The iconic camper van joined the Transporter line-up in 1951, but it wasn't until the 1960s when it was adopted by a free-spirited generation that it became a cult symbol.
The new generation of VW campers, California SE and California Beach, are inspired by the legacy of the original camper, whilst introducing new standards of comfort, performance and safety to meet the expectations of modern drivers.
The Volkswagen California SE starts at £44,615 OTR, including VAT, while Volkswagen California Beach (without kitchen facilities) starts at £35,370 OTR, including VAT.
Volkswagen camper van milestones:
1949: The first ever Volkswagen Transporter van is launched at the Geneva Motor Show.
1951: The Volkswagen Transporter is developed into the iconic Volkswagen camper van.
1960s: The camper van is adopted by the hippie generation, becoming a cult symbol of an alternative lifestyle.
1967: Second generation transporter, known as the T2, does away with the classic, ‘splittie' (split windscreen) design and introduces panoramic vision, gaining the nickname ‘Bay'.
1969: A Volkswagen camper van becomes the "Mystery Machine" in hit cartoon series Scooby Doo.
1979: The T2 becomes the T3, boasting a more angular design.
1990: The Transporter turns 40 and the fourth generation, T4, Transporter is launched.
2003: The fifth generation T5 Transporter launches to critical acclaim and provides the basis for the latest Volkswagen California camper van.
2013: Volkswagen California celebrates its 25th anniversary, with around 100,000 California camper vans rolling off the production line since the start of production.