1960s Vintage Camper Van | Dormobile Bedford Romany Tour!

We check out the absolutely stunning 1960s Vintage Camper Van by Dormobile, the Bedford Romany!
Let us know if you've been an owner of one of these gorgeous vintage vans?
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[@Caton71_fitness]

My grandad sadly passed away we got his 1960 out of his garage after 14yrs loads of memories for us all 👍🏻

[@phillipwood9833]

We used to have a series 2 Bedford CA Dormobile (JST 618G). That little 'table' pulled out from the bottom of the wardrobe was in fact the cooks 'seat'. When you lifted the carpet there were TWO wells for gas bottles for the cooker, Fabulous vehicle. When Dad bought it it was because to was the only vehicle big enough to take a family of 7. 4 kids sat sideways on the back seat folded down with big brother taking the 'Cooks seat' for himself. a frame tent added to the back made extra room on camping trips and the luggage rack above the cab provided grandstand views at various events like air-shows, banger races and the like.

[@amycollinson3200]

That’s so clever! I would love to see a tour of the Land Rover.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

It would be great to film!

[@deanissit]

Still see these over here in oz at the car shows.

[@timeaves6164]

Another fab video. Thanks, I'd love a trip around that Land Rover Camper!

[@mrmullett1067]

Great video, so many memories for me. Mine was UK plate number ARK969C. It was slightly different in that it was a Bedford Normandy according to the badge, not sure what year it was, but I purchased it in 1976. Originally it was the light green and white, but I painted it blue & white. We did 12,000 miles around Europe and UK. It had louvre windows on the back doors which helped with ventilation especially when cooking. The cooker had peizo electric ignition. Very useful vehicle and I wish I could buy another. Lovely stuff thanks for posting this, it really made my day.

[@alansaville7860]

my dad always had one .we also vised the Martin Walter factory shop in Kent to buy one. i also did my apprenticeship on these fitting heaters that where an optional extra

[@philipbramley2327]

Absolutely loved this, took me right back in time, I grow up with the Dormobile range, the Bedford was the most popular, but my favi5was the Ford Thames 400E, wow when as a little boy in 1959 I saw one of those Doormbiles I was hooked, thanks,

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Love this! Great it took you back!

[@alannorman1773]

Love this video guys. This van is exactly the same as the one that my Dad had when I was a nipper. We went all over the UK and Europe back in the 60s. Great family holidays. I remember flying the van from Lydd to Le Touquet rather than getting the ferry and driving down to Gibraltar. Amazing memories and I guess that’s why I have a van now. Love this. Thank you ❤❤

[@techbloke5970]

What a beauty

[@ABusAndBeyond]

It really is!!

[@barbroevanderlindquist4128]

We once saw a ca 1950 ties Ford Bedford in orginal as a RV,the interigor in all teak wood orginal cream withe if I remember. But the wooden interigor, yes it was more like a boat living area, but, but, but, that young bloke had it after an unkle! It was something extra! It was in Sweden on a carpark for several big shopingcenter's! By the holyday mood, i hope you have seen mr Hyulo, going on the car show in Amsterdam in, The holiday sabotöör! That small 2CV is someting extra!🚙

[@888johnmac]

ooh what a beauty .. around 2000 i had a 1980's dormobile based on a bedford CF ... and of course we want to see a Dormobile Defender

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Got to love a Defender Camper!

[@robinbryon1851]

Great memories of childhood with one of these. Bedford CA dormobile. My dad's first camper van of many. He bought it from Tettenhall near Wolverhampton in late 60's. It yellow with a white stripe. It had a top loading gas powered fridge with the exhaust via a piece of copper pipe out the window... luckily we didn't all die from CO poisoning 🙃. Anyway like father like son we now enjoy life in a T5 birchover. Keep up the great chanel.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

What fantastic memories to have!! Thank you so much for sharing!

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Also glad you didn’t die from CO2 poisoning though!

[@antonycotterill3052]

Excellent video - love the innovation in the old vans and also the simplicity ie no electronics etc

[@ABusAndBeyond]

So simple yet so effective!

[@hamishs5443]

I remember going on a family holiday in a Dormobile, think it was a VW, in the late 60's to Scotland. I remember my Dad complaining the clutch was very heavy to use.

[@colinlee5429]

Brilliant camper! Nucd edit with the period music style too. Definitely want to see inside the landy 🤙

[@ABusAndBeyond]

The music brought such a smile to my face too! Landry would be epic!

