With overseas travel still looking somewhat unpredictable for 2021, the staycation looks set to be this year’s most popular break for families and friends alike. However to add a sense of adventure to your UK jollie, why not consider hiring a campervan and hitting the open road? With an array of luxury vehicles available to hire to suit a wide range of accommodation numbers and needs, the mobile motorhome might just tick all of your travel boxes for a taste of freedom this year……and if your’e wanting to go a step further, you could consider going retro with your transportation for a more nostalgic trip. Here we’ve rounded up 5 of the best retro campervans to style out your staycation.

To make things fair, this list is a mixture of popular opinion and the opinion of those who are owners or have travelled in a campervan. That should be made clear because there are some on this list that are never going to appear as top billing in a campervan show, and yet if you were around when they were popular, you would have seen a massive difference in terms of ride quality and overall experience.

1. The 1964 Classic VW T2 Samba

It is a retro-cool vehicle that is pretty eye-catching. This van takes the prize because it is the most well-known campervan in the world. It has its links with modern history, the hippy movement. It is a van that started out as a cheap get-around for penniless hippies, but somehow built itself into cult status to the point where people will pay tens of thousands for a pristine condition van. It is the campervan that everybody recognizes.

2. 1979 Ford Transit Mk2

It may be a little controversial putting this van second on the list, especially since some were just regular vans with no windows in the back. But, back in the days when campervans were seen as slow and lumbering things, this van had some kick. It wasn't burning up the motorways, but it was a relatively powerful van, it was a people carrier, and even the ones without windows made a great mobile home. It offered simple comforts in a time when comfort was a complicated issue.

3. 1978 Bedford CF250 Dormobile Landcruiser

This van probably shouldn't have appeared on this list because it is overtly functional in every way. It doesn't have flair, it isn't memorable, and people won't pay a premium for it. Some say it looks like a poor man's ice cream van. However, if you ever had the chance, its functional nature made for a very easy holiday. It was the sort of campervan that asked nothing of you and still gave you 110%.

4. 1973 VW T2 Westfalia

From the functional to the fancy, this is the van that streamlined what we commonly see as the classic campervan. It doesn't have the style or flair of the 1964 Classic VW T2 Samba, but it drives better, it isn't worried by high winds and is easier to maintain. It could be said it is the grown-up's version of the Samba, but in truth, it is just the advanced and honed version. It is a modern version of a campervan, which is probably why if you compare classic campervan insurance, you will find that this van often attracts the best premium prices.

5. 1967 BMC Princess

The 1967 BMC Princess was a car, but the campervan version has an unmistakable look that you simply do not see anymore. The engine was pretty powerful and it was possible to get to your destination and make fairly good time without having to contend with pushing your engine to breaking point while you fought off wind resistance. If you ever get to see this type of van in a show, have a good look because you do not see vans like this anymore. Plus, where the back looked like a horsebox from the outside, its odd shape made it rather spacious inside.

For something a little more modern with all of the latest amenities you could look to hire the latest in motorhomes here.

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