1973 Commer Camper – Classified of the Week
July 7, 2020
The staycation is hot this year, thanks to the impact of the Coronavirus pandemic. Yeah, they might have opened up travel to some countries abroad, but really, do you want to risk it? Of course not, which is why staying on British soil is a good idea. After all, the UK is one of the most beautiful countries in the world, so why not explore it? And what better way to do that than with a classic camper van. Simply load up the bacon and the beer, and away you go. Freedom awaits, and for the next few nights, the road and the great outdoors are your home. Perfect.
And now you’re going to be thinking about the Volkswagen Camper. It is, after all, the archetypal means of camping in classic style. However, we’d encourage you to think outside of the box a little bit. The world of classic campers is not limited to the offerings of Volkswagen, good though they are. No, there is a whole world of weird and wonderful classic campers out there. A case in point would be this rather magnificent 1973 Commer PB.
British brand Commer was most famous for its commercial offerings. Looking at this PB, you don’t have to work too hard to imagine it with period British Gas or British Telecom liveries. The Commer van was a ubiquitous sight on the UKs roads in the ‘70s. It was simple, but it was sturdy and it was practical. And as many individuals and companies would come to learn, it was also a great basis for a camper conversion. The thing that made it less popular than, say, the Ford Transit was, ironically, the thing that made it a better camper. We are of course talking about the forward control design in which the driver and passenger sit over the engine rather than behind it.
This design made the Commer compact and easy to drive, which was perfect for people making the leap from car to camper. It still had ample space inside, too. As is evidenced by this 1973 example, which despite its diminutive size, is actually a four-berth. There are two suspended hammocks (which are really only for children) along with a fold-out bed for the adults
Other camper accoutrements include a cooker, a sink, a fridge and that all-important pop-up roof for extra internal space. It’s cosy rather than cavernous, but that’s absolutely fine. It covers all your basic adventure needs, and it also means you don’t need to sleep in a cold, wet tent if the weather turns. Which it will. Because this is England.
This Commer, in simple white, seems to show no serious rust issues (though do get down on your knees and take a look underneath, as these things loved to rot). The interior has been completely re-trimmed in a light and airy grey cloth with matching carpet, the hammocks are in good condition and the pop-top features solid folding sides, so no cracked, worn vinyl to worry about.
On the road and ready to go, all this 1973 Commer needs is you, the family, some camping supplies and a destination. It’s not going to be fast with a 1,725cc inline-four, nor will it be furious. However, it will be tremendous amounts of fun. And that’s what we all need a little bit of right now.
If you missed out this time, here’s where to keep an eye out for a Commer for sale.
