Furgovolkswagen 2023: fans of the legendary Bulli make history

The interest in the world of campervans has experienced a significant upturn in recent years.

Oliver Thansan
Oliver Thansan
27 May 2023 Saturday 22:29
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Furgovolkswagen 2023: fans of the legendary Bulli make history

The interest in the world of campervans has experienced a significant upturn in recent years. The number of sales reflects this, but it is also demonstrated in the meetings dedicated to this passion, which goes beyond being a way of traveling: it is a lifestyle. And if a model presents it, it is undoubtedly the iconic Bulli, that is, the mythical hippy van that Volkswagen launched on the market in 1947.

Since then, society has changed a lot, but the style of traveling by camper maintains its essence, something has been verified -once again- in the traditional annual meeting FurgoVolkswagen, which the German brand has been organizing in the Girona town of Sant Pere Pescador for almost two decades.

And this year there was an absolute record participation: more than 6,500 fans and 900 vehicles. So many were registered that Camping La Ballena Alegre was too small for the first time, so that the organization had to resort to other establishments to cover the demand.

This overwhelming success is a demonstration of the rise of the camper client. Among all the vehicles assembled, even coming from European countries and from all periods, a group with personalized models caught our attention. They are the DropWagen, a group of owners who arrived from Mallorca by ferry and who told us their personal story with this very special vehicle.

Each of these Volkswagen California not only preserves the essence of 50 years of history but also defines its drivers by the colors, accessories and curiosities that they incorporate. Pere Moyano Claramunt, for example, explains that it took him 10 years to find a 1966 model; he finally got it through a workshop specialized in the Beetle (Volkswagen Beetle), another icon of the German firm.

Its poor state of conservation required three years of restoration in that same workshop and a trip to Palma de Mallorca, just when the pandemic came into our lives. Moyano, who is a doctor, used the montage of the interior as a kind of therapy. "I dedicated myself to electricity and interior when I was not on duty and thanks to Youtube tutorials." He found the parts in England, just before Brexit, and this VanVolkswagen has been the perfect excuse to use it as he dreamed of at the time.

Carlos, another member of this group of friends, was the instigator of the trip. He had already participated in the most massive meeting related to the Volkswagen California and which, since 2004, has accumulated great fame and prestige at a European level. Looking at the copies that make up the DropWagen, we can affirm that they have a special fondness for classic models, such as the T2 and T3 with which they arrived at the campsite.

The units that they showed us had some things in common, such as the lowered height, the exterior equipment to enjoy the beach, vintage tires and original paint. They call themselves the “black sheep”, but their style is pure respect for their models, which go from approximately 1968 to 1976, among which we find a most singular T3 Syncro.

In between so many trips to the past, Volkswagen Comerciales took advantage of another year to show the way to the future. A future that is already here and is electrified. The ID.Buzz captured the attention of all those present as the promise of the continuity of a campervan icon. They also did not miss the opportunity to show the new Amarok for the first time, to which they set up a roof tent for the most adventurous.

In this case, the silent interior of the Bulli can incorporate a wooden Ququq module and easy installation. It is a rigid trunk located in the trunk and full of drawers that hide a 10-liter water tank, a removable kitchen and the possibility of expanding throughout the passenger compartment to enjoy a 1.95 x 1.25 bed. meters.