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190:, a burden from which buyers of vans were spared. However, the manufacturers negotiated an agreement whereby Dormobile converted vans could be sold without purchase tax, provided they incorporated "built-in life support equipment" such as a cooking device, and facilities for the washing and storage of clothes. These stipulations triggered a move away from minibus conversions to motorhome conversions, which carved out a substantial new life-style market as the ensuing decade saw a substantial increase in disposable incomes in the UK.
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The first
Bedford CA based Dormobile motorhome, complete with a gas stove, a sink and cupboards and seats which converted into beds, appeared in 1957. The elevating roof, hinged on one side and featuring a red and white striped canopy, was quickly evolved in order to make it possible to stand within
201:, owned one and used it as a home and means of travelling throughout Western Europe in the late 1960s. Burgess described the Bedford Dormobile as "a miracle of British design, although much let down by slipshod British execution – screws missing, bad wood-planing ..."
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and ambulances, before collapsing in the mid-1990s. In 1997, Dormobile Ltd. was revived and is now based in
Lyndhurst, Hampshire. The company carries out modern camper conversions as well as supplying spare parts and full restorations of the classic models.
233:. Some of these early vans used for Dormobile conversions were identified by the distinctive side stripe panel, usually painted in a stand out colour. They included Bedford, The Ford Thames, Commer and Morris & Austin J4.
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the vehicle. The campervan idea originated as a compromise negotiated with the UK tax office. Earlier in the 1950s, the manufacturers specialised in converting the
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van into a mini-bus, featuring extra side windows and seats. The UK tax authorities asserted that the converted vehicle was effectively a form of
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The company subsequently converted a number of different van-based vehicles to other uses, including
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Although the
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Charles Bulmer, ed. (17 April 1971). "D is for
Dormobile".
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Other vans were converted under the
Dormobile name such as
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van, the name is associated more with those and subsequent
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331:CF-UK The Bedford CF Owners Club
16:1960s-era campervan conversion
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156:Martin Walter of Folkestone
53:Martin Walter of Folkestone
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303:. London. 5 December 2007
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326:Dormobile Owners' Club
227:Morris Commercial Cars
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1342:Vauxhall Motors F.C.
1317:Dealer Team Vauxhall
84:Lyndhurst, Hampshire
38:Bedford CA Dormobile
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301:The Daily Telegraph
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372:Bedford Vehicles
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21:Motor vehicle
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1292:GM Platforms
1240:Wayne Cherry
1207:subsidiaries
631:A marque of
438:Bedford Midi
400:
305:. Retrieved
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280:
235:
224:
192:
188:purchase tax
176:
160:
147:
145:
80:(1957–1990s)
62:1957–present
49:Manufacturer
18:
1322:Intellilink
1302:PSA Engines
1192:(1999–2018)
1184:(1948–1957)
1176:(1961–1972)
1168:(2000–2005)
1160:(2009–2017)
1152:(2001–2018)
1136:(1966–1972)
1128:(1957–1978)
1120:(1978–1982)
1112:(1968–1976)
1104:(1948–1965)
1096:(1995–2009)
1080:(1996–1999)
1072:(2003–2008)
1064:(1983–1994)
1056:(1978–1983)
1048:(1990–1993)
1040:(1994–2003)
1032:(1983–1993)
1024:(1980–1921)
1016:(1994–1998)
1008:(2004–2006)
1000:(1990–1994)
992:(2003–2017)
984:(1973–1978)
976:(2008–2022)
968:(1991–2004)
960:(1970–1975)
952:(1954–1972)
944:(1994–2018)
936:(1975–1984)
928:(1975–1995)
920:(2013–2019)
912:(1978–1994)
904:(1989–1999)
896:(1990–1998)
888:(1986–1991)
880:(1992–2013)
872:(1986–1993)
864:(1997–2001)
856:(2006–2015)
848:(2012–2015)
840:(2000–2014)
832:(2012–2019)
824:(1912–1922)
816:(1911–1913)
808:(1911–1914)
800:(1911–1914)
792:(1913–1922)
784:(1926–1928)
778:(1937–1940)
772:(1922–1926)
764:(1927–1930)
756:(1922–1927)
750:(1939–1948)
742:(1937–1946)
734:(1937–1947)
571:Bedford OXD
566:Bedford OXA
535:Bedford VAS
530:Bedford VAM
525:Bedford VAL
510:Bedford JJL
1389:Categories
1337:Slant Four
1297:GM Engines
633:Stellantis
581:Bedford RL
576:Bedford QL
561:Bedford OY
556:Bedford MW
520:Bedford SB
515:Bedford OB
494:Bedford TM
489:Bedford TL
484:Bedford TK
479:Bedford TJ
474:Bedford TA
433:Bedford HA
428:Bedford CF
423:Bedford CA
417:Bedford HC
257:References
215:Bedford CA
184:estate car
180:Bedford CA
167:Bedford CF
163:Bedford CA
140:Bedford CF
124:Bedford CF
119:Bedford CA
107:conversion
74:Folkestone
59:Production
1266:Dunstable
1259:Factories
682:Grandland
677:Crossland
238:minibuses
219:Morris J4
205:Dormobile
158:in Kent.
152:campervan
148:Dormobile
105:Campervan
1361:Category
1327:Irmscher
1133:Viscount
1013:Monterey
973:Insignia
965:Frontera
941:Corsavan
933:Chevette
925:Cavalier
877:Astravan
869:Astramax
641:Vehicles
448:Chevanne
307:30 April
245:See also
67:Assembly
44:Overview
1373:Commons
1214:Bedford
1117:Viceroy
1109:Ventora
1061:Senator
957:Firenza
917:Cascada
909:Carlton
901:Calibra
885:Belmont
457:Lorries
173:History
112:Related
1228:People
1189:Zafira
1181:Wyvern
1173:VX4/90
1149:Vivaro
1125:Victor
1093:Vectra
1077:Sintra
1069:Signum
1053:Royale
1045:Rascal
1021:Movano
1005:Monaro
989:Meriva
981:Magnum
949:Cresta
853:Antara
845:Ampera
821:D Type
813:C Type
805:B Type
797:A Type
782:25/70
713:Vivaro
708:Movano
443:Rascal
419:/JC/PC
231:Commer
1285:Other
1276:Luton
1165:VX220
1101:Velox
1085:Tigra
1037:Omega
893:Brava
861:Arena
837:Agila
789:30-98
769:23/60
761:20/60
703:Combo
687:Mokka
661:Corsa
656:Astra
503:Buses
282:Motor
199:Liana
100:Class
1332:Opel
1157:VXR8
1141:Viva
1029:Nova
997:Midi
829:Adam
747:14–6
731:10–4
696:Vans
649:Cars
410:Vans
309:2015
146:The
78:Kent
1219:VXR
776:25
1391::
739:12
299:.
265:^
76:,
615:e
608:t
601:v
364:e
357:t
350:v
311:.
221:.
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