Vintage Van Under the Palms

About this drawing

A vintage van with palms is the classic picture of a carefree coast trip. Vans like this one first rolled off European assembly lines around 1950, built on the mechanical parts of a small economy car but topped with a roomy box that could haul people or cargo.

The layout was unusual. An air-cooled engine sat in the back, and the driver perched right above the front wheels, nose almost against the windshield. That freed up the whole middle of the vehicle. Before long, owners and outfitters were adding fold-down seats, beds, small kitchens and pop-up roofs, turning a work vehicle into a home on wheels.

By the 1960s the van had become a symbol of freedom across the United States, especially along the California coast. Young travelers drove them to surf beaches and music festivals, or simply lived in them for months on a tight budget. Original models are now prized collector cars, and their rounded shape still inspires modern camper vans, many of them electric, that try to capture the same spirit.

Collectors today hunt for vans with original paint, badges and interiors, and well-restored examples can sell for more than many new cars. Some owners even swap the old engine for an electric motor, keeping the classic look while cutting fumes and noise on the road.

• vintage van
• camper van
• beach
• vehicles
• road trip