[@stuc734]

Friends of ours used to have one of these in the early 70s in a mustardy yellow colour and we saw them every year at what used to be the Ganavan Sands caravan site just outside of Oban in Argyll and Bute. There were about six or seven families who all returned to the same site year after year and spent weeks just kicking about the sea, sand and hills letting us kids run about from breakfast till teatime and beyond sometimes with no worries for our safety. Lovely times and this vid has brought back some great memories of that time and sitting with pals eating sandwiches in the dormer. Great vid 👍

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Amazing memories to have!

[@MamaKim.]

Love it! Much prefer that type of pop top and the simplicity of so many features. Didn’t quite understand how the dining set up works, shame you didn’t show that. Would love to see the Landrover.

[@kimhorton6109]

Killer. Cute little camper van. Should we be saying “We’ve come a long way since 1962.”

[@wanderingwakefords6850]

I used to have a Bedford CF campervan with sliding doors. I wish I never sold it. Cracking vans.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Soooo cool to have owned one though!

[@davidhayes4814]

My Dad had one of these as his first Camper, instead of a car. They were relatively affordable since they didn’t have purchase tax. It was very low powered, even by the standard of the day….. all vans were in the 60s. I guess no worse than the contemporary “splitties” but for fun now not commuting…..! Magic though.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Definitely magic!!

[@richgizz5024]

Hi nice , I have a VW Dormobile which my nan brought new from VW and I have had it for about 20 years still with all the original interior love it 👍🚐

[@Wheres_wanda_wandering]

What a beautiful van. Take care Gill

[@melvyncrimlis8997]

The "table" which pulls up from the front of the wardrobe is intended as a seat for the cook and a step to assist in climbing up into the stretcher bunks.

[@paulgreenham2468]

Lovely vehicle, great vlog Shaun

[@stevebennett6727]

Loved the video. Takes me back to my childhood when my parents owned one of these campers. Our model had the slatted rear windows and the 5 of us travelled all over the uk in it. Has given me a huge love of campers and motorhomes. Hence why I now have a Chausson motorhome and a VW T5 camper. ❤❤

[@guydarcy-evans5541]

More like this. Please

[@craftyourwaytopeace]

This is so cool! Almost looks as if it belongs in a museum! Beautiful 😍 🤩

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Stunning isn’t it! So good they’ve restored it to its former glory!

[@lindafielding6733]

My parents bought a Dormobile in 1960 and kept into the 1990s. In the 1960”s we explored Europe, travelling behind the ‘Iron Curtain’ travelling through the USSR and East Germany and Poland. Often we were the first people from the West the locals had ever met. The van created interest everywhere we went. I remember a crowd gathered round us just off Red Square in Moscow as my sister and I demonstrated how the bunks, sink etc worked. We had to take a lot of spare parts with us for the van so we were really laden. The little table you describe under the wardrobe was actually a seat so you could sit to cook. And yes the canvas bunks did rot and I went through mine!

[@sheilasearchfield4401]

Just looked back at a photo of my Mum sitting in their Van in 1965 which my parents had bought! They much later donated it to my family when we had 2 small children in the 1970s. Wonderful holidays and a lifetime of Campers including the last one - Ford Transit converted especially for wheelchair users with a garage for a mobility scooter for my Husband. Sadly it was stolen from outside our home 6 months before he died in 2014. My Son and his wife have just bought a 2006 Volksvagen Devon Camper and my their Son ( my Grandson) is working part-time using his electronic expertise with a VW Camper adaptation company! So my parents and the Bedford played a very large part of our lives - I thank them for it and I very much miss being able to join them at my ripe old age!! Sheila Searchfield

[@RikHoward.]

AWESOME. When i was a kid back in the 70's we had one of these. We had some great holidays.

[@vantabulouslife5704]

My father had the van version back in the late 60s early 70s which he converted into a camper. He put a high top on it and spent ages stitching some canvas sheets together to make an awning. He also made a cover for the front passenger door in the open position and placed a bucket as a loo. Had many a good holiday 😊 I do remember getting towed up some hills because it was so gutless 🤣 that's a fantastic restoration. So even in the 60s there were self builds and we often camped off grid! The sand dunes at Burnham on Sea was a great spot to a cheap holiday off grid

[@ML-ws6ce]

So lovely...I think our Nugget is the great great grandson....hahahaha.....can you show us the Bedford, please

[@chill6865]

Fantastic job (as always) by the team in the New Forest.

[@colinsavidge9121]

My father had one before his VW Devon Caravette.

