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Swedish caravans through the times
Only a handful of them still exists



ABAL - A combined caravan and boat in the end of the 60's.

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.
In 1978 they had extensive economical losses and in 1979 the Polar company was sold to Hellgren Invest AB. In 1981 the Polar company was nearly bankrupt. In 1982 the ownership was split to several other companies in the region and also the city was among the owners. In 1987 Polar and Sävsjö migrated into a single company. In 1988 Lohja in Finland acquired the company. Lohja was also the owner of Solifer. From 1998 both the Polar and Sävsjö caravans was produced in Dorotea exclusively. In 2002 The Caravan Museum was opened. In 2003 the manufacturing of the Solifer caravans was moved to the Polar factory in Dorotea.

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.

STIGOLETTE - Karlssons Plåtslageri in Uppsala, constructed the STIGOLETTE in the early 60's.

STIL-MASTER - Stil-Master was launched in 1963 and was manufactured in Umeå. The caravan resembled the Polarvagnen but having a slightly different front with a panoramic window. It was a traditional wooden sceleton design with polystyrene insulation and aluminum sheet metal on the outside. In 1969 the production moved to Kälarne and the caravans was completely re-designed to be made in plastic fibre-glass, with urethane insulation. The shape and look was unique and did not resemble the Polarvagnen any more. Only approximately 50 caravans was produced. In 1970 the business was closed down.

STJÄRNVAGNEN -
See the OPIO history.

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.




               

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