Words About Things

Sales of used Volkswagen campervans are booming in the UK thanks to the recession. The VW Transporter has been a cult classic since it was launched almost 60 years ago with used models in good condition often selling for big bucks. Now the camper van’s appeal appears to be widening with sales up 250% this summer.

It has been suggested that the rise of ‘staycations’ where people holiday in the UK to save money may be fueling the rise in sales. Consumer specialist Dominic Harrison of the Future Foundation belives that the recession is causing people to reconsider their work/life balance and consider taking time off work or working fewer hours.

“The recession is causing many to ask serious questions about their habits and work life.”

Applications to test drive new Volkswagen Van models have also risen by 200% according to a company spokesman.

I was walking to work the other day when out of the corner of my eye I spotted a tatty looking yellow van. It was a Robin Reliant (three wheeler) with something written on the side. It wasn’t until about 10 minutes later that I realized why this car had caught my attention, it was Del boy Trotter’s car from Only Fools and Horses!

Now you too can own a piece of British comedy history in motoring form. A garage in Hampshire is selling a used van it claims was used in the television series for just under £7000. It is one of six models used in the 10 years the series was on the air and even has the company name painted on the side.

‘Inside, the car needs a good vacuuming. It has a 700cc engine and you can get up to about 55mph before you endanger your life. But it’s fully roadworthy with a current MOT certificate.’

As you can imagine there aren’t many of these iconic vans for sale. Boxer Ricky Hatton is said to own a version of the van although he hasn’t been seen driving it around yet. It even comes complete with the website delboysvan.com so that you can continues the previous owner’s van hire business. I’m sure there are plenty of people who would want to arrive at their wedding in the back of a Reliant.

As you will have noticed it is the 40th anniversary of the moon landings this month. Seeing footage of the takeoff what struck me was the cameras people were using to photograph it.  It seems strange that we were able to fly people to the moon and back before the invention of the humble digital camera. We were able to see live footage of the astronauts bouncing around on the moon’s surface before the invention of the mobile phone.

What is also surprising is that the Volkswagen Beetle was 31 years old at the time of the moon landings. To put that in context the Ford Escort was in production for 30 years in total, the original Beetle was built until 2003.

Volkswagen have always had a reputation for creating (or, I suppose, commissioning) great adverts. Car adverts tend to range from the offensive to the boring to the bafflingly rubbish. They can rarely be called subtle although I think the Volkswagen one below is. The tag line is ‘it’s ugly but it gets you there’. Some would argue that some of the VW vans for sale are less attractive than the Beetle but either way you get the idea.