Many people associate VW vans and camper vans with the surfing lifestyle. However, this hasn’t always been the case. These versatile vehicles have an interesting history in both their development and in their adoption by the surfing community.
Travel Vans History
The idea for the camper van is attributed to Dutch Volkswagen importer Ben Pon, who first sketched these vehicles in the late 1940s. It was initially named a Volkswagen Type 2, as the Type 1 (Beetle) had already been in production for several years.
The earliest camper vans were produced by Volkswagen just after World War II and the first generation of these were often referred to as “Splitties” because of their split windshield. Variants of this van were made for such things as delivery vans, transport buses, hearses, ambulances, fire engines, and of course camping.
Camper Vans and Surfing
As the second generation of the Volkswagen Type 2 camper van came onto the market in the late 1960s, surf culture was in full swing in California. The improvements in the VW vans performance and the additional features to the camper van models made these vehicles a top pick with surfers for many reasons.
Additionally, these travel vans could easily be customizable to suit their needs and tastes. Surfers began to turn the vans into a second home with a bed, custom stereo, and cooking facilities. Thus, traveling to where the best waves were suddenly became more economical.
The space in the camper vans not only allowed surfers to travel locally but also opened up travelers to much further distances. Those who had once only experienced surfing in their local community could now outfit a travel van and take off for months at a time with ready accommodations along for the ride. Stowing surfboards and surf gear was a breeze with all of the roof space that these vans afforded. Many vans came with a ladder on the back to reach the roof, or one could be installed very easily.
Used Conversion Van Culture
This way of life remains a part of the surf culture today. These camper vans can still be found in surf break parking lots around the globe. The very same vehicles that were traveling up and down the coasts in the 60s and 70s have now been beautifully restored and are continuing to give surfers the same access and pleasure today. As many of these vans are antiques, there are even clubs and events that are organized around them such as Busfest and Waterfest.
While Volkswagen has been the dominant brand in the surfing and camper van culture, it isn’t the only one. There are several other makers of travel vans and conversion vans that are ideal for the surfing lifestyle such as the Ford Transit and Mercedes Sprinter.
Nearly any of these used conversion vans can be easily restored and outfitted to fit the surfing lifestyle. Regardless of the type of van you choose, know that owning one of these unique vehicles will not only take you further into the rich culture of the sport, but it will also provide you with access to surfing locations that in the past were little more than a dream.
