My Cool Campervan: An inspirational guide to retro-style campervans - Tapa dura

I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of my read and wouldn't hesitate to recommend it to anyone with an interest in VW Campervans and all things retro. --VW Campervan Blog, September 2011

Campervans have a strong place in the affections of their owners, as these excerpts from new book 'My Cool Campervan' prove... --The Independent, 28 May 2011

There are many variations of the VW camper van, not least because until 2005 Volkswagen never made a camper itself, but produced vans for transporting people and goods which others converted with the addition of caravan-style living accommodation. And it was not just VWs which received such attention, as My Cool Campervan shows in a collection of photo essays. Some of the vintage camper vans portrayed are remarkable, and in many cases unique. A 1967 camper built on a Vanden Plas Princess chassis by J.H. Jennings, a firm of coachbuilders, is, as the book points out somewhat regal with polished wood and turquoise furnishings. Its present owners have hung horse brasses as an additional touch. --The Economist, June 2011

My Cool Campervan celebrates a new wave of interest in modern-retro campervans. Join Jane Field-Lewis and Chris Haddon as they set off on a 3500-mile trip to locate campervans and proud owners, sharing their memories of family holidays under candy-striped pop-top roofs and of sunny days and simple pleasures. Delve into a world of road-tripping as Jane and Chris introduce us to a succession of distinctive campervans, memorable locations and classic models, at times beautifully restored, and at others well-loved and well-used. My Cool Campervan reveals a world beyond the stereotype, of vintage vans from another era, forgotten rarities and beautifully restored mass-produced models. Chapters include: Old Retro: In the 1970s and 80s as the motor industry turned its sights towards the global market, campervan designs began to change. Simple Life: Exploring functional campervans where styling doesn't overwhelm function and where vans are so well designed in the first place, there's nothing more to add than the journey. Weird and Wonderful: From a converted French fire truck, to an `extension' to a regular saloon car, these campers are customized, unusual and have been created to provide space. American Beauties: The large American Recreational Vehicles, or RVs, fulfill just about everyone's expectations of a comfortable life on the road. The enduring appeal of the RV lies in its iconic design and long association with the romantic notion of the great road journey. Classics: Some vehicle designs last longer than others. The VW T2 campervan is, without doubt, the front runner. New Retro: Reflecting owners' unique styles and interest, the vehicles here function as an artist's workroom or as a photographer's studio; these are not only places to camp out or chill out, they are happy extensions of creative lives.