specifically for logistics businesses. In particular, the possibility of driving the car semi-automatically – and electrically – in downtown areas unifies economical and environmental aspects more systematically than ever. As a vision of the future, the eT! is showcasing what is the maximum feasible technology for electric vehicles in the commercial market today with a special design that systematically addresses future customer needs.”

“eT! is a pure electrically powered transporter that systematically transfers E-mobility to the area of commercial use,” says Dr. Rudolf Krebs, Group Manager for Electric Traction at Volkswagen AG. And continues: “As a transport specialist, the eT! is advancing to become the automotive building block for an innovative, future-oriented logistics concept, which not only drives with zero emissions in urban areas – thanks to its electric wheel hub motors – but also offers maximum freedom in manoeuvering and turning as well as optimal utilisation of the vehicle’s interior space. If ‘refuelled’ with electricity generated from renewable energy sources, the eT! can indeed be operated with zero emissions. Naturally, the eT! is not a vehicle which – unlike the Golf or up! with an electric motor – could become available very soon. But we must make plans today for what the world of lightweight commercial vehicles might look like starting in the second half of this decade, including with regard to electrical drives.”

To make the working world of mail delivery personnel and courier drivers simpler and safer, to optimise the logistics of delivery and to shorten delivery times, eT! can be operated semi-automatically in certain situations. The car can follow the delivery person from house to house (“Follow me”), or the car can return to the delivery person on command (“Come to me”) – driverless! As an alternative, the driver can direct the car’s movements via a ‘drive stick’ from the passenger’s side that also offers a standing seat and quick access to the vehicle. On the passenger’s side – the side that faces the sidewalk and therefore the working area of the delivery person – there is therefore an electrically opening sliding door that opens to 2 different stages; this enables extremely quick entry into the vehicle as well as quick access to the mail parcels. This makes unnecessary walking movements around the vehicle a thing of the past.

Variants of this lightweight transport vehicle could be implemented for all conceivable business uses. And these derived concepts are also the focus of research activities. Meanwhile, the eT! concept shown in a world premiere at the Design Centre of Potsdam was specially designed for delivery of mail shipments of all types. The research vehicle will now be integrated in a driving test study and further analysed.

 View photo gallery

24 October 2011 | JDavis

The Viano Marco Polo is a combination of everything you have ever wanted from a camper van and so much more.  The van meets your initial desires, comfort, safety and power but it then goes on to offer you high end features you would expect to see from a Mercedes-Benz vehicle.  Features like an easy-glide sliding door, a lockable valuables compartment, fully equipped kitchen, electropneumatically inflatable seat cushion bolsters, wood look floor and to literally top it off, a roof bed.  What else could you want from a compact luxury home on wheels?  Well, for the earth friendly cross-country drivers, Mercedes installed the Viano with a four-cylinder BlueEFFICIENCY diesel engine with a displacement of 2.15 litres and the V6 with its 3.0 liters with CO2 emissions and fuel consumption at record-breaking low figures.

Viano Marco Polo: big shot among the compact camper vans

The figures alone are testimony to its success: while new registrations of camper vans in Germany increased overall by 18.1 percent in the first six months of 2011, registrations of Mercedes-Benz camper vans rose 24.5 percent. And growth internationally has been equally solid: in the first half of 2011, new camper-van registrations in Europe increased by 10.4 percent to 49,624 units. The compact Mercedes-Benz Viano Marco Polo camper van even managed to comfortably better these excellent figures: sales in the first half of the year rose by 82 percent to some 900 units.

Comfortable and practical: Mercedes-Benz Viano Marco Polo

The concept of the Viano Marco Polo is just right: its dimensions are compact and perfectly suited to everyday use for a camper van, measuring exactly 5.0 m long and 1.9 m wide. With the roof closed it remains under the two-metre height restriction which is important for everyday usage. Cockpit, drive system and suspension are entirely on a par with high-end passenger car standards. The interior with its fully fitted kitchen and cupboards on the left-hand side, the moveable individual-style seats and the rotated front seats have been purpose-designed and honed down to the very last detail. Mercedes-Benz and its experienced conversion partner Westfalia have also come up with numerous refinements, which are only available in a Viano Marco Polo.

