VINTAGE VANS Our classic expert goes looking for a more spacious classic in a seller’s market
Expert advice on buying and running an older motorhome
THIS MONTH Martin buys another classic, keeping the current one in reserve, for now
Having been around motorhomes and campervans since the late 1960s, firstly as a child of motorhome-owning parents, and later as an owner myself, I have experienced that constant need for change when it comes to the requirements of motorhome style and size. Long-term owners will know only too well that, as our lifestyle and family changes over the years, so do our motorhomes. We go through the changes in vehicle styles between pop-top campervans, high-tops and coachbuilt examples.
I have always preferred panel van conversions, be they rising roof or high-top, as they afford the possibility of dual-purpose use. They make everyday life somewhat easier, especially when it comes to parking, but often need bulky awnings. These have to be carried inside the confined space, and then erected upon arrival, leading to many a heated discussion at night, in the pouring rain after a long drive. Sound familiar?
The alternative, at some point in one’s life, is to opt for a larger model, such as a coachbuilt or an A-class, a route we have taken several times. They do give that extra breathing space, and dispense with the need for awning erection, or at least they did in our case as we had a wind-out canopy.
Once again, we find ourselves at that stage of life when a small coachbuilt (a classic, of course!) would suit our current needs, with twin grandchildren to accommodate.
A high-top campervan, like our present Talbot Harmony, is a bit tight on internal space for four people.
So, a smallish, compact coachbuilt, which fell under the ‘classic’ banner, went to the top of our wish list during lockdown two.
Given my remarks about escalating used motorhome prices in the past couple of issues, this was not the best time to be changing vehicles, so I would need to bring my 40 years of motorhome-buying experience to the fore to find a motorhome
with an original factory interior.
I used every avenue for my search: eBay, Preloved, Gumtree, Facebook Marketplace, social media groups, Google searches and carandclassic.co.uk
After weeks of searching, I spotted a 1990 Fiat Elddis Autoquest 270 on Facebook.
A compact model, this one had quite low mileage, a full MoT, its original, unmolested interior, with just a few exterior scrapes, scratches and trim problems to sort out. Just my cup of tea.
Always one to play things cautiously with older motorhomes, our Talbot Harmony will stay on the drive until I am satisfied with the Autoquest. After a few shake-down trips, one or maybe even both will be going!
As promised, I will celebrate the sixtieth Auto-Sleepers anniversary throughout 2021, looking at some of the fabulous models produced from the Willersey factory.
We jump to 1977, which was a landmark Auto-Sleepers year, as it was the year it released its first coachbuilt, the CB22, based only on the Bedford CF (pictured below – one of my previous ’vans). It was one of the most spacious motorhomes we ever owned with a clever interior design and layout.