Volkswagen T3 Karmann Gipsy

Extra information

The “Gipsy”
 
In the early 1970s during a holiday in South Africa, Wilhelm Karmann became aware of the camper vans named Autovilla of the African company Jurgens. He was so taken by the idea that he decided to offer such camper vans in Germany too. Back home he seized his idea and offered his first camper versions without alcove (overhead bay). Starting from May 1977 the regular production started.

With the model change from VW T 2 to T 3 the era of the alcove design began and was continued with the T 4 in 1990. In the camper scene the compact camper van quickly met with good response. The interior was practical, zeitgeisty and equipped with everything you need as a globetrotter. Hot water heater, mirror cabinet, shower, gas stove and refrigerator were always on board. Beside all the enthusiasm for the interior, the Karmann-Gipsy was also and is even today popular for the easy and elegant way of travelling it offered/ offers to its passengers. Due to the organized and ingenious interior design with alcove beds in the niche above the driver’s cab and the fitted awning at the right side of the roof, everything was prepared for the holiday and all you had to do was to park the camper van at the desired spot. While the design of the camper found favor with the camping community, the low-powered engine of the original Volkswagen chassis was one of the major points of criticism.

Until 1992 a total of 778 VW T 3 Karmann Gipsy camper vans were produced at the production facilities in Osnabrück. In 2000 the camper division was sold.