Still Stoked Lifestyle's Guide To Van Life

This page is all about old campervan conversions and concentrates on the cheaper and more functional models provided by Ford, Commer and Bedford.

Van life isn't for everybody but everybody loves the allure of it - it's seen as cool, radical, hardcore or eccentric depending on your perspective. Vans range from modern or semi-modern, basic boxes or fitted out campers to old (pre '80's) and very old (pre '73 tax exempt) fully functional camper conversions. VW camper vans remain the iconographic surfers vehicle, but to some of us they fall short on space and suitability for on the road living.

WHY OLD VANS?

PROS

1. If driven carefully they are reliable
2. Cheap to buy and cheap to repair
3. Spares are plentiful
4. They have style and are spacious

CONS

1. Do average 16 to 25 mpg!
2. Therefore expensive to run

Very old vans pre Jan 1973 are tax-exempt and now classed as historic vehicles.

Customising old camper vans for living is cheap, fun and does nothing to their value 'cos they're so cheap to start with.

Popular models are Transits, Bedfords and Commer all of which are cheap, and Ford Transits and Bedfords in particular are still fairly common with no present day cult status as compared with over-priced VW splitscreens and baywindow models. Mercedes vans are also pretty cheap if old, but not so readily available in camper van conversions.

RECOMMENDED VANS

FORD TANSIT MK 1

C1 Autohome camper body
(coach built)
Ford Transit Mk 1

Landliner
(coach built)

Canterbury
(van conversion, rising roof)

BEDFORD CF

C1 Autohome as Ford
Bedford CF

Bedouin (coach built)

Van conversions / pop-up roofs

PRICES GUIDE

Cost of old to very old vans depends to some extent on location. In Wales, West Midlands, Bristol to Weston and the North they tend to be cheapest.

AUTOHOME OR BEDOUIN
GOOD	upto £1500
AVERAGE	£1000 max
TATTY	£350 to £750

LANDLINER
GOOD	£1500 to £2000
AVERAGE	£1200
TATTY	£800 to £1000

TRANSIT OR BEDFORD POP-UP
GOOD	£850 max
AVERAGE/POOR	£200 to £400

All vehicles are assumed to be MOT tested and runners.

If you are serious about a van always have sufficient cash to buy and offer significantly below the asking price to drive away - there are bargains out there waiting to be snapped up.

If you want to customise with paint jobs, wood burners etc., go for the cheaper end and you'll be unlucky if you don't run for several years for less than £2,500 after repairs and replacements. Drive these vehicles carefully and they will run and run!..