Few people realise that in the beginning theVW Campervanwas classified as a commercial vehicle in the UK and restricted to a top speed of 30mph.
In 1950 Peter Pitt was responsible for developing the newly expanding motor home market. He not only was responsible for one of the first full camping conversions on the VW van but also instrumental in getting laws changed to put the motor home on the same footing as a touring caravan. A motor home was exempt from purchase tax unlike motor vehicles. Regulations stated that a motor home had to have permanent fittings such as dining areas, beds, cooking equipment, wardrobe space and water carrying facilities. This caused Danbury to redesign their initial conversion in 1964 to make the cooker permanent. Pitt designed his VW conversion in 1956 making the arrangement open plan. UK regulations in the 1950’s designated the VW transporter as a commercial vehicle and therefore it was subject to a top speed of 30 mph in addition to purchase tax.
In order to gain publicity for this anomaly Pitt took his VW Camper to the Royal Park at Windsor simply because commercial vehicles were prohibited. As a result he was prosecuted for the offence and the case went to court and the judgment ruled in his favour. It agreed that Pitt’s motor home should be classed as a private car and not a commercial vehicle. This landmark victory resulted in removal of commercial vehicle purchase tax and speed restriction.
1n 1960 Pitt introduced open designs to the interiors which included interlocking interiors such as a dinette or made up into single, double or twin beds, and a fold down sink mounted at the rear. Also in this year he designed an elevated roof calling it the Sunshine Roof which was spring loaded and could be fixed in three positions which meant that bunk beds could be installed to create more sleeping space.
In 1961 the Pitt Mot-Caravan Company joined forces with Canterbury Sidecars. In 1963 Pitt refined and designed new layouts and the conversions were so successful that they basically remained unchained over the following years until production stopped.
In 1969 Peter Pitt died and due to business arrangements his designs were manufactured under licence and the production of the Canterbury Pitt Moto-Caravan ceased in September of that year.
Few people know important Pitt was to the development of the VW Campervan.
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