Lifestyle

Rebecca Williamson meets an Ashburton couple whose ambition to do up a Kombi van has resulted in a head turning and a multiple award-winning vehicle

A sneak preview from this month's issue. Megan McChesney drops in to RnRV to talk with owners Paul and Rochelle Cook about their own very distinctive vintage vehicles.

After years of professionally repairing and refurbishing other people’s caravans, Bryan Rusbatch decided to pour his accumulated knowledge into the design and build of a unique caravan. So unique, in fact, Unique Caravans was the name he chose for the design.

Rick Boyd and his partner Dave Jetts chanced into refurbishing vintage ’vans for a living more than a decade ago. Rick tells the story of their Northland company, Retro Caravans Northland Ltd.

When faced with a lack of availability, Frank and Dale Appleton decided to build their own Teardrop Camper and have travelled many an incredible mile since.

Three generations of the Croot family have been manufacturing Gipsy Caravans in Levin since 1951. Peta Stavelli talks to Robin Croot, who survived the storms of the ’70s and built a thriving business over a 40-year career.

If you do what you love, you’ll love what you do. At home or work, Peter Bunting is happiest when he’s turning trash into treasure. His weekend wagon is a glowing testament to the craft.

Raglan writer Trena Marshall is embarking on a new journey, in a caravan reborn.

Bob McIntyre is a connoisseur of cars with a penchant for the rare and unusual. He talks to Peta Stavelli about his fully-restored, demountable Trekka camper.

Discovered a year ago in a Whakatane farm shed, this 16-foot, 1937 British-built Car Cruiser Caravan has been lovingly restored. It provides a fascinating insight into pre-war caravanning and remarkably, it may be the only surviving model of its kind in the world. Lawrence Schäffler reports.