Fiberglass Before Boler

[AC0GV]

Karosa W 4 Dingo caravan, A rare Czech caravan from 1961 - only 47 were made.
I’m posting this mostly so that I can find it again.

I was researching the history of Boler, Acorn, and Scamp when I found this.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by AC0GV

Karosa W 4 Dingo caravan, A rare Czech caravan from 1961 - only 47 were made.
I’m posting this mostly so that I can find it again.

I was researching the history of Boler, Acorn, and Scamp when I found this.

That looks like a very nice design, and made from a well designed mold. Fairly intricate design, and certainly well restored. I've been in campgrounds in Europe including Czechoslovakia when it was behind the Iron Curtain. Campgrounds and trailers were simpler but camping has always been important to Europeans. But if it WAS built in 1961 that means it was built by the Czechoslovakian government : ALL businesses were owned by the government.! Walking down a street with fruit vendors I mentioned to my Czech friends how nice it was to see people selling their fruit. They said NO ! Every business was owned by the Government of the Czechoslovakian Soviet Socialist Republic ! David in Fresno and Sonora, CA.

[Civilguy]

Here's an interesting article; Google seems to provide an adequate translation. Apparently they cost about 15-years of the average salary; add another 22 years salary for a Škoda Octavia to tow it with!

The most beautiful domestic factory-produced caravan was the Karosa W 4 called Dingo. This caravan attracted well-deserved attention not only with its appearance, but also with its overall solution. However, due to the interplay of several reasons, only 47 pieces were produced.

Zdroj: https://www.idnes.cz/auto/historie/k...to_ojetiny_erp

[Steve Hammel]

I love the dual beds in the back.

[Steve Outlaw]

I'm pleased/surprised to see the door is on the "correct" side.


As to the price, if one were to work basically their entire career and had saved every cent they made, they could have bought one of these and and a vehicle to tow it with. And you think the Oliver is expensive.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Steve Outlaw

I'm pleased/surprised to see the door is on the "correct" side.


As to the price, if one were to work basically their entire career and had saved every cent they made, they could have bought one of these and and a vehicle to tow it with. And you think the Oliver is expensive.

I can tell you it is not a case of people saving for years to buy a new car or trailer. My friend Ivan lived in a Soviet style block ; 4 towers at least 8 or 10 stories tall, the parking lots had very few cars. Everyone worked for the state, no one had money left over for anything but basic rent and food. Ivan was a hustler, he finally got a well used Skoda, no Japanese, European or American cars were allowed to be sold. And Czech money had zero value if you crossed the Iron Curtain. I could not give him American money or a check, no bank would cash it and he would be in trouble if he had any US money. Money and your job were used by the government to control the people. Ivan drove me to Prague one year, but he 'lost' his car after a minor fender-bender. ALL repairs had to be done in state-owned shops, no home repairs were allowed ! If you did not repair the car, it was confiscated . The word ' Communist' is sometimes heard in US political arguments but we really do not understand the total control involved. And the NEW cars, trailers, Tatras, Moscovics .? ? ? Owned by the rich members of the Communist party ! I don't think that nice trailer was built for ANY private citizens. That explains the small numbers !! ( Some time I may tell you a bit more about cars, campers and trailers under the Communists . ) David in Fresno and Sonora

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by DavidG

I can tell you it is not a case of people saving for years to buy a new car or trailer.

Yes; I wasn't trying to suggest that the "average" working Czechs actually saved to purchase trailers, but rather to illustrate how unattainable they must have been for the general population.

My mother-in-law was a war bride. The father-in-law served with the US Army occupation troops in Germany after the war in the late 40's and brought her home to the States. She still remembers eating roots out of the fields as her family fled Prussia to get to the American sector and escape the advancing Russians.

One time, when I picked them up for a Fathers Day lunch, she looked around admiringly at the interior of our Grand Cherokee. Apparently she hadn't realized that Jeep built more than basic vehicles.

Her eyes gleamed a bit as she declared that I must be a Fleischesser; a meat-eater. She said that was the expression they used for the people who were well-off during the destitution which followed the war.

It was another reminder to count my blessings and be grateful.

