1978 Landmark Camper - the ultimate in 70's fashion!
In the US in the late 70's the Van scene was HUGE.
Many companies popped up that provided aftermarket parts for Van and other were building
Conversion Vans, taking box stock Vans of all makes and converting them into rolling party palaces with ultra cushy interiors
and wild paint schemes. The focus was all US at the time...Ford, Chevy and Dodge were the mainstream for this scene.
One company, National Coach in Carson California thought that the VW would be a huge hit.
Gas prices were on the climb and the VW seemed the perfect basis to work with.
National had already had big hits with the Landmark series on the American Vans (which they continued production on for many many years)
...so it was just a matter
of applying the same design cues and equipment to the Bay Window VW.
The response was luke warm at best, with reviewers crapping on it's performance and it's price.
The estimated total price tag for a Landmark VW in 1978 was over $10,000 !
Thats a good $4000 just for the conversion and fees over the price of a base Kombi at around $6000.
Not cheap!
Below are images of one magazine's coverage of the Landmark VW...
In the article they say that National planned to build 300 VW conversions, but based on the research I have done so far
there is no way they ever reached that number. Endless online sleuthing has popped up with only about a half dozen examples
that exist today. Double that number for the ones "not seen" and even on the outside I think it is probably safe to say
there are less than 20 of them out there in the world, and that number may be high! And the vast majority of the ones I have seen photos of
are incomplete or modified in some way. Finding one that is complete with all the original equipment intact is an extreme rarity.
Could the Landmark be the "Rarest of the Bays"?
Below are the images of the example we just recently discovered and plan to restore back to its former swanky glory!
As found in the Desert of Southern California...a bit faded, but complete
Extremely solid and straight.
The only thing missing are the original alloy wheels (but I am on the hunt!!)
Quilted headliner still in great shape...door panels to match!
You can still see the Landmark logo in the center of the stripe.
The original roof rack is still present and the matching ladder is stowed inside the Van.
Rear mounted spare tire is still there as well!!
Original tags on the back
Great sticker under the dash!!
The interior
The captains chairs!
The front ones swivel too!
Ready to load in the trailer for the trip home!
Love that padded headliner!
I cant wait to clean this up!!!
Once back at the shop we started to clean things up a little and check out the equipment.
Bed folded flat with seating for four "spectators"!
Water pump and tank.
Some ice and som cold Coors beer...yeah baby!
Interior lighting is functional
Rear ladder re-installed.
The shop dog sure likes it!
Wow...party pad beyond all compare!
Big sunroof is great too!
We got the engine to fire too, but the fuel pump is not working and it sounds like there is a rattle from within the engine...rebuilding is in the plan!
More photos soon to come of the extraction and revival of this rare Camper conversion...stay tuned!!
