We’ve seen quite a few of these car to camper conversions over the years, but this seems to be one of the better executed ones, and since it’s not “original” anyway may give you the opportunity to take the project where you want it to go! It’s located in Beaverton, Oregon and is for sale here on eBay. Bidding is below $500 at this point, but naturally hasn’t met the reserve yet. Reader Nick D. submitted this cool find.
The seller tells us that the car was converted to a camper in 1963 by Callen Campers in El Cajon California. As best as I can tell from this discussion thread, Callen is still somewhat in business, but I think they may have just made the rear camper portion. Looking at the camper data plates, the camper portion may have been made in 1965 rather than 1963, but that’s a nitpick.
Access to the camper portion is through this door in the rear. And for you California folks, it’s got the famous black plates! I like the fact that enough care was taken that a drip shield was placed above the door. Perhaps that care was taken throughout the construction–I hope so. We’re told that due to desert storage, there is next to no rust in the car portion and no rot at all in the camper.
Naturally, the camper portion is still stuck in the 60’s. I suppose if you are into retro things, you could make all this functional–others might want to gut the camper portion and start over. I think I’d be somewhere in between; modern RV appliances would not bother me at all, but I’d try to save the period cabinetry.
Here’s where things really start to get interesting. You’re going to be starting from scratch in the interior, and to be honest, I’m okay with that. As I have a bad back, more adjustable seating is a plus for long trips, so perhaps a power split bench seat from a later vehicle reupholstered in 50’s-60’s style would work best for me. Of course, it wouldn’t be impossible to source original 1950 Oldsmobile interior items either, and keeping the period air conditioning vents wouldn’t be too difficult if you didn’t want to adapt a newer hot rod style unit. Despite the surface rust, I think the floors look pretty darned solid.
Although the seller has the original four speed transmission, the engine is no more (the seller says it was stored for a long time with plain water and they no longer have access to it). So, I think you have a legitimate opportunity to put in some sort of late model V8, or even a diesel. Obviously you’d be able to change out the rear end if necessary as well, but I sure hope you’d keep those original wheel covers; they add a lot to the look of this combination in my opinion. Ultimately, the project would be yours, so tell us what you’d do with it, and if you’d even take it on at all!
I am feeling stupid today – I love this thing and may even try to buy it. What has come over me?
Doesn’t sound stupid to me at all…but consider the source of that comment! ;-)
My wife says I can buy whatever car I want as long as I would be comfortable sleeping in it! Perhaps this would be the perfect car.
I love it too.I would be a little concerned about stability with the weight of this camper on a standard car chassis. It looks like the rear fenders were cut out, so maybe it’s got a truck suspension with heavy oversize tires in there. I’d drop a late model Olds Aurora under the hood, I like the idea of a late model seat with period correct upholstery. I’d update camper, I never did like the cabinets in the older campers ( looks too much like cheap paneling ) so it would get all new stuff back there. One things for sure, even the guys with the big diesel pushers would stop and notice whe you pulled into the camp ground.
My suspicion is that this Olds started out as a hearse or ambulance, based on the little peek we get of the original roofline. So the question becomes, did Hess & Eisenhardt (or similar) stiffen up the suspension on their professional cars in the first place?
In fact, of all the Pontiacs, Caddies, Buicks and other conversions I’ve seen… I can’t recall a conversion like this that didn’t have that extra hi-top roof peeking out from under the camper – an upgraded suspension before the camper came along would at least partially explain the choice.
my opinion, as the car sits, its too short for originally being an ambulance or hearse unless they sectioned the car as well.
It started life as a 2 door coupe 303 v8 With a automatic.
OK, somebody take that torch away from Bubba!
The camper is too angular for the car’s curvy lines….needs a rounder model like an Avion.
https://s-media-cache-ak0.pinimg.com/originals/9c/1d/31/9c1d3102d02f6014aef637b5ff544843.jpg
I hate it. BUT it’s well on the way to becoming a very cool Oldscamino. Now if the camper was made from an old Air Stream……..hmmm…. :-) Terry J
Chebby…..That Avion would work just fine. :-) Terry J
Avion made motorhomes from 77-79…
Sell the camper to someone with a ’63 GMC pickup. Put a bed in the Olds and have an Oldschero /Oldscamino.
Exactly what I was thinking. Didn’t realize tgese were a tging until that image though.
That’s cool, We have a camper,wish I could remember the make but it was made in eastern Washington. Its getting rough,but really cool. It looks very much like this one. I keep wanting to take it home but no time.
Its gotta be worth something.
Sorry. One question. Why? Buy a pick up truck for god sake?!! Sigh. Sorry crew, I am not getting this one. Fred W. that is a pretty cool photo, I will give you that.
There are a cpl Toronado based campers that are popular on the net…
I contacted the seller about the way this camper was built, asked about the seat and to know what engine was in it before. Here is what he said about it:
“Callon built the camper conversion for the guy I got it from. The frame was
boxed in and extended it out the back. It has coil springs and leaf in the
back to help with the weight. I have the seat in excellent shape. The
original engine was only held in place by the front of the engine to the
cross member and the back was supported by the transmission originally. It
was the original engine but was no good at all after sitting with just
water in it for 30 years, it rusted internally. The axle is stock and came
with extra axle shafts.”
I know it’s weird but I still like it.
I too would dump the camper to put a pickup style bed in the rear and use it as a parts hauler.
I’m the owner of the camper. Please feel free to ask anything you want to know about it 503-953-2698
This rig would get a lot of attention at vintage camper ralleys but future owner please remember , the cabinetry in these (and especially Airsteams) are built in place. Standard home store units are the wrong scale ,won’t fit though the door ,and often lead to a stalled or gutted project. Oppositely ,some finer custom cabinet makers ,craft their own amazingly beautiful built ins only to find they have added hundreds of pounds to what is supposed to be a lightweight unit. I have seen some that after remodel require a 1 ton and 8 plys to tow it.
El Campino!
It’s cool seeing a floor shift and a 3rd pedal in this Olds. Hopefully someone will find a way to put it back on the road.
I think its a shame, with that camping top. As a pickup i like it better, as that black one.
I love my 88 i found here for 1000$
So again thanks to BF. For a good deal.
Hope it can be back on the road again in the early sommer
Looks like a 4 speed with a granny gear out of a 3/4 ton pickup. Perfect car for a 63 or 64 394 engine.
I think its cool I like different things any way that’s why I bought the corvair ramp side the 58 tird is coming along bought a 59 for the drive train till I can rebuild the orig I may rat rod it not sure yet still working on the 58 bird conv happy new year to u all ben in fl love this site bought 3 cars so far
Its called hillbilly camp-n
To each his/her own but I think this is a tragedy. I remember these from when I was a kid and they were elegant. The original car with the sunshade and all was a great looking car but the camper is just … awful. It doesn’t work at all! The idea of an Airstream or the Avion has its appeal but … No. I don’t know what I’d do with it except take the ******** camper off and see if it’s worth doing something with. Parts?? The pickup bed idea is the only thing that might save it.
You realize this was done in ’63, right? That means they were converting 10 year old cars – which in that era would’ve wound up in a demolition derby. Instead, this gave some hunter (or a small family) many summers of happy experiences and adventures. Looking at it that way… it’s not so tragic, is it?
The winning bid was a staggering $11,000!
You need to put the NASCAR race-winning 1950 Olds Rocket 88 V8 in there.