Minimal scope for improving the hallmark features

The tried-and-trusted arrangement of the living area in the Viano Marco Polo is a classic, with its spacious fully fitted kitchen and cupboards on the left-hand side, as well as the unique movable seat design with electrically adjustable individual seats and electropneumatically inflatable seat cushion bolsters, leaving minimal scope for improvement.

The fully equipped living accommodation for the Viano Marco Polo is a compelling proposition: pop-up roof (as an option with electrohydraulic EASY UP function), comfort roof bed resting on special flexible spring elements, seat that converts into a bed with electric adjustment and bed extension, wardrobe and roof stowage cupboard along with a drawer in the seat base, kitchen with dual-burner gas stove, compressor-type coolbox and sink as well as stowage compartments, external power socket and charger for the separate on-board battery, hot-air auxiliary heating with timer and temperature control, table, all-round privacy curtains and a valuables compartment – the Viano Marco Polo is ideal as a compact camper van, for impromptu overnight stays as well as for weekend excursions and long holidays.

Viano Marco Polo in detail: well-thought-out fittings and furnishings

You just need to open the easy-glide sliding door to appreciate the special qualities of the Viano Marco Polo as you catch your first glimpse of the living accommodation. The fronts of the furniture sport silver surfaces; the integral decor strip with its burr walnut-look finish takes its cue from the strip in the cockpit. In this camper van, the basic vehicle and the living accommodation, the Viano and the Marco Polo fittings and furnishings form a harmonious whole in terms of style and materials. The surfaces and decor strips with their high-quality look and feel convey the hallmark quality of a Mercedes-Benz.

The seating consists of the two-seater bench with individual seats in the rear, the attachable table and the swivelling front seats. Thanks to the space-saving foot-operated parking brake and joystick-style shift lever in the instrument panel, the seats can be effortlessly swivelled, providing unimpeded access from the cab to the rear. The seat base on the co-passenger seat features a lockable valuables compartment, with a stowage net on the side of the base – just two of the many practical details on the Viano Marco Polo.

The high-quality, homely fittings and furnishings on the Viano Marco Polo rest on a hard-wearing, easy-to-clean foam-backed floor covering. As an option, the floor is available in a wood-look finish, similar to the decking on a luxury yacht. It looks homely yet at the same time exquisite. Additional everyday flexibility comes courtesy of the option of an additional individual seat.

Fully fitted kitchen and cupboards: practical and spacious

The fully fitted kitchen and cupboards do not just provide a visual highlight: in the Viano Marco Polo, the stowage and cutlery drawer can be accessed at any time. Thanks to the roller fronts, the contents of the spacious stowage compartments are conveniently to hand. With a compact camper van like the Viano Marco Polo with its versatile uses it is these kinds of clever details that make all the difference. For instance, plastic clips secure the removable shelves in the cupboard while on the move. One of the many examples of why the sturdy fixtures and fittings do not produce lots of noise even on poorly appointed roads.

The kitchen in the Viano Marco Polo is fully equipped with a dual-burner gas stove, a compressor-type coolbox with insert, and a sink. The 40-litre capacity of the coolbox is sufficient to store more than enough Tuscan delicacies as food for the journey, such as the typical exquisite sausage products. A gas-operated strut lifts the cover on the coolbox and on the stove/sink unit.

The know-how of the experienced camper van manufacturer is reflected in the detail: the raised cover for the cooker/sink unit not only serves as a splash guard; it also includes a fold-down draining board for dishes. And the designers have even thought about a waste bin. A 12 V power socket as well as a clothes hook are fitted in the trim on the roof frame in front of the cupboard. Insect screens on the sliding windows help keep unwelcome guests at bay.

