My buddy John and I worked together in radio 20-mumble years ago and keep in touch through Facebook. Today he is involved with an organ-donor group and travels the state in that capacity. He often does so in respectable CC style, as one of his cars is a mid-90s Buick Roadmaster wagon.
The other day, needing a part for that car, he stopped in a central Indiana junkyard to inquire. On the lot he found this ’71 Chevy camper. It looks for all the world like it’s a conversion based on the Impala/Caprice hardtop sedan. The guy at the junkyard claims it’s based on the Caprice, still runs, and is a “factory job.” I’m sure the camper portion came from some factory, just not the Chevrolet factory.
Nice camper conversion I doubt it came new with a Chevrolet warranty.
Well, Paul says he has been looking for something a little quieter and more comfy than the old Dodge Chinook . . . Maybe this is it.
These cars were kind of jiggly when the bodies were welded together the way the engineers said to do it. I can only imagine the little fits of violence that happens where car, camper and railroad crossing all come together.
It has a certain appeal, but an awful lot of real estate is being wasted on that long hood. Maybe throw a mattress on it?
But it’s bound to be quieter, with the engine so far away!
The sleeper should’ve extended forward another 3′.
Much easier to maintain with the engine out front instead of the short hood and doghouse access.
Hey, I could add that to my caprice collection I’ve had through the yrs, I have slept in the front seat of my 1980 caprice I have now, when it was to dark to set up tent on camping trip last summer (or was it too lazy). That would be a better excuse. Love it.
I like it!!
I had seen during the mid ’70s a “camper” but that was a 1958 Cadillac. Some nomad gipsy tribe owned IT among their other average vehicles. Later ’00 I had met that same vehicle, rusting at the corner of a car enthusiast’s yard but without the “camper portion”. Anyway…this Caprice/Impala Camper has fine proportions. On the other hand for us europeans smaller sizes and smaller engine displacements could offer some unusual camper lifestyles as well…with an Opel Kadett-E (=Pontiac~Daewoo LeMans) HEKU or Astra-F/H HEKU…
Like those pre ’79 Toronado/Eldo campers. Or old Caddy commercial hearses/flower cars converted to RV.
In the 1970’s, in Columbus, Ohio, there was a company converting hearses into campers. They looked just like the Caprice. The big Cadillac and Hydromatic had no problem with the weight. They were next to a used car dealer who specialized in used Cadillac; Vaughn Motors. The hearse campers often still had the Vouge tires with the textured whitewalls; commonly found on hearses
Pretty similar to a Chrysler Valiant one Bryce found in NZ. Probably not a bad bet if you do more mobile than home, if you get my meaning.
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/blog/cohort-sighting-chrysler-by-chrysler-aus-motorhome-living-area-not-by-chrysler/
An excellent find – thanks for sharing it, Jim. Like others have expressed, this must have been a custom job. Still, part of me thinks this would have been right at home behind Door No. 1 on the original “Let’s Make A Deal” game show.
Someone should go out right now and rescue that. Or send it to me.
Not the only time this has been attempted. I like the looks of this one better. Seems to have a bit more engineering in it.
http://i35.photobucket.com/albums/d156/isbram/IMG_20621_zpsba59f62b.jpg
http://www.stationwagonforums.com/forums/media/1971-chevy-kingswood-conversion.13246/full?d=0
Looks like the camper portion needs to be longer to balance all that hood.
On the other hand this would probably be much more pleasant to drive than the similarly sized campers based on old Toyota pickups. Until, as JPC noted, you hit a pothole or railroad crossing!
I like it but almost all of these old Campers , even Lance and other big brands , were made out of *very* cheap untreated Pine wood and since all Campers leak , they get dry rot and thusly structural problems that are beyond difficult to fix .
It’d be nice of this one was still solid , had I anywhere to park it I’d be interested .
20 + years ago I was touring junkyards in the South West with Jason The bike Pimp and spotted an 1956 (? IIRC) Caddy ex hearse so converted in the 1960’s it was in passable shape and was for sale .
I remember the Hearse was silver over the original black paint and had been built and sold new to a Funeral Home in Kentucky .
I wish I’da bought it , about $1,000 at the time I think , too much back then .
-Nate
That could be a “Red Dale”.
Red Dale made camping trailers and motorhomes using large American sedans. This was done in the ’60s and ’70s in Colorado.