The 1936 Stout Scarab came about in the early 1930s when William B. Stout, head of the Stout Engineering Laboratories in Dearborn, Michigan, dreamed of rear-engine/rear-wheel drive. “When we finally ‘unhitch Old Dobbin’ from the automobile,” he wrote in Scientific American, “the driver will have infinitely better vision from all angles. The automobile will be lighter and more efficient and yet safer, the ride will be easier, and the body will be more roomy without sacrificing maneuverability.”

The Stout Scarab was a streamlined, fenderless, monoform six-passenger sedan that can stake a claim as the world’s first minivan. With a stubby front end, a boxy middle and a gloriously curved rear, the car certainly resembled its beetle namesake, the scarab.

The packaging was probably the Scarab’s greatest contribution to the development of the modern car. The wheels were placed at the corners, not unusual for the time, but rather than following the convention of expressing the fenders and running boards as separate design elements, the car’s body stretched right over them in a single, sleek form.

The engine was located in the rear, and the hood and front-end assembly were minimised. This allowed the passenger cabin to be stretched out between the wheels, giving the volume of a small room and the appointments to match. The driver sat immediately behind the front wheel, creating the first cab-forward architecture.

Art Deco design details included the winged moustache sitting between the two eye-like headlights, and over a smiling hood shutline, chrome wraparound bumpers, and an epic waterfall grille that extended from the top of the rear window down across the engine to the bumper below.

The interior was accessed either through a driver’s door or a single middle door on the passenger side. The driver’s seat and the rear bench seat were fixed, but other seats could be moved around to face each other, creating a traveling social space, complete with a small table.

The seats could be removed and the table folded out to allow space for a small portable office for the traveling businessman, complete with a bed. The seats were leather and chrome, and the interior finishes were light wood panelling and a polished wicker headliner.

“The interior of the car is extremely comfortable and roomy, with a table and movable chairs,” reported The Phillips Shield, a publication of the Phillips 66 petroleum company.

The creative engineering of the Scarab was equal to the packaging, employing one of the first examples of monocoque construction and four-wheel independent suspension.

The first running prototype Scarab was built in 1932 and subsequent cars were built over the rest of the decade. Stout had never intended to build more than 100 cars a year, at a price of $5000 (or around $89,000 today) and they were to be sold on an “invitation only-basis”. Records are missing and stories conflicting, but between six and nine Scarabs were built, each different according to the owner’s tastes.

Stout abandoned his Scarab project as World War II intervened, and he sold his company and services to Consolidated Vultee Aviation Aircraft (Convair). However, after the war, he developed one more Scarab – the Experimental. Working with Owens-Corning, the car was the world’s first to feature either a fibreglass body or pneumatic suspension.

William Stout, left, with a Scarab.

A final, updated version constructed in 1946, the Stout Scarab Experimental, utilized a fiberglass body shell—claimed to be the world’s first—and air suspension. That’s Bill Stout at the wheel. This car still exists today in the collection of the Detroit Historical Society.

Today, miraculously, five Scarabs still exist, and two of these are in running condition. The Scarab and William Stout remain an inspiration to designers, especially now as we consider anew the interior space of the car without a driver. Will it have the flexibility and functionality of the Scarab?

Stout’s talents for transferring technology between one form of transport to another should inspire us to look around for trends and inspiration in unlikely places. And lastly, Stout’s personal engineering and design motto, “Simplicate (as opposed to complicate) and add lightness” – often wrongly ascribed to Colin Chapman – inspires us in an era of over-designed objects and environments.

It’s the benchmark. The yardstick. The trendsetter. And that makes each generation of VW Camper very important. The iconic splitties and bays of the mid 20th century went on to bear new generations of cult-creators and it comes to the 21st century and the – slightly reserved – T5 and T6.

Incredibly well respected, the most modern camper is still the epitome of a usable motorhome – the vehicle you can use day to day to pop to the shops and do a school run, yet still go for a week away in the far reaches of Unreachistan. It’s compact enough to go under the radar when exploring single-track roads and not disrespect the white lines of the supermarket car park, yet spacious enough to support human life.

The next generation, the T7, is sure to take those traits and bring them even further into the future. At the moment it’s hard to hear much from VW itself (just watch, the day this goes live, VW will probably launch a T7…) but plenty of talented designers have had a stab at guessing the style of the next icon, like this T1 Revival from David Obendorfer.

In terms of size and space, the formula works now – so don’t expect T7 to be any greedier with its personal space than the T6. Safety for pedestrians and occupants will be a way to step up so expect more crash and impact protection, more autonomy and sophisticated driver aids.

In terms of powertrain it’d be prudent to look to alternative fuels soonish, and expect the T7 to embrace hybrid power. VW created a ‘Buzz’ with their electric van called, er, I.D BUZZ, and the Bulli and Budd-e concepts, but range anxiety for those attempting to explore the depths of what the world has to offer would probably appreciate a petrol engine – there aren’t many fast charging docks available in the third world – and although diesel probably makes sense it would be bold of VW to make it the only option and cower from the backlash as everyone reminds them of their emission issues of the past few years.

Having said all that, it’ll probably be the practicality and looks that get it off the forecourt. Practicality is almost a given – layouts have been well-established since the first camper was proposed in the late ‘40s. The looks, however, are a tricky one. The T7 has to look super cool and yet not alienate purists. This blend of retro style with modern application, thankfully, works very well. VW did it first with the front-engined Beetle in the late ‘90s, and sold bugloads of them. BMW soon jumped on that bandwagon with the MINI, and Fiat whipped up a 500, and the young drivers of Europe practically sold limbs and organs to get them.

Great designs are already popping up from speculators with great graphic designs skills, VW look like they will end up with a sales hit in the T7 unless they somehow manage to cock it up.

How bold will VW go? The T7 could be the most iconic of them all, or it could be the generation that nobody likes to talk about in a few decades’ time.

You know those houses that seem to go on forever and ever, and you always find a different cool feature in every room. Well the Conqueror Overland Adventure Trailer series are all just like that, only they’re portable, and