1961 Bedford CA Calthorpe
Home Cruiser.
Here for sale is a very very rare Bedford CA Calthorpe Home Cruiser.
The Home Cruiser range of camper vans was produced by Maurice Calthorpe`s company
based in London and they were the first company to use a rising roof on a camper van, beating even Dormobile!
This Bedford is the only known survivor of the Calthorpe conversion on the CA Panel
Van, there is a coachbuilt CA with the Calthorpe roof but only one panel van conversion.
This Bedford has an Mot through to July 2013 and Tax through to the end of June 2013, it is of course Tax Exempt.
The Calthorpe is a 5 berth! It has a front bench seat that is also a small double
bed for children, it is also a rear facing settee as well as providing 3 forward facing seats...ingenious! There is a hammock
in the roof area, probably only suitable for a child, our son used to sleep up there when he was small, he is now 25 and too
tall to fit :) There is also a double bed that is made up using the rear seating. We always used a rear awning years and years
ago when the children were all small but on inclement nights we all slept in the camper so I can vouch that it sleeps 5....cosily!
The camper still boasts all its original fixtures and fittings, the seating was
all recovered back in 1990 but is still in superb condition, the cupboards and cabinets are all original and as it left the
factory 51 years ago. The camper has a tiny little sink, a 2 burner gas cooker and grill and a gas light, I have`nt used the
gas light since about 1995 but it would still work if you wanted it to. The original table is present and correct, there are
2 12 volt lights fitted and there is also a Fiamma pull out awning fitted.
Mechanically the Bedford is in good order. It is a 1600cc petrol with 3 speed manual gearbox, it is column change
gears as are all CA`s.
When I first bought the CA back in
1989 I totally rebuilt the van, the engine, gearbox, suspension, brakes etc etc were all rebuilt or replaced the camper has
travelled just 17500 since then so its all still in good condition although I have just rebuilt the brakes again this summer.
I have also just fitted 4 new tyres onto powder coated rims and purchased new old stock hub caps.
The van drives along very nicely, it will not win any races or beat anyone away from the lights but it will cruise
along quite happily at 50 mph.
As you can see from the pictures
the camper is in very good condition. It has recently had a lower half respray, I originally painted it Regency Red and white
when I first restored it in 1989 but decided this year to put it back to its original green and white.
The camper used to win many many awards at classic shows, I have a box full of
them but they stay me I`m afraid, and it has been featured in a couple of books.
I have lots of history with the vehicle as well a set of factory manuals.
Price = POA
For more information please give me a call on Sorry its sold!