Bench seat: electrically adjustable, electropneumatically inflatable bolsters

The unique bench seat on the Viano Marco Polo is mounted on rails so it can be moved. The two electrically adjustable individual seats in the bench come with electropneumatically inflatable seat cushion bolsters. They improve seating comfort noticeably, provide lateral support while on the move and a comfortable flat surface at the destination once deflated. ISOFIX anchorage points can be used to secure child seats. A large drawer under the bench seat as well as the roof stowage compartment in the rear can be used to stow luggage – every last centimetre in the Viano Marco Polo is used for the benefit of those on-board.

This also applies to the table, which is stowed away in the sliding door trim while on the move. Once the vehicle has been parked, the tabletop can be slotted into a rail on the front of the kitchen, the foot into a bench seat rail – and away you go.

The bench seat converts into a bed at the push of a button

As soon as it is time to turn in for the night, an electric motor effortlessly transforms the two individual seats into a double bed at the push of a button – an unrivalled feature. Deflating the seat cushion bolsters creates a comfortable, perfectly flat bed that is two metres long. Here too is another clever feature: the bench seat is raised automatically a few centimetres as it is being folded out, preventing the belt buckles from uncomfortably poking out into the bed in the Viano Marco Polo.

Comfort is a priority with any Mercedes-Benz, and for a camper van in particular: the bed extension which forms the head section above the luggage compartment on the Viano Marco Polo can be raised in stages using a loop and a support. This feature further improves the already high level of comfort.

Additional luggage can be stowed under the bed extension – or those little souvenirs from Tuscany. Whether it is two cases of good Chianti or even a fine Brunello di Montalcino, maybe a few terracotta objects from Impruneta, there is more than enough room in the Viano Marco Polo. If you need to transport bulky items during everyday use, the users can simply position the bed extension vertically. The cargo section can simply be enlarged by moving the bench seat forward. Removing the bench seat transforms the camper van into a fully fledged van. Load securing lugs are testimony to the vehicle’s credentials as a cargo carrier.

Open stowage compartments in the roof-mounted cupboard and the laundry cupboard can be used to stow small items of luggage in the rear. Other practical features include the connection for an outside shower, the power socket in the luggage compartment as well as a collapsible shopping crate together with bracket – ideal for shopping in the market.

Roof bed: no different from your bed at home

The pop-up roof on the Viano Marco Polo fits seamlessly onto the body. When closed it is securely fastened using two locks on the left and right. It opens manually using a gas-strut mechanism or optionally at the push of a button using the highly convenient electropneumatic feature. Integrated guide rails keep the roof bellows section taut and automatically retract the bellows section as the roof closes.

There is another bed under the roof, also around two metres long. A look under the foam mattress reveals a combination of slatted base and a flexible spring system, making for the sort of night’s sleep you get at home. A positive ventilation outlet at the front and two other outlets at the side let air and light into the upper deck. A protective net prevents children or objects from falling out.

On-board systems: high-quality, efficient and fully complete

The efficiency of the Viano Marco Polo is typical of the brand down to the very last detail: the two LED lights, each with five individual bulbs inside, in the rear provide a bright light as soon as they are switched on, illuminate the interior fully and only consume minimal power – an important factor when venturing off the beaten track where facilities such as mains power are not available. Additional reading lights in the rear make reading a pleasure. Two reading lights above the bed extension as well as two lights near to the roof bed round off the lighting.

In any case, the Viano Marco Polo comes with extremely reliable on-board systems, just as you would expect. A powerful auxiliary gel battery powers the vehicle’s electrical system. The camper van also comes with a 230 V external power socket and a battery charger. The fresh-water tank has a capacity of 36 litres, the waste-water tank 32 litres. Both tanks are mounted in the interior of the vehicle to protect them against frost. Standard equipment also includes a fuel-powered auxiliary heater including timer and temperature control. The powerful heating capacity of 2.5 kW maintains the living area pleasantly warm even on cold days.

