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Mike Harding

The VW Camper Van: A Biography Hardcover – July 1, 2013

by Mike Harding (Author)

4.4 46 ratings

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It was invented immediately after the war, in the factory a far-sighted English military man had set up to turn the German economy from making machines of warfare to more pacific products. By the seventies that dream had been amply fulfilled, as the VW Campervan became the conveyance of choice for West Coast hippies, Australian surf bums and Europeans taking the overland route to find enlightenment and good karma in India. It had also become, indeed, still is, the first choice for any couple, or family, seeking a cheap camping holiday with wheels attached. So never mind the oddly off-centre driving wheel, the vagaries of the air-cooled rear engine, the VW Campervan had become more than a vehicle; it had truly become a way of life. Mike Harding's first ride in a Volkswagen Camper Van was back in 1961, when it was the carrying around the gear and band members of his rock band the Manchester Rainmakers. Finally, in 2009, he could wait no longer, and bought his own, a 2001 Type 2 bay window Brazilian import Danbury conversion in hot orange and off white. Add in the endless curiosity of the author of eight monographs on church architecture, and the hilarious sense of humor of one of Britain's best stand-up comics, and you have a wonderful social history of the postwar years through the prism of a single transport icon.

Print length

256 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Aurum Press Ltd
Publication date

July 1, 2013
Dimensions

5.5 x 0.75 x 8 inches
ISBN-10

1845136055
ISBN-13

978-1845136055
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Editorial Reviews

Review

'Harding writes as a fan.'

'Love letter to a vehicle forever associated with peace signs, surfer dudes and Aussies making the overland trip to London's 'Kangaroo Valley.''

'This is a very personal and highly readable book, and will appeal equally to hardcore bus freaks as well as those who know little about the VW bus. I was sad to reach the final page and wanted more!'

';Harding has some great anecdotes.. strangely enthralling.'

'Well written and really engaging.'

'This paen to the 'Bulli' is part tribute, part novel, part history book, and a fun route into the model for the non-obsessive.'

'It's as much a cultural history as one of the vehicule itself, Harding recalling his first dalliance as an owne, falling in love with 'Molly' on first sight in the romantic environs of Preston... A fun read.'

'Mike Harding's engaging account of his love affair with that icon of laid-back hippy chic, the VW Camper, tootles along as niftily as a well-preserved Splitty.'

'Love letter to a vehicle forever associated with peace signs, surfer dudes and Aussies making the overland trip to London's 'Kangaroo Valley.''

'Harding writes as a fan.'

About the Author

Mike Harding is the author of A Guide to Tying North Country Flies and eight Little Books for Aurum, including the perennially successful books on the Green Man and Gargoyles. He is also a high-profile radio presenter with his weekly folk music show on BBC Radio 2, and hosts the annual BBC Folk Awards. He lives in West Yorkshire.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Aurum Press Ltd (July 1, 2013)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Hardcover ‏ : ‎ 256 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 1845136055
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-1845136055
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 12 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.75 x 8 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #2,493,101 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #1,778 in Automotive History (Books)
- #4,568 in Artist & Architect Biographies
- #21,446 in Historical Study (Books)

Customer Reviews:
4.4 46 ratings

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4.4 out of 5

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Robert M. Dunshee

A second opinion

Reviewed in the United States on November 18, 2013

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"There is not accounting for tastes". Or is there?
Contrary to the other reviewer, I very much enjoyed the book.
My wife and I own a 1991 Vanagon. We have not traveled to Africa or South America; only to Québec (from Seattle) often with a canoe on the roof or bikes on bumper rack. Or both.
Perhaps owning a VW camper van is like having children: talking about it/them may not be very interesting to those who don't have one/them?
In any case, I liked reading about the "genealogy" of these vehicles: the inspiration of a Dutch bicycle, for instance, with the "power" (the cyclist) in the rear and the cargo space up front: the moving of the cyclist (the steering) to the front, leaving the cargo space in the middle and the power in the rear. Thus, the VW camper van.
And I liked reading about what other people are doing with their camper vans, like the woman who stages plays in hers.
But then, the Vanagon is my "baby".
Finally, four stars compared to what books? Five compared to some novels I can think of; three compared to books by Jonathan Raban.

3 people found this helpful

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Florian

Wish there were more pictures

Reviewed in the United States on August 30, 2020

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I wish there were more photos of buses. Otherwise is a fine book.

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Amazon Customer

If you like VW Campers or van or Buses as they call ...

Reviewed in the United States on February 17, 2018

If you like VW Campers or van or Buses as they call them here in the states, you will love this book. The history, the choices people make that change there lives, is awesome. The book like I said, has history, great stories, comedy, insight and great times. How can you not like this book. This book is pretty good and didn't want to end.

Owner of a 60 Panel, 73 Transporter and 79 Riviera Camper. Peace and happy life.

One person found this helpful

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Jonc

I owned one Westfalia for 25 years... and several others...

Reviewed in the United States on August 13, 2013

Verified Purchase

I thoroughly enjoyed my experiences ... on several continents Africa, north and south America Europe from Finland to Turkey.. I thought I would like this book but I did not... I could not connect with the writer or his experiences... 500,000 miles in Westies was much more interesting that anything that book had to say... Deadly dull

6 people found this helpful

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Top reviews from other countries

Simon

verry nice thanks

Reviewed in Canada on August 19, 2017

Verified Purchase

condition as described, verry nice
thanks

william cooney

how the camper van coms about

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 20, 2021

Verified Purchase

i liked the different kind of tales of travels of the vw camper van.

Z-Car Man

Enjoyable Read

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on May 31, 2017

Verified Purchase

This was a present for my niece and her husband who are restoring a camper van. They enjoyed to book finding it quite informative at times. One comment was that occasionally it wandered!

Mrs L

This is a great take of life with a vw camper

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on December 2, 2015

Verified Purchase

This is a great take of life with a vw camper. A little bit of history mixed up with Mike's trips in molly and the people he meets on the way sharing his passion.

M. C

Ok

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on October 19, 2021

Verified Purchase

Ok

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The VW Camper Van: A Biography Hardcover – July 1, 2013

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