Pop up tops, tent and side awnings were available as options. Mod cons available included a portable chemical toilet, a camping stove and other camping equipment.
Storage boxes, a child's hammock (for the driver's area) and a swing table were also popular.
The early VW Campers were very much products of their time, reflecting 1950's design standards, which makes them rather basic and cramped.
The VW Camper's Popularity
In the later 60's VW Campers and buses became the obvious hippy transport - simple, cheap to buy and run, and battered paintwork could be loook really cool when decorated in psychadelic designs.
Early VW Campers are now very collectible and are lovingly (and expensively) restored.
Large numbers of VW camper fans gather at events all over the world; VW Camper hire for holidays is booming, and imagery of the early models can be found on a huge range of items: clothing, mugs, toys, pictures and even usb sticks.
Sixty years ago,Ben Pon had no idea where his rough sketch would lead.