The Dormobile is a specific type of campervan conversion but there are many other similar types of campervan not least the Westfalia. So how can you tell them apart?
One of the key visual clues to tell the difference between Dormobiles and other campers is the fact that the Dormobile has a side hinged folding roof. In contrast the Westfalia and other camper types have a straight up pop-up tent.
The Westfalia conversion either has a fibreglass opening at the front or the back. They also sometimes had a small box-section which lifted out and some Westfalia’s even had side tents attached to them to provide additional space.
Also the Westfalia conversion was focused mainly on VW’s rather than the wider range of makes that the Dormobile offered. Westfalia was bought out by Mercedes in the 1990′s and new Westfalia volkswagens are no longer available.
The Dormobile also often featured two glass windows and two opening vents in the fibreglass roof. Another way to tell them apart is to look for the official Martin Walter Ltd metal plate which will be riveted to the chassis of the car.
Another, notable campervan conversion is the Devon, the company started in 1956 and originally focused mainly on the VW car brand. They are now also the manufacturer recognised converter in the UK for Toyota and Renault vans, and also have offerings for Volkswagen, Ford, Peugeot and Mercedes.
Other brands to note are Danbury, Viking, Canterbury, Holdsworth, Reimo and Riviera.