Brilliant Bessie
Last year, Swift stole the show at Birmingham’s NEC by exhibiting a Kon-Tiki with a funky, ‘techno’, metallic blue and silver exterior finish. Following on its heels, and exhibited at London’s Earls Court show, was a serene green Swift Bessacarr. At the time, I was told that these were show models and that the jazzy colour schemes would not be available to the public
– even as an extra-cost option.
Nothing is forever though, and since then, interest has been so great that Swift has changed its mind. So, if you’ve an extra five grand in the bank and can wait at least 18 weeks longer than Swift’s normal delivery time, one of these striking vehicles could be yours. And in my opinion, because the standard vehicles are finished in gel coat,
the preparation and skill level required to spray on this standard of metallic finish more than justify the time- and cost-penalties.
I think I’m in love – and it’s a green Bessie for me. So, as ever, all monetary contributions gratefully received…
Dervi Murvi
Murvi Motorcaravans has produced a gas-less Morello. The company already fits
the diesel-fired Eberspächer combined water and space heater, and offers a 12V compressor fridge as an option, so that just leaves the cooker.
Morello owners Tony and Christie Boyd didn’t want
the hassle of an LPG (liquefied petroleum gas) system, when they already have a tank full of Derv (diesel) on board.
So, the Boyds opted for a diesel-fuelled ceramic two-burner hob made by Wallas. The ceramic hob rings act
as heat exchangers, and there
are no naked flames next to the food. An additional benefit of going diesel is that the former gas cylinder locker (under the sink in the washroom) is now available as extra storage space.
Diesel genny
It was serendipity that Dometic chose to unveil a new range of generators at the Boat, Caravan and Outdoor Show.
Why? Because somebody who was staying on the same campsite as me during the show, asked me about generators. They owned a big motorhome built on a Ford Cargo chassis, and wanted a diesel-fuelled generator but
– and this is important – one that would give a smooth output so that sensitive equipment could be used without fear of damage from ‘spikes’ of power.
The new TEC 30 from Dometic seems to fit the bill.
It is diesel-fuelled, has electric-start and, according to the blurb, “modern inverter technology ensures a perfect sinus wave and prevents power surges with connected devices”. A continuous power output of 2.5kW is available and a 12V battery can be charged at 10A. The TEC 30 weighs about 70kg.
Micro jot
Not everyone wants a rolling gin palace the size of Cornwall for a motorhome… some want one the size of Devon! That is to say the size of one of Devon Conversions’ compact campers.
The company has always ploughed its own furrow and converts a wider variety of panel vans than any other manufacturer in the UK.
Its elevating roof conversion on the Daihatsu Hijet Microvan was a little darling. This test van created more interest than any other, regardless of size
or price. I have deduced that this was because it appealed
to people who had not previously considered buying a motorhome. These included landscape painters, owners of show dogs, night-time fisher-folk, brass-rubbing enthusiasts and, my favourite: a lady who, over the years, had sat for hundreds of hours waiting
for her husband to make a
ten-second appearance as he whizzed past on his cycle during a road race; the ability to make a cuppa or use the Porta Potti during the long periods of waiting must have been appealing. What devotion, though. My partner would wait for perhaps as much as five minutes for me
– and then only to jeer.
Twoced!
Not currently up to speed with common parlance?
To TWOC – pronounced twock – is a criminal offence. It is an acronym for Taking Without Owner’s Consent or, if you prefer; nicking motorised vehicles of all types. Twocing is the vernacular for the criminal act – the perpetrators are ‘twocers’.
Our family has just been twoced. Our daughter’s ancient Ford Escort 1.3 CFI was stolen and trashed. It had covered 216,000 miles. Our mechanic said it would run forever, and it very nearly did.
I was a bit annoyed to be told that it had to be moved, PDQ, from where it had been abandoned because it wasn’t displaying a current road fund licence disc, and that my daughter might be prosecuted for this!
Point 1: it was displaying a current tax disc before it was stolen, but the disc had disappeared along with all the windows. Point 2: I wish
the police could have spared time to interview our daughter because she had valuable information regarding the twocers; the pub landlord of her ‘local’ witnessed the crime and recognised the criminals. She did say all this when she reported the crime, which nowadays seems increasingly to be accomplished by leaving a message on an answering machine. The response was to issue a crime number.
Both the crime and the response made my blood boil. The car may only have been
a jalopy, but for my daughter and our grandson it provided freedom and was also a
much-loved vehicle. I have great admiration for the British police, but do feel that the thin blue line is now so stretched as to be almost invisible.
Curvy RV
Just recently, the website www.mytravco.com caught my eye. It is an enthusiast site which features American Travco RVs – as iconic in their day as the ‘silver bullet’ Airstream RVs and travel trailers.
Travco body shapes look futuristic, and I hear that its motorhomes were built to a high standard. Most are
A-class vans with a Dodge chassis and engine, but some were built on GMC chassis, and there were also a few overcab coachbuilts made.
The website features some super images of Travco vehicles, and contemporary sales brochures. There’s a survivors’ gallery of models built between 1961 and 1978, and articles on upgrades maintenance and repairs.
This is an informative site run by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, rather than for commercial gain. Perhaps if Travco had spent more time promoting itself commercially, it may still have been in business today. l–
Happy motorcaravanning!
Gentleman Jack Bancroft |