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Civilguy

Yes; I wasn't trying to suggest that the "average" working Czechs actually saved to purchase trailers, but rather to illustrate how unattainable they must have been for the general population.

My mother-in-law was a war bride. The father-in-law served with the US Army occupation troops in Germany after the war in the late 40's and brought her home to the States. She still remembers eating roots out of the fields as her family fled Prussia to get to the American sector and escape the advancing Russians.

One time, when I picked them up for a Fathers Day lunch, she looked around admiringly at the interior of our Grand Cherokee. Apparently she hadn't realized that Jeep built more than basic vehicles.

Her eyes gleamed a bit as she declared that I must be a Fleischesser; a meat-eater. She said that was the expression they used for the people who were well-off during the destitution which followed the war.

It was another reminder to count my blessings and be grateful.

And remember that much of Europe that was destitute after WWII had hardly recovered from WWI and the Reparations that are just now being paid off. Our Depression in the 1930s was worldwide and was only ended by industries gearing up for war again. Czechoslovakia was created after WWI, depressed in the '30s, invaded by Germany in the late 30s, and "Liberated" by the Russians at the end of the War. ( That is why my friend is named Ivan !) ' Liberated' means taken over by the Communists, controlled by Russia until the "Wall' came down in 1989. When I was there in '89 or '90 as we walked through Brno, Cz , church bells rang. Ivan said the first time since 1939 ! We need to be Grateful, and Vigilant ! And VOTE ! David in Fresno and Sonora

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by Steve Outlaw

I'm pleased/surprised to see the door is on the "correct" side.


As to the price, if one were to work basically their entire career and had saved every cent they made, they could have bought one of these and and a vehicle to tow it with. And you think the Oliver is expensive.

A lot of Europe drives on the same side of the road as the USA.

[k corbin]

Originally Posted by Civilguy

brought her home to the States. She still remembers eating roots out of the fields as her family fled Prussia to get to the American sector and escape the advancing Russians.

Eating "roots" out of the fields meant they were most probably digging up turnips (root vegetable crop) which were widely grown in that area of the world at that time for feeding to livestock, but were also eaten by the poor. A person on the run would likely be forced into eating them raw.


No longer a food, at least in this country, for the poor, they are more costly per pound than potatoes.


Very nice period styling details on that little caravan.

[Raspy]

David, Thanks for the comments about Czechoslovakia. Very interesting. In 1975, the Czechs came out with the CZ75 9mm pistol. It became, from what I understand, the most widely used police pistol in Europe. A very fine, durable pistol, famous for its reliability and comfortable grip. Eventually, they became available in the US and have a loyal following.

In the early '80s CZ made some nice dirt bikes too. I wonder how they were able to export them before the wall came down?

In looking at the pictures that Mike posted, that trailer seems to be made from three main sections, as the roof looks like a different part than the sides. Notice too, how the rear looks nearly identical to a VW bus of the era. I wonder if they just, sort of, copied a sheet metal body design in fiberglass?

[DavidG]

Originally Posted by Civilguy

Here's an interesting article; Google seems to provide an adequate translation. Apparently they cost about 15-years of the average salary; add another 22 years salary for a Škoda Octavia to tow it with!



Zdroj: https://www.idnes.cz/auto/historie/k...to_ojetiny_erp

I hope everyone clicked on this link ; it shows many shots of this fiberglas trailer as well as other older models. And a bit of the countryside and the people during that period. Thanks Civilguy ! David in Fresno and Sonora

[Civilguy]

Originally Posted by k corbin

Eating "roots" out of the fields meant they were most probably digging up turnips (root vegetable crop) which were widely grown in that area of the world at that time for feeding to livestock, but were also eaten by the poor. A person on the run would likely be forced into eating them raw.

No longer a food, at least in this country, for the poor, they are more costly per pound than potatoes.

That's exactly how she tells the story, minus the irony about today's prices.

[LarryB.]

Originally Posted by DavidG

I hope everyone clicked on this link ; it shows many shots of this fiberglas trailer as well as other older models. And a bit of the countryside and the people during that period. Thanks Civilguy ! David in Fresno and Sonora

The story is also very interesting... Here is the link to the web page as translated using Google translate:
https://translate.google.com/transla...to_ojetiny_erp