The camper van’s gas supply is limited to a gas bottle for the stove. When it needs replacing, the bottle can be accessed by swinging out the laundry compartment – one of the many clever ideas in the Viano Marco Polo. Other ingenious touches include the standard-fit power socket at the rear for a repeater lamp on the optional bicycle rack.

Passengers control and manage all the key functions on the clearly laid out control panel in the centre console on the Viano Marco Polo. The panel displays the interior and exterior temperature, battery capacity, operating status of the coolbox and the level of the water tanks. The control unit for the auxiliary heating is also integrated.

Fresh look emphasises the character of the Viano Marco Polo

Seen purely from the outside, the current generation of the Mercedes-Benz Viano Marco Polo can be recognised with its striking headlamps – picking up on the style of the current Mercedes-Benz passenger cars – featuring powerful reflector headlamps, integrated daytime running lamps, and a radiator grille with three silver painted louvres with chrome surrounds. Bi-xenon headlamps with LED daytime running lamps, Add-Light System and headlamp washer system are also available as an option. Single-piece lamps with black glass-look mouldings and the deep-set bumper catch the eye at the rear.

The exterior mirrors with integral indicator lamps provide a large field of vision. Wide-angle sections are integrated in the mirrors on both sides – a major improvement to safety not just while manoeuvring in Italian old towns where space is tight.

For the 2012 model year, Mercedes-Benz is freshening up the looks with the new “hibiscus red” and “dolomite brown metallic” paint finishes.

The cockpit: comfortable and user-friendly

From the driver’s and co-driver’s view from the cockpit, the Viano Marco Polo instantly appeals to the senses as a camper van. The rim of the multifunction steering wheel and the shift lever knob are trimmed in nappa leather which is pleasant to the touch. The driver operates the standard-fit trip computer via the buttons on the steering wheel. The trip computer provides information on parameters such as average fuel consumption and range. The instrument cluster with its white scale illumination is a new feature for the 2012 model year. The precise, easy-to-read instruments resemble a chronometer. All the pushbuttons are arranged clearly at the top of the centre console.

The cockpit boasts high-grade Softtouch surfaces. A decor strip emphasises the masterfully crafted character of the Viano Marco Polo. As standard, the decor strip is finished in a brown burr-walnut-wood look and is optionally available in a black burr-walnut-wood look. The comfort seats come as standard with seat angle and armrest adjustment. A host of stowage facilities and drinks holders are ideal for storing snacks and refreshments for the journey.

Thanks to extensive insulation measures, passengers enjoy low noise levels. Amenities such as air-conditioning, electrically adjustable heated exterior mirrors, electric power windows, height and angle-adjustable steering column, fog lamps and remote-control central locking all come as standard.

Clean and economical with BlueEFFICIENCY technology

A holiday close to nature without harming the environment in a camper van need not be a contradiction with Mercedes-Benz. Supreme efficiency for low emissions and fuel consumption lie at the heart of the current generation of the Viano Marco Polo. All model versions meet the EU 5 emissions standard. The drive system is not only outstandingly environmentally friendly and fuel-efficient: it also accelerates with consummate ease and boasts outstanding refinement.

The four-cylinder diesel engines with a displacement of 2.15 litres and the V6 with its 3.0 litres are at the heart of the line-up. CO2 emissions and fuel consumption achieve record-breaking low figures. Behind these figures is not just the advanced engine technology in the Mercedes-Benz four and six-cylinder engines including particulate filter, but also the BlueEFFICIENCY technology, which comes as standard on all Viano models. BlueEFFICIENCY includes on-demand ancillary units, an ECO start/stop function, gearshift display, ECO power-steering pump, low-rolling resistance tyres and – a new feature – generator management. The generator is designed to charge during braking and is governed during acceleration.

