Traveling With the VW Bus and Camper [Hardcover]

David Eccles (Author), Cee Eccles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1, 2007

Introduced in the 1950s, the VW bus was designed to be multifunctional. Since then, it has come to symbolize fun, freedom, and adventure. VW bus owners fully incorporate their vehicles into their lives: Some treat them as an extension of their home, while others undertake epic journeys in them, across desert and sea, and through Europe, Asia, and Africa. Some strap surfboards to the roof and head for the nearest beach, while others soup up the engines and take them drag racing in California. All will spend hours restoring and customizing them and even more time talking about them with fellow bus owners. Traveling with the VW Bus and Camper is a tribute to this passion, to the owners who have lavished time, effort, and inspiration on their campers, and, of course, to the VW bus itself. This book traces the cult of the camper, from family errands to vacation home to design icon. Above all else, the campervan is living history and readers will find chapters dedicated to travel narratives detailing road trips from England to Afghanistan and back, ad campaigns that sell the VW bus lifestyle, and weddings and other family events that feature buses in their ceremonies. Obsession or addiction? See for yourself.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

David and Cee Eccles have been around VW buses since 1976, when they bought a Splitscreen Camper, gave up their teaching jobs, and spent a year living in it while traveling through Persia, Afghanistan, Kashmir, and India. From 1990 they were very active members of the Splitscreen Van Club and for ten years edited the club magazine. Dave has since written two books about the VW camper and is also editor of Volkswagen Camper and Commercial, a bimonthly magazine dedicated exclusively to the VW bus.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 176 pages
• Publisher: Abbeville Press (February 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0789209195
• ISBN-13: 978-0789209191
• Product Dimensions: 10.4 x 9.5 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.5 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,062,144 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Travelling with the VW Bus and Camper, January 6, 2008

By 

B. Caron - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Traveling With the VW Bus and Camper (Hardcover)

I didn't realize that this book is the same text and pictures as a previous book titled Campervan Crazy by the same author, David Eccles

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A good read., June 13, 2007

By 

Christian Henrik Godlund "Brum brum" (Norway) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Traveling With the VW Bus and Camper (Hardcover)

The same author has written the excellent VW Camper- The inside story. That book deals with specifications on the different campers, while this book are more about humans, culture and adventures.

This is a nice book, well written and good layout. I somehow think that it could have been more on travelling tips specific for the VW camper.
Nevertheless, a good buy!

3.0 out of 5 stars Interesting but could have been better, February 23, 2007

By 

J. Hopkins "Baja James" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Traveling With the VW Bus and Camper (Hardcover)

This is a good general history of the VW Campervan. Released in the UK as Campervan Crazy (which is a much more accurate title). I would have hoped to see more on VW expiditions and actual camping but alas much of the book (over 70%) was focused on the hippie van culture. And the book is from a decidedly British point of view. On the up side there are some great pictures and anyone who grew up camping in a combi will bring back fond memories reading this book. For some reason Amazon is not shipping this book at this time but it is availible from the publisher.