1979 | Volkswagen T2 a/b

T2 Karmann Gipsy's

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This is where the story of the Karmann Choachbuilt motorhomes begins.

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During a visit to South Africa in 1974, Wilhelm Karmann Jr. (b.1914 - d.1998) saw a Jurgens motorhome built on the chassis of a Volkswagen Type 2 (Bay Window). He was so impressed that he requested licensed production. The Jurgens Type 2 motorhome had been launched the previous year in 1973.

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The first motorhome produced by Wilhem Karmann was also based on the Volkswagen Type 2 chassis and was launched in 1974 on the Type 2 chassis. The bodies of these early Karmann’s were of a sandwich structure, had two beds, kitchen, shower, waste water tank, a secondary battery, toilet, hot water heater and gas heating. It also came with the option of a luggage rack over the driving cab. These Karmann coachbuilts were - at the time - miles ahead of any of its rivals in terms of build quality.

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Production of these vehicles continued until 1979. In total, it is believed the Type 2 Karmann’s had a production run of approximately 1,000 units.

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At present the "Karmann T2 Gipsy Register" contains details of just 16 surviving Gipsy's but there are many more out there dotted around the globe we don't know about.