[@JackMitchell404]

What I find really interesting is that the layout and versatility of that Dormobile is really similar to what I have in my 1987 Ford Transit Autosleeper Frisky, though my two bunks in the pop top are more like hammocks because they aren't tensioned like the Dormobile ones. I wonder why it is that the two double bed, end hinged pop top with side kitchen has become so ubiquitous, because I'm sure it isn't be best layout possible

[@barryelstone2992]

Hi just come across your videos and all I can say is you brought back priceless memories, in 1973 I started my apprenticeship with Syd Abrams Manchester as a panel beater, my first mode of transport was a Bedford HA van at a cost of £ 10 because it did not start, a set of plugs and points and away she went, it was a D reg. Then I bought a K reg an ex butchers van. About 10 years ago I had the chance to buy a HA dormabile from Stockport in white with the pop up, my biggest regret I did not buy it. Thanks for bringing back wonderful memories ( I must admit a tear was shed ). Do they allow visitors to their factory because I would love to go. Thanks again. Barry.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

So glad it brought back such amazing memories! Thanks for watching!

[@simonsaunders12]

Absolutely love this video, brings back so many memories from when I was a child in early 70's my dad had a red with white stripe, I have so many memories from that van sleeping in the back on the way back from hols, both the rear seats were put down and my sister and I went to sleep whilst travelling obviously no seat belts then, the van was so underpowered one time we was travelling to Dorset and the van was so loaded we got to a hill and it would not get up it, my mum my sister and me and the dog which was only aJack Russell then had to get out of the van and walk the hill whilst dad reversed up the hill because of the lower gearing he got up there. Sausages at the side of the road for lunch whilst travelling to holiday, so many memories, the final memory of that van was watching it being sold I cried my eyes out when that went but I think I was only around six years old.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Brilliant memories and I’m not surprised you were so upset when it sold!!

[@Riso-Musik]

If you're looking at 1963 this interior and fittings would be more luxurious than you would have in your home. Spices wouldn't inclucde cumin or curry. Pasta? Never heard of it. People believed Panorama with spaghetti bushes (An April Fools day joke). You say the price was a bargain but you could buy a 2 up, 2 down for less than that price. House price average in 1963 was £254.

[@glenlockyer775]

My parents bought one of these many years ago, on an F plate. Had a deeper windscreen if memory serves. We travelled high and low with that van, as a family of 5! Me being the youngest had to sleep on the floor alongside the galley (on a lilo admittedly) It was a whole great bunch of memories for us and once dad bought an awning to go over the back doors ( what you'd call a driveaway awning these days) we actually went on hols with my nan and gramps! Yes ! 7 people travelling in a romany dormobile ! That engine certainly earned its corn! Seem to recall dad getting a more powerful engine from a victor I think which did improve the speed/economy however it was still cursed with the "three on the tree" gearchange which seemed to take at least two lamp posts distance to change gear! But we loved that van despite the cross channel ferry handling! Great times! And this one looks peach- well done Dormobile!

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Wow 7 people!!!

[@sylviapage8572]

Great van. I would definitely like to see more of their vans, especially the Land Rover. Thanks for sharing.

[@SamDay19]

Please show us the defender camper next time

[@suzybearsisson994]

Great video, we love the classic stuff

[@andrewjones-productions]

This vintage Dormobile has many ideas that could and perhaps should be incorporated into modern motorhomes and caravans. Perhaps not in the same exact way, but the rear built-in step is an idea that Swift should have incorporated into their Basecamp caravan range. A built-in Thule step (et al) on a caravan with a side door, tends to rock when used. However, with the rear corner steadies down, Basecamp had a perfect opportunity to create a stable built in step with that rear door. That is but one example. The people that really need to watch this video (and similar) and/or visit that display are modern day motorhome/caravan designers.

[@smaco1409]

Thankyou so much for showing us this beautiful Van. First saw one of these while out walking with my Mum in the early sixties, and, it blew my tiny mind. To think that you could get all the basic amenities of a House into a tiny van!!!. Like Mr Bramley below I was hooked ever since. Thanks again

[@karagR]

Love this video as we had one when I was small. Being the eldest I slept in the bunks with my sister. It was like our own little den. Then we had more siblings so my parents bought a very old folding caravan and joined the back of the camper onto the caravan with a picnic tent which my mother altered to fit. 3 kids in the camper, a small one in the caravan with my parents. We loved it, running from one end to the other. Must have looked strange as people always asked about it. I still remember her telling us to stop giggling and get to sleep. Happy days.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

I love this story. Thank you so much for sharing! Beautiful memories!

