AutoCult Ford Transit Mk1 Camper (1973) (Great Britain)

About the Original

British Camper Feeling

In the first half of the 1960s, when the sales successes for the VW Transporter T1 became more and more, the management at Ford planned to counter the bestseller. The German and British Ford plants were to jointly develop a type that could stand up to the VW, but above all, of course, steal customers.

The project finally culminated in a completely new van, which saw the light of day in 1965. Subsequently, the Ford Transit Mk1 became the bestseller among delivery vans in Great Britain.

The enormous success on the British Isles led to the Transit Mk1 also being embraced by the accessories industry, above all the best-known English camping outfitter, the company ‘Dormobile’.

“The side elevation roof” was how the factory in Keystone named its folding roof and initially only intended to be installed for the Bedford van. With the installation of the folding roof, the plant also took over the conversion of the vehicle interior. Seating for four people, a bed for two travelers and storage spaces characterized the Bedford campers from then on.

In the course of the next few years, the systematic expansion of the basic types followed. From 1961 it was also possible to order a Dormobile camper based on a VW bus. Finally, in 1970, the Ford Transit Mk1 was added to the range of the Folkstone-based company.

The side-hinged roof section with the fully equipped interior was offered under the designation ‘Freeway’. This top equipment included the interior fittings with a sink, gas cooker, curtains on the rear window in the tailgate, a wardrobe, two beds mounted to the hinted roof area, an opening skylight and cupboards in which a refrigerator could also be installed.