I decided to have a quick scan through my Blogger stats the other day, and was quite surprised to learn that a blog which I did some time ago about Austin-Morris based campervans was by far the most popular to date as far as viewing figures were concerned. Why I should be surprised that the Austin-Morris blog was so popular I don't know, because of course the marque was famous around the world, and the classic Mini-based campervans I featured were something of a rarity! With small British campers in mind, I've decided to bring you a selection of other 'micro' models which might be of interest from the classic era; those based on such vehicles as the Ford Escort, Morris Marina and the like.
Pictured above is one of the rarist of all British 'micro' campervans, the Mini Wildgoose, produced in small numbers during the mid-1960s down in Worthing, Sussex. The only other small camper from that periopd to sell with any degree of success was the 'Roma', by Dormobile, and based on the little Bedford HA van (as seen below).
The MKI version of the Bedford Roma featured a rear angular section which extended to provide extra leg or head room when sleeping, but the MKII version had a section similar to the roof; 'pram hood' style. In 1968 the prototype of probably the most successful micro camper was built; the Suntor, by Tor-Cars. This was based on the Austin-Morris half-ton van, and like the Dormobile Roma, featured a rising roof; it remained in production for a couple of years, until the Morris Marina was released. The Marina was the car designed to replace the famous Morris Minor (1000), and like the Minor, there were various options available which included a pickup and light van; it was the van which Tor-Cars decided to switch attention to, creating the 'Morris Marina Suntor'. The Marina Suntor became the best selling micro campers of the 1970s from its Devon-based factory in Torrington.
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| The original Suntor campervan, based on the Austin-Morris half-ton van; a handful of nice examples are still in use. |
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| Early advert for the 'new' Morris Marina Suntor |
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| The later Marina Suntor featured several improvements, including a refined front grille. |
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| The MKI and MKII Ford Escorts were both used for conversion to campervans, namely by Dormobile, Nimbus & Canterbury. |
The Suntor brand name was sold around 1980, and for a short period new models appeared on the Morris Ital, the re-badged Morris Marina. Taking over from the Marina Suntor as the best selling British micro camper (in the 1980s) was the Fiat Amigo, a very compact little campervan which was fitted with a huge rising roof featuring a double bed (pictured below).
As the 80s and 90s unfolded it was to be the Bedford Rascal which came to be the most popular base for micro campers in Britain, with such creative models as the Bedford Bambi by Autohomes and the Elddis Nipper.
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| The Bedford Bambi by Autohomes; out of production for many years now, but still quite sought after on the used/classic scene. |
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| Similar to the Bambi, this Elddis Nipper was just as compact but featured a slight curve in the roofline. |
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| The two pictures above are those of the 'Gleneagles' conversion; again on the Bedford Rascal, but with no rising roof. |
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| Various prototype and bespoke conversions appeared on the little Bedford Rascal during the 1980s; one such outfit is seen here with optional trailer. |
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| There are plenty more examples of micro campervans, and many other classic motorhome examples in my hardback book Classic Camper Vans & Motorhomes-the inside story, published by The Crowood Press. |
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