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ABC - ABC-Karossen AB
in Mönsterås, started to construct caravans in
1977. They were pioneers in using glued sandwich
panels. The company still exists but they
stopped making caravans in the end of the 80's. ALFREDO - A folded caravan, constructed by Alfred Jönsson in Katrineholm, in the end of the 50's.
ANDERSFORS -
A caravan, constructed by Ingenjörsfirma
Andersfors AB in Kristinehamn, in the
mid 60's.
APPENDO - A
caravan from the early 60's.
BIAB - Bergkvara Industri
AB in Bergkvara, made a few types of
the BIAB caravan in the mid 60's.
BOCA - Bornhall &
Carlsson AB in Nossebro, made the BOCA,
that also was called Nossebrovagnen, from 1962
to 1972.
BOHEM - AB Lamellplast
in Lindome, made the BOHEM from 1961 to
1965. It was a monocoque design in fibre-glass
polyester.
BOREVAGNEN -
AB
Åseleprodukter in Åsele, made the
BOREVAGNEN from 1966 to 1974.
BORGVAGNEN -
Elofs Bil
& Husvagnar in Ludvika, modestly
started to construct the BORG in the mid 50's.
From the mid 60's the manufacturing was quite
rational, but ended in 1968. CABBY - Tore Nilsson
in Kristinehamn, started the CABBY company in
1963. Their first caravans came out in 1965. In
1968 CABBY built the largest Scandinavian
caravan factory but also the most modern
European caravan factory, at the time, and the
CABBY method was introduced. That was a method
to use urethane foam between the outer aluminum
sheet metal and the inner plywood, without using
any wood crossbars, to achieve maximum
insulation ability. In 1969 the CABBY company
was sold to the Boise Cascade corporation in the
USA. The British Cavalier, the French Digue and
the Dutch Kip
was also part of the Boise Cascade corporation.
Later they were in turn sold to the Bendix
company in the USA. In 1976 CABBY was sold back
to Tore Nilsson, but he also acquired Cavalier
and Kip. In 1979 CABBY acquired 75% of Digue. In
1982 the CABBY corporation got economical
trouble. In 1985 CABBY launched their first
motorhome. In 1988 the motorhome business became
a company of its own. In 1989 the company
founder, Tore Nilsson, passed away. His son, Per
Nilsson, took over the leadership. At the end of
1990 and during 1992, the activity at CABBY was
reduced heavily, due to economical problems. In
1993 CABBY started to make motorhomes within the
caravan company again. In 2001 CABBY became part
of the Tirus Group. In January 2016 CABBY went
bankrupt. In the spring time of 2016, the Polar
company acquired the CABBY brand.
CAMPA - Grunnebo Karosseri
& Bilverkstad in Grunnebo,
constructed the CAMPA in the mid 50's. CAMPMAN - Rowa (Rolf Wallin)
in Tillberga, constructed the CAMPMAN in the end
of the 60's.
CARMEN - Carman in
Lindesberg, started production of the CARMAN in
1962. Later Geoplast
in Mölltorp took over the production. It was a plastic
fibre-glass design.
COMFORT -
Two different manufacturers, independent of each
other, used the COMFORT brand. It was Termo Industrier
in Eskilstuna in the early 60's and Nordströms
Husvagnar in Hallstahammar in the mid
60's.
COME-ON - Bolin Båt AB
made the COME-ON from 1978 to 1981. It was a
plastic fibre-glass design with
urethane insulation. KABE
acquired the company and it became Kabe Hus AB.
E-BE - E-Be Trailer
in Malmö, constructed the caravans from the mid
50's to the early 70's. EXCLUSIVE
- AB
Eksjöverken in Eksjö, made the
Exclusive from 1963 to 1966. It only came in
one version, the Exclusive 600.
FAMILY - Karlskoga
Husvagnar AB in Karlskoga, made the
FAMILY from 1965 to 1968. FAVORIT - Mauritz Bohlin AB in Vega, south of Stockholm, started production of the plastic fibre-glass design VIKING in 1962 but changed the name to FAVORIT in 1965. The door was on the left side on the VIKING but was changed to the right side on the FAVORIT. In 1970 AB Harry Wennberg in Stockholm took over the production. In 1972 the Electrolux company took over and finally in 1973 the Nycab company took over the production until 1981. The MF-400 was the most common version. Among others, the Swedish Railroad company, SJ, used approx. 300 of them. There were also the versions MF-540 and MF-600 but only very few were made, maybe less than 10. The MF-600 had a boggie chassis.
FIAB - Floby Industri AB
in Floby, made the FIAB caravans from 1965 to
1971.
FJUGESTA - Fjugesta Trä-
& Byggmaterial AB in Fjugesta, made
the caravans from 1961 to
1967.
