vLane Blog

1985 Plymouth Voyager "Magic Camper" package

Available on the 900, 9000, and 9-3 models, the Saab Toppola was an OEM option, designed and tested to augment the graceful lines (*cough*) of Saab styling. A couple even used their Toppola-equipped Saab to travel around the world! Sadly, most of the other options here aren't half as cool or innovative…I'd love to see an Aston Martin DB9 Toppola camper, for instance…

Not very exciting…it's a tent that fits inside your truck bed. Perfect for those who travel light, 'cause where do you put all the crap that was in the bed? The photo of the "actual" tent is boring, so here's a bonus photo of the Chevrolet Silverado Base Camp Concept.

These accessory curtains, for $168, are an elegant solution. Simply pull up to the camp site, affix the curtains, fold your seats flat, and fall asleep. Just remember to turn off your portable TV from 1994. Or is that a Neo Geo?

Mmmhmm…this is what started it all. A cheesy four person tent that latches onto the side of a minivan. The only problem I see here: is the van side of the tent open? What if you want to drive into town? Actually, it looks like there's some excess material slung over top of that cherry Voyager…Those were the days!

Wikipedia calls this the "Dodge Caravan Camper" — but is it an aftermarket conversion or something you could order from a dealership? If it's aftermarket, it doesn't belong here. If it is a factory option well, then…I want one.

From what I can gather, the Chinook was offered as a joint package between Chinook motorhomes and Toyota in 1974. Other RV companies soon jumped on the Toyota platform, but since the Toyota/Chinook collaboration was a joint one, it belongs here. Man, how sweet would this be parked next to your Toyota Celica Sunchaser? [Photo found here.]

Yup, Nissan offers either a bed tent or hatch tent for these models. Get camping!

This is probably the best-integrated and best-known OEM-offered tent package. "My, how big your tent is…" "All the better to sleep you, my dear." Wait, that sounded wrong…

Ahoy, rich'uns! Your wine-and-cheese tasting tent has arrived! For the low, low price of…well…the accessories book doesn't say. But it sure looks swank, right?

Haha, just look at the lame-ness! It was also offered for the 'teh suck' 1973 Pontiac Ventura GTO…

These are the ultimate, go-anywhere OEM-offered campers. Just ask the gurus of blazerchalet.com, the online home of these bad-ass excursion vehicles. Need I mention "Jimmy Casa Grande" is probably the best name for a vehicle, ever? (Either that, or a value menu item…) Oh, and who made the truck bed camper shell? Why, none other than Chinook, the same folks that did the Toyota "Chinook." Thanks to Old Car Brochures for uploading these awesome brochure scans!