[@hencadno]

I had my first campervan holiday in one of these in 1967 with my schoolfriend Sarah Scot and her dad. We went to Norfolk and it was so hot Mr Scot drove with the sliding door open. Oh happy days.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Fantastic memories!

[@cliveshakespeare9184]

Super video! My parents rented one of the earlier versions for three months in 1961. Two adults and three kids, adults on the bed, youngest on the rear floor, the other two kids on the roof bunks. I don't remember that it felt cramped at all. We travelled along the coasts from Southampton, around Cornwall, Wales, and as far north as Oban, collecting little plastic stick-on souvenir flags on the way. Brilliant time. Now I have a Citroen Jumper-based van with all the bells and whistles but its just not the same, no "pioneer" feeling at all!

[@ABusAndBeyond]

What an incredible holiday!

[@joyardley1742]

So clever…VW could learn a thing or to 😉….ps I have a T6.1 campervan 🤣

[@reruedamotor7514]

Very cute! I love it! Is fantastic!

[@vincenthooper7588]

I remember them how much is the domabile how much is the Dormobile Romany?

[@caru547]

Wow! What a great review on a seriously fabulous camper.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Thank you so much! It’s gorgeous isn’t it!

[@lessingleton3885]

What a great review. Mum and Dad bought one of these in the mid 60's, and I have very many happy memories of them, my brother and I touring Wales (mostly), particularly Anglesey. The three gears were 'challenging' on the mountain roads though 😋

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Gosh 3 gears on mountain roads would be challenging!!!

[@glynsmith3153]

I’d love to find out more about all of the vehicles in the showroom. Would be interesting to see the newer Bedford compared to this one to see how the conversation developed over time. Thank you. Appreciate the time it takes to produce these videos. 👍

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Thank you so much! Yes that would be a very interesting video! We will see what we can do!

[@sosaidhrafferty4608]

We loved this, would definitely like to see the landy 👍

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Agreed!!

[@brianh6521]

Very cool, will you be attending the Motorhome show at the NEC this year.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Yes we will be there on Wednesday I believe!

[@curlyboyHymerB584]

Had one back in 1970, our first camper, cost us £125, went to Spain three times in it, albeit a bit slowly, particularly over the Pyrenees😎😎😎

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Gosh, with 3/4 gears that would not have been easy!!

[@curlyboyHymerB584]

@@ABusAndBeyond yes, they only ever had three gears, but it never let us down, in fact I sold it to some friends and they had it for several more years

[@Max-nv4fb]

I'd love to see the land rover!

[@douglasthompson296]

My late ex Father in Law had a late 60's Romany CA campervan. I've never seen one since that had the extras style his had. It had a deeper windscreen (so MK2), the headlights had a 'cowled' fibreglass? appearance. The side flash went into a curved 'fin' and if I remember correctly the rear indicator lights were mounted in the 'fin' along with a red stop/side light. I've seen the front cowl effect on other CA conversations but never a front and rear treatment that his had. The interior plastic Formica type woodwork was in a greyish wood effect. The sliding doors had a catch built in so they could be driven open. No seatbelts back then either so today that would be a nightmare of sliding off the seat whilst driving 😯 Enough of memory lane in 2024. Cheers DougT

[@richardsracingmad]

I bought a Bedford CA Martin Walker Conversion at Slyfield Auction, Guildford….I remember I won it for £245 inclu fees. It was running on 3 cylinders, but that was just the vacuum pipe. 😅

[@ABusAndBeyond]

£245!!!!!! Haha absolutely amazing!

[@richardsracingmad]

It was a competitor to Dormobile….but the pop top on your one really makes it. Wonderful!

[@stevecurtis8328]

My father had one of the dormoble in the 60s same colour went everywhere in it . Loved it wish I could buy one now I'm 68 years young. Your vido brought back so many happy memories. Thank you.

[@johnhanson8841]

In my penultimate year at Woodhouse Grove School, Bradford, Yorks, along with my classmate David Corbett, his younger brother Peter (later professionally known as Matthew), one of their friends, and I went to Paris in Harry Corbett's Bedford Dormobile, in our Easter holidays 1963, 61 years ago! We camped in the Bois de Boulogne and had a great time despite the Parisians absolute refusal to understand our schoolboy French.

[@harrycrawford8517]

We had one of these when I was a kid. Fond memories of tours in Wales, Scotland, Cornwall, and Devon. The one we had was fitted with louvred back windows, I think they must have been a Dormobile option as they were fitted as part of the conversion.