FJÄLLVAGNEN
- From 1962 to 1964 Sävar Snickerifabrik
in Sävar, was subcontracted to make the
Stilmaster caravan. In 1965 they started to make
their own models. In 1966 they branded them
Äss-vagnen. Basically they were copies of the
Polarvagnen. In 1967 they started to brand them
as Fjällvagnen. In 1986 acquired, the newly
founded company, Fjellvagnen AB the production
and moved the activity to Vuollerim in
Norrbotten. In 1989 Fjellvagnen was bankrupt. It
was refounded as Fjällvagnen Caravan AB. In 1991
the company was bankrupt again. Piteå Produktion
AB acquired the company and they manufactured
caravans only to direct orders. In 1998 the
company was sold and soon it disappeared from
the market.
GEV - Georg Ericssons Snickeri in Valskog, constructed the GEV from 1962 to 1971. HB-TRAILER -
AB
Junohus in Uddevalla, constructed the
caravan in the end of the 50's.
HEBY - Heby Husvagnar
in Heby, constructed the caravans from 1962 to
1972. HOLIDAY - Heurgrens Båt & Motor in Stockholm, made the plastic fibre-glass HOLIDAY in the early 60's.
KABE -
Karosseri AB
Elit in Tenhult. Kurt Blomqvist
constructed a caravan in 1958 for his own
family. He sold it before the family had used
it, though. Instead Kurt Blomqvist modestly
started a caravan factory in 1959, while he
still worked for the Air Command. In 1962 Kurt
Blomqvist staked on the caravan manufacturing on
full time and he left the Air Command. In 1969
completely new factory buildings was finished.
KABE started KAFI in Finland. In 1976 a series
of KABE caravans, with a low price tag, was
produced at the Panther factory in England. They
was branded as the Nordica. In 1985 KABE started
to use sandwich panels. In 1986 the spare part
and accessory company Kama Fritid AB was
founded. In 1987 KABE acquired the British
Fleetwood company. In 1995 acquired the bankrupt
Öggestorp. In 2004 Fleetwood was sold to Adria.
Here you can read their own book KABE 50 years.
KABI - A combined caravan and boat by MDY Produkter AB in Linghem, in the early 80's.
KALIX - Kalix Husvagnar AB
in Kalix, made the plastic fibre-glass caravan
in the mid 60's. KARLSKOGA -
A caravan constructed in the mid 60's.
LINDHE - R. Lindhe
in Gothenburg constructed a few types of simple
caravans in the end of the 50's.
MEK. KONSTRUKTIONER
- Drawings and manuals was made by Mek.
Konstruktioner in Karlstad to make
your own caravan. MELLÖSA-VAGNEN
- Paul
Larssons Snickeriverkstad in Mellösa,
constructed the caravan in the mid 60's. It was
also sold as a kit. MHF-trailern - A small DIY caravan, in the end of the 50's. MYRAN - Special-Karosser
AB in Dorotea, made the MYRAN from 1993
to 1994. It was a small
caravan that resembled the Polar 300.
MYRBY - Myrby Snickeri in Enköping, manufactured a wide range of caravans from 1959 to 1966. In 1961 the name was changed to TRIMAB.
NORDIC - The
CABBY factory was subcontracted to produce the
Nordic for Husvagn-Svensson
from 1980 to 1981.
NORRLANDSVAGNEN - Norrlandsvagnar
in Bygdsiljum, constructed the caravan from 1961
to 1971. Since 1963 they have constructed staff
trailers, and that is still their business. NOSSEBROVAGNEN
- See the BOCA.
NYCAB - Lars Nyström in Uppsala, used to make boats in plastic fibre-glass but started to produce caravans, using the same production technique. It was a well insulated and sophisticated caravan. It was approximately 5,5 meters and the look resembled the Polar Ambassador. In 1973 NYCAB took over the production of the Favorit from Electrolux. OLOFSFORS -
Olofsfors Bruk
constructed the caravans P600 and
P650 in the 60's. P650 was,
just like Stjärnvagnen (OPIO 600), SELGS and
UVI, a copy of an SMV 10.
OPIO - See the OPIO history. ORUST - Intermittent AB in Ellös, manufactured the caravan in the mid 60's. OK-BIVA - A
caravan from the mid 70's.
POLARVAGNEN - Bertil Holmqvist
and Håkan
Wallin in Junsele, started to construct
caravans in a barn in 1964. The caravans was
desiged for use in the cold northern Swedish
winters, so they had urethane insulation, double
windows and a heating system. In 1966 the
factory barn in Junsele was stroke by a fire and
a new factory was built in Dorotea. In the
beginning there was only the TB model
(TB=tvärbädd=across berth). In 1967 there was
also the LB
model (LB=långbädd=along berth). Both of them
was 4 meter caravans. In 1970 they launched the
Diplomat
model. It was a 5 meter well equipped caravan.
In 1971 they launched the luxurious Ambassador
model. It was a 6 meter two axel caravan. That
far, they had used the original Polarvagnen look
and shape. In 1972 they launched the new look
and shape, applied at the Attaché
model. Basically, they kept that look and shape
until 1990. In 1991 they introduced the High Back
models, having full hight in the rear end of the
caravan.
RESVIL - Wanners Snickeri
& Karrosserifabrik in Lidköping,
made the RESVIL from 1948 to 1972.
