VW California | The story behind Volkswagen's legendary camper brand
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- čas přidán 29. 05. 2024
- The #vwcalifornia has been top of the campervan charts for over thirty years. This video celebrates it's history - from its appearance on Westfalia converted T3s or Vanagons in the late 1980s to its recent blossoming into a whole family of qualtiy campers which includes the #vwcaliforniaocean and the motorhome-sized #vwgrandcalifornia.
There's even more detail on the Californias and all the other great VW campers in the book of the channel - "VW Campers for Beginners". Check out print and e-book versions on AMAZON - bit.ly/vwcampersforbeginners
This video incluides archive film and photos courtesty of Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles to illustrate the California story. Wee discover Westfalia's many special editions of the T4 California - and follow how Volkswagen introduced new levels of sophistication when it built its own California's for the first time on the T5. And while the T6 California brings us up to date with the Transporter-based Calis, there's sneak preview of the new baby in the family - the Caddy California.
CAMPERVAN BOOKS FROM THE AUTHOR ON AMAZON:
* "VW CAMPERS FOR BEGINNERS - The Complete Guide to Owning Your First Volkswagen Campervan" - rb.gy/8lk6v
* "EUROPE BY CAMPERVAN - Turn Vanlife Dreams into Road Trip Reality" - shorturl.at/cflH8
CAMPERVAN BLOG: And there's yet more help, advice and campervan articles on my Vanlifevirgins blog:
www.vanlifevirgins.com - Auta a dopravní prostředky
Got a t6 ocean. Best thing I ever owned. Had it 4 years now and it's been a staycation life saver taking me away many many times when otherwise it would be stuck at home. Get one of these. You won't regret it.
Agree! V-dub freedom even more appreciated than usual!
I’d love a California. Not even choosy, any of them would do! Great video.
I really liked the look of somehow the older models. Had no idea how many there had been
Excellent video! I have been an aircooled VW guy all my life. I just bought my first "modern VW" a 1993 Eurovan weekender. Let's just say that I have never loved a vehicle more than this one. Even though I spent way too much time working on it because it sat for a long time before I bought it. It is such a joy to drive. I am addicted to the van style now for sure
Not surprised youve bonded after pouring all that attention into it. Enjoy the results.
Brilliant film and best we have seen. We have been fortunate to visit the California Fertigung in the Südfeldstrasse and Production is very impressive.
We finally have the California in Australia after much effort as we require the left hand sliding door to meet the Australian Design Rules.
We receive very up-spec California Beach models with top spec 199PS 4motion with all the trimmings :)
Keep up the good work!
Cheers
Mark and the team at KombiLife Australia
Great to hear from you! Thanks so much for getting in touch.
It would be nice if we could get the Ocean here in Australia.
You are very welcome.... glad you enjoyed. Feel free to share. Would be great to have more Australian viewers. Have fun!
Just watching this in my T5,Gotta love VW Campervans. 👍
What better place!
Those T3 Californias were the former US standard VW Vanagon Campers except the fang instead of the luggage rack. That is where the name came from IMO
And the Atlantic was the successor of the euro full spec Joker.
Both were the result of a model reduction act near the end of a model cycle.
BTW good vid!
Great info. Many thanks
I had a 1990 Atlantic loved it!
We're touring in Scandanavia at the moment and very pleased tonsee how many of the okder Calis are still in use! Weve spotted several T3/T25 originals. Clearly the climate here is kinder than you might think!
Just found this channel. Great stuff. I sold my house and the T4 is coming next week! I think Ill be watching some more videos. Cheers. :-)
Good move. With a T4... who needs a house ;-)
@@Thecampervanchannel at least for the next year it'll be just that. I cannot wait! :-) Never really campervanned before so it'll be an adventure.
My T4 California is 30 years old this year.
Fantastic. Congrats. Trust there will be a party!
It's a shame that the VW camper story has ended in the Americas except as a collector vehicle. Love my '86 Westie, but if I ever have to move on to something newer, VW has given this hemisphere the finger.
As a Brit, I was really surprised to find out you didn't get anything beyond the Eurovan. Shame when the early models were so much part of the culture
I think it was not only VW's decision. The US DOT and customs regulations were made so strict as VW had to leave the market.
@ I am looking for a t4 california
I still think the original T3 has never been bettered. The way it’s laid out inside is so clever and the quality of the cabinetry is that of a motor yacht. If you get one with a night heater and a uprated 1.9 tdi engine then you have the perfect camper. But the rust in most of them now will mean you will spend all your summers welding filling and chasing rot. If you can find one that has been looked after and the rust has been done then you will have a great investment that in 10 years will be worth double what you will pay now.
Can the rot ever be sorted....if its tackled properly? Just wondered if anyone has stopped it or whether it always finds a way back?
@@Thecampervanchannel if u cut of bad part, replace it with new metal, then treat it with paint, it should keep it away, new spots will always appear because of small damage from Stones, etc
According to ChatGPT:
To convert 50,000 Deutschmarks from 1993 to dollars at current rates, we first need to determine the exchange rate at that time. According to historical data, the average exchange rate of DM to USD in 1993 was about 1.6 DM to 1 USD. Therefore, 50,000 DM would have been worth around $31,250 USD in 1993.
To adjust for inflation, we need to use an inflation calculator. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, the inflation rate from 1993 to 2023 has been around 85.3%. Using this rate, we can calculate the inflation-adjusted value of 50,000 DM from 1993:
50,000 DM in 1993 = $31,250 USD
85.3% inflation from 1993 to 2023 = 1.853
$31,250 x 1.853 = $57,900.625
Therefore, accounting for both exchange rate and inflation, 50,000 Deutschmarks from 1993 would be worth approximately $57,900.625 USD in 2023.
Astounding. Thank you.