[@terencebaker4269]

Great to see this video, its my favorite van, my father had the van version when I was a boy and those sliding doors were amazing to a small child. No thought about safety back then, if it was a hot day you could drive alone with the door fully open. My brother in law had a 1963 VW version, I'm guessing it would be worth a lot of money today, people seem to go for the old VW's and pay a lot for them.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Haha yes safety was less of a priority back then! Wonderful memories for you!

[@matauboy]

Loved the video. Can we please have one of the Land Rover conversion?

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Land Rover is sure popular with requests! We will have to make it happen!

[@janetfenner6956]

In 1966 we had a blue dormobile that my grand father brought for our family. My parents slept on the seats folded down my sister and I (13 and 11) were on the stretchers above and my other sister and brother (4 and 6) slept on the floor behind the seats!! Were visited for five months from South Africa.

[@beet1]

My parents had a light blue transit dormobile before emigrating to Australia, April, 1968. I can't remember what it was like inside. I think it had the 'upstairs' roll out bunks like this one. Could you please do a preview on the Mk 1 Ford Transit Dormobile ?

[@mmmmmmmmmmmmmmm420]

Do Dormobile have a record of the vans they converted? We had a Bedford YBD 111 when I was a child in the 70s. It was sold and has seemingly disappeared into the scrapyard in the sky. I would love to know if any history of it remains. We all adored the van.

[@wendyharbon7290]

Is this lovely Bedford Dormobile, for sale?

[@ABusAndBeyond]

I believe the work on it was commissioned by the owners so wasn’t for sale.

[@keithbader2705]

I was shocked when I saw this. I used to own 129 XPL. It was falling apart when I got it from a Mr Denny, who had owned it from new. So pleased to see it like this, it's a lovely old thing and now looks fantastic. It had a 4 speed box from the factory by the way.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Amazing!!!

[@keithbader2705]

I think it looks stunning, fantastic job. So glad to see it looking like new and back in its original colours too.

[@traceyj321]

We had it from 2015 for a couple of years, bought it down from Scotland. Mechanically she ran very well, the four speed box took a bit of getting used to, but once mastered was a pleasure to drive, body appeared to have had new front panels, but had been handpainted dark blue. We used it for some lovely days and weekends away with the kids. Only sold as we were moving and had nowhere to store her. Glad to see her restored in original pale green which had been our intention too. Fond memories and we have some lovely photos of those trips away.

[@keithbader2705]

@@traceyj321 Good to know some of its history. I sold it to a chap in Scotland. The 4 speed change was a bit problematic, characterful though! If he was still around Mr Denny, the first owner would love to see how it looks now. I noticed the potty in the stowage hole in the floor is no longer there. 😊

[@debbieabel3369]

Omg , soooo cute, love it ❤️ very practical too.

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Brilliant isn’t it!!!

[@johnmontgomery9149]

Many memories there. We had the Morris J4 Dormobile. Bloody ice box at night.

[@lindafielding6733]

Oh and the van had a gas light under the offside bunk

[@denisecafferky2248]

Pretty cool

[@timcook2926]

As a child, we had one holiday every year, in either a Bedford CALV Romany, or Dormobile. Myself, my (late) Brother and Sister, I enjoyed my last 'family' holiday aged 13. Sadly my Father passed away the following year from cancer, but it didn't stop him buying another Bedford, ready for our 1979 family hols! Sadly he didn't live long enough to 'make' that last trip. But how time has impacted on these vans, back in the seventies I remember my Father paying anything from £150 to £250 for a genuine (but clapped out) Martin Walter converted van, He had to, with three kids!! Very, very fond memories!

[@ABusAndBeyond]

Lovely memories ❤️

[@graceanne6780]

This was an amazing video! Gave me some great ideas for my 60’s camper van

[@alanwilkins139]

👍❤️

[@deliabuckland7864]

It's amazing my Bedford all restored ❤

[@treborkeeper5052]

My uncle and auntie had one exactly like the one in the video.., They travelled all over the continent in it ... Talk about being back memories !!!

[@ABusAndBeyond]

I love how many people are getting to relive the past in these vans and seeing them. We’ve had so many great stories from owners on here!

[@predragv.365]

Bedford is the great retro camper 👍👍👍

[@sassyboofle6983]

Oh wow this makes me want to have and enjoy .👍❤️🐾🫶

[@acme511]

And look at the price!

[@Ana-n6r9x]

Were is the Shower

[@RobertSmith-di5ll]

fab