RH-TRAILER -
R. Håkansson
constructed the RH caravan at his company AB Eringsboda
karrosseri-industri, from 1948 to 1976.
RMS - RMS Industri in Skultorp, constructed the caravans from 1964 to 1966. ROHAB - Ronneby Husvagnar AB in Kallinge, made caravans of British origin but in 1970 they acquired the production of the OPIO caravans. See the OPIO history. ROWA - See
the CAMPMAN. SAABO - SAAB produced the caravan in their factory in Ljunga, outside of Norrköping, from 1964 to 1968. Saabo was designed to be very light, to be suitable for cars with less powerful engines, like the SAAB 92. SELGS - Just like the OPIO 600, it was a copy of the SMV 10. SIGAM - A
folded caravan, constructed in Bromma, at about
1960.
SMV -
Sörby
Mekaniska Verkstad in Örebro, started
to construct caravans in 1948. SMV was the
dominant caravan manufacturer in Sweden during
the 50's and the 60's. By handbuilt
craftsmanship they now make a handful of
caravans a year on direct orders. In 1986, Raimo
Tunsved took over the business and by then he
already hade worked for the SMV company for more
than 20 years. In March 2016 Raimo Tunsved
passed away and nobody seemed to be willing to
continue the business. But then Henrik Karlsson
steps in and rescues the company and continues
the business.
SMÅLANDIA - Sävsjö was part of the British CI. They made improved versions of Sprite for the Scandinavian market. From 1985 to 1990 they also made SMÅLANDIA at the Sävsjö factory. SMÅLANDSVAGNEN
- The Carlsson
brothers, Staffan
and Christer,
used to work for ÖGGESTORP but they set up their
own caravan factory, SMÅLANDSVAGNEN in Tenhult,
in 1985. In 1990 they went bankrupt. The Sanbi
company in Aneby acquired the business. In 1991
bankrupsy stroke again. The company was
refounded and was acquired by Thor Nilsson in
Sjöbo but the manufacturing was still in Aneby.
The business was not profitable and was closed
down in 1995. SPECIALKAROSSER
- Adolf
and Reidun
Sellgren
used to work for POLARVAGNEN but in the end of
1982 they set up their own company,
SPECIALKAROSSER in Dorotea. They made special
purposed trailers based on Polar caravans. They
also made the Easy Camper. In 1992 they went
bankrupt but was re-founded and was able to
continue with their business.
SUN-WEST - Ege Westin
in Hallsberg, made the SUN-WEST from 1961 to
1965.
SVELAND - The caravan dealer Bengt in Örkelljunga had the SVELAND manufactured for him in England to his own specification from 1971 to 1981. SWEDIMA -
The caravan was constructed in Urshult, in the
end of the 50's. SÄVSJÖ - The
CI
caravan factory in Sävsjö was set up in 1976 by
the British CI company, to make the
Sävsjö caravans, but also to make improved
Scandinavian versions of Sprite, for the
Scandinavian market. The
British CEO pronounced Sävsjö as "Safe Sure". In
1982 the CI Group went bankrupt. In 1986 the
company changed its name to Sävsjö Caravan AB.
In 1987 the Polar
and Sävsjö
companies joined into one company, called Polar & Sävsjö
AB. In 1990 Smålandia was stopped as a
brand name. In 1991 the production was closed
down in the Sävsjö factory and was moved to the
Polar factory in Dorotea. In 1991 the Euroliner
series was launched. 1997 was the last year of
production of the Sävsjö caravans. TRELLEBORG -
Was an early sandwich plastic
fibre-glass design and was manufactured during
the 60's. TRIMAB - See
the MYRBTY. UVI - UVI
650 was another SMV 10 copy, in the mid 60's.
VÄRÖ - Väröbacka Karrosserifabrik constructed the caravan in the early 60's. VOLVO - Linells in Braås, constructed a folded caravan for Volvo, in 1957, as an accessory for the Volvo PV 444.
YBO - Lindströms
Husvagnar in Ystad started to produce
the YBO modestly in 1966. It was a very high
quality caravan. Fritidsbostäder AB in Everöd, took
over the production in 1971. In 1974 they went
bankrupt and the production was closed down. YNGSJÖVAGNEN - Heides Karrosserifabrik in Yngsjö made carriage rides, already in 1922. Then they have made coaches for ambulances, buses, trucks, etc. From 1959 to 1965 they made caravans. ÅTM - AB Åsele
Transport Mekano constructed a
caravan in the early 80's without any windows
or interior. The customer had to do the rest
them selves. ÄSS-VAGNEN - See the Fjällvagnen.
ÖGGESTORP - In 1963 Bertil Larsson started to construct the LBE-vagnen in Öggestorp. Bertil used to work for KABE in Tenhult. The company changed its name to ÖGGESTORP Husvagnar AB. Popular models during several years was Drabant, Comfort, Regent and Baron. In 1994 the Colibri was launched. It was a completely new design. In 1995 they went bankrupt and was then acquired by KABE. |