Raising roof (poptops) - origins

[HarryMann]

Just gleaned this from a LR forum, after surmising that the Searle LR Carawagon raising roofs might have been the original pop top

The first, and original, elevating roof camper was by Martin Walter (Dormobile) on a Bedford CA in 1949/50. They were also the first to convert the VW Combi. Westphalia VW campers used the Dormobile roof under licence, until they got tired of paying royalties, and fitted an end-elevating roof to get round MW's patent. Searle only came into the camper market much later. Get your facts right chaps!

[Mocki]

Oh do keep up at the back people!
That wet failure crowd are just newbies...... Lol

[keith]

Who was the first to fit a high top then......mr whippy or mr softy

[Ian Hulley]

Who was the first to fit a high top then......mr whippy or mr softy

[keith]

I thought you might like that ...

[Ian Hulley]

I thought you might like that ...

[boxer]

http://www.expeditionlandrover.info/Lan ... ndaCab.htm" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

[HarryMann]

Great link Boxer, let's keep this thread going, any others, and in particular, anything earlier ?

[HarryMann]

If you are going to quote me on Dormobile history, I had better clarify the dates! While Martin Walter/Dormobile were producing conversions to commercial vans (Ford, Bedford and Morris) from 1949/50, the first production elevating roof conversion on a Bedford CA was probably around 1954.

[mark]

http://www.lrfaq.org/Series/Dormobile/J ... /rCA1.jpeg" onclick="window.open(this.href);return false;

here's a pic of a 1954 ca poptop, no wonder i couldnt find a 49/50 if you look closely you can see the front part stays attached ala A/S /westie and this was not an option on devon splits with pop tops, which didnt appear until 56/57 oldest surving being a 1957.
my 73 bay had the same poptop, allthough a devon and not a doormobile havent got a digi pic or a scanner

mark