A badge below the A-pillar is testimony to BlueEFFICIENCY. Mercedes-Benz is setting new standards with this technology: no other manufacturer adopts so many measures to reduce fuel consumption as part of its standard specification. Just what you are looking for when touring through the kind of unspoilt landscapes you find in Tuscany.

Powerful, smooth-running diesel engines with four and six cylinders

The smooth-running four-cylinder diesel engines in the Viano Marco Polo cover output ranges from 100 kW (136 hp) to 120 kW (163 hp). In addition to output, torque of 310 Nm and 360 Nm respectively is also formidable. Maximum torque is already available at very low engine speeds of 1400 rpm or 1600 rpm respectively. All of which ensures good performance, smooth running and low fuel consumption. NEDC fuel consumption in the two output classes Viano CDI 2.0 and 2.2 Marco Polo is just 7.2-7.4 l/100 km.

The unique V6 CDI in the Viano CDI 3.0 Marco Polo with four overhead camshafts and aluminium crankcase delivers effortlessly superior performance coupled with superb refinement thanks to output of 165 kW (224 hp) and impressive torque of 440 Nm. The standard-fit automatic transmission teams up seamlessly with this powerplant for those who appreciate the finer things in life. The result is surprisingly low NEDC fuel consumption of 8.5-8.6 l/100 km. All four and six-cylinder diesel engines come with balancer shafts, which together with the dual-mass flywheel, guarantee superb smooth running.

The Viano 3.5 Marco Polo is available for customers who want even more, a 3.5-litre petrol engine developing 190 kW (258 hp) of output. This unit is also fitted with an automatic transmission as standard.

ECO Gear manual transmission reduces engine speed, fuel consumption and emissions

The six-speed ECO Gear manual transmission plays a large part in the good acceleration and low fuel consumption of the Viano Marco Polo. Fitted as standard with the four-cylinder diesel engines, its large gear-ratio spread reduces emissions and fuel consumption. The transmission guarantees acceleration when moving off as well as nonchalant coasting with low engine speeds and low emissions, not to mention low fuel consumption at high cruising speed.

Suspension: ride comfort, driving pleasure and handling safety

The combination of ride comfort, driving pleasure and handling safety is the hallmark of the agile suspension with rear-wheel drive on the Viano Marco Polo. It not only handles extremely safely and is manoeuvrable, but is also very comfortable. Suspension, damping and road and tyre vibration are compelling even when venturing off the beaten track.

Precise, sensitive steering comes into its own on the winding side roads of Tuscany. Overall the compact camper van always handles precisely, predictably and safely. At the same time it sets the benchmark for comfort, road and tyre vibration, and noise levels.

Whether on gravel or snow: the Viano Marco Polo with the all-wheel drive system 4MATIC is available to meet the most discerning requirements. The electronic traction system 4ETS automatically brakes the spinning wheels individually, increasing the drive torque at the wheels with sufficient traction. The all-wheel drive system 4MATIC is always combined with an automatic transmission. The result is extremely comfortable all-wheel drive even when the going gets tough: accelerate, steer and brake is all you need to do at the wheel of a Viano 4MATIC Marco Polo, the technology will look after everything else.

The exemplary safety features on the Viano Marco Polo

The Mercedes-Benz Viano Marco Polo boasts an unrivalled range of safety and assistance systems as standard. The Electronic Stability Program ADAPTIVE ESP® with anti-lock braking system ABS, acceleration skid control system ASR and Brake Assist BAS features detection of load and weight distribution. It is compulsory for all models. The brake lights automatically start flashing during emergency braking; the hazard warning lamps automatically come on once the vehicle has come to a stop.

As an option, start-off assist AAS, an automatic tyre pressure monitoring system, the parking and manoeuvring aid PARKTRONIC as well as a reversing camera enhance the extensive comfort and safety features on the Viano Marco Polo.

Versatility itself: the Mercedes-Benz Viano Fun

When flexibility is the name of the game, the Viano Fun truly comes into its own. This vehicle provides an ideal combination of everyday and leisure characteristics – a family or business vehicle that can instantly be turned into a weekend home on wheels. The outstanding versatility of the Viano Fun is presaged in the availability of both compact and long variants. The compact version comfortably houses five occupants. The front has swivelling comfort seats for the driver and front-seat passenger, with a fold-out table and seat bench for three passengers in the rear, which can be slid along, removed or used as a highly comfortable bunk. A cushioned bed extension provides valuable added sleeping space.

The long version of the Viano Fun has an additional bench seat in the middle, and is also fitted with one additional individual seat as standard equipment, or two as an option. The individual seats can be slid along a rail system, either in or against the direction of travel, and can also be removed using the convenient grips provided for this purpose.

The optional pop-up roof, in the Easy-Up electrohydraulic version if desired, makes the Viano Fun more like a mobile home. This option offers generous standing space, and a comfortable roof bed can also be added for further sleeping accommodation if required.

The “Comfort Fun” equipment package makes the Viano Fun even more comfortable to drive. Ambient lighting, cockpit with soft-touch interface and a multifunction steering wheel with trip computer, electrically operated pop-out windows for the second rear seat row, fabric cushioning in the side wall panelling, an additional heat exchanger in the rear plus a raft of other detailed features help to create a convivial on-board atmosphere.

Service that knows no limits: Europe-wide service package at no extra charge

Anyone taking a Mercedes-Benz camper van on holiday is never alone: with over 2600 service centres throughout Europe, Mercedes-Benz offers a close-knit network of workshops for vans. In an emergency the free Service 24h hotline will arrange assistance in no time at all, 365 days a year, 24 hours a day. Should your Viano Marco Polo actually break down, Mercedes-Benz MobilityGo will keep you mobile: the free guaranteed mobility package includes rapid on-the-spot breakdown assistance as well as the reimbursement of taxi fares, and the provision of a replacement vehicle if the repair is likely to take more than two hours. MobilityGo is valid for all Viano models for the first two years following initial registration with no limit on mileage.

Created in collaboration with the outdoor clothing specialist, the California Berghaus has been specially developed to be the ultimate vehicle for exploring and enjoying the outdoors in comfort and style.

The limited edition Berghaus model boasts all of the creature comforts that standard California models offer, including seating and accommodation for four, thanks to an electrically-operated pop-up roof, a fully-functioning integrated kitchen in the rear living space including a fridge and gas-powered cooker, and fold-away table and chairs.

In addition to the extensive list of equipment fitted as standard, the newest addition to the California range also features a bike rack, side-mounted awning, 18-inch bi-colour ‘Dakar’ alloy wheels, metallic paint, Berghaus-branded carpet mats and waterproof seat covers and Berghaus badging.

Each vehicle also comes with an exclusive ‘Berghaus pack’ to prepare customers for exploring the outdoors in style. The pack includes a Berghaus ‘Freeflow 25′ rucksack, two ‘Flare’ sleeping bags, gloves, hats, insulated mugs, a travel water bottle, a flask and a map case. All that’s missing is the Kendal mint cake!

All Berghaus models are fitted with the familiar 2.0-litre BiTDI 180 PS engine and six-speed manual transmission, which returns 36.2 mpg on the combined cycle with CO2 emissions of 205 g/km. Acceleration from standstill to 62 mph takes 12.4 seconds while the top speed is 117 mph.

As you would expect from Volkswagen, all California models are equipped with an extensive range of safety systems including anti-lock brakes (ABS), traction control (TCS), engine braking control (EBC) and Electronic Stabilisation Programme (ESP).

Priced at £47,995 on the road (including VAT), the Berghaus model is the first ever special edition California, and exclusivity and desirability are guaranteed on the campsite with a total of only 80 being produced.

Find out more about the new California Berghaus or find a local Volkswagen Van Centre to book a test drive.

Sorry, only available in the UK.