Three hundred vans and nearly 800 people gathered under the VW banner to celebrate their favorite van, the California. Synonymous with adventure, lifestyle and passion for travel, the small VW combi wins all the votes of a conquered public.
Volkswagen Utilities France did not go half way to celebrate van life with its first festival organized in Lacanau, west of Bordeaux, on October 2 and 3, 2021. Giant barbecue, concert, DJs, various activities and election of the most beautiful van were on the program of this event which rhymes with passion for outdoor travel. The vagaries of the weather did not dampen the enthusiasm of hundreds of fans, used to facing the rain without flinching.
>> Slideshow of the Volkswagen California Festival 2021 <<
Six generations, one state of mind
The VW California or VW Combi is the quintessential symbol of the converted van lifestyle, which affects a different population than that of motorhomes and other modes of outdoor travel. ” The van is a real memory machine »Explain Eric and Joana, frequent travelers, who present their brand new van named Kaktus, a magnificent VW T3 Syncro from 1988 completely restored by them. Yes, the “vanlifers” like to give their house on wheels a little name… They already have some 165,000 km to their credit, a good part of which is in North America and Central America, the land of their first exploits. Their adventures meet again on leur website deswindowsurlemonde.com and social networks. Like some of the travelers present in Lacanau, Éric and Joana appear in the beautiful documentary film by Coflocs, specialists in travel videos, shown on site.
A real nomadic way of life
Minimalism, homecoming, discovery, art of living, but also social distancing: many are the assets of this real lifestyle, whether permanent or for a weekend, as a couple, with family or even single). The arrival of 4G and its efficient connectivity have allowed to hit the road and work remotely, even before we talk about “distance” work.
Some vehicles very transformed on the basis of the original utility vehicle subsequently obtained the VASP registration certificate, which allows them to be approved as a leisure vehicle. Many changes are allowed, but in theory the engine must remain original or, at a minimum, use the same energy. What all these fans of vans have in common: the passion for mechanics, restoration and interior design. Valuable machines, even if no representative of the most expensive of them had made the trip, the T1 with 23 windows, estimated at more than 100,000 €. The price of freedom is sometimes far from the minimalism of this singular nomadic way of life.
On the same topic
- Vintage Volkswagen Combi to rent for the holidays!
- Used motorhome. The pitfalls to avoid in order to buy well
- The most unusual motorhomes in pictures
- An autonomous Volkswagen Combi restomod at the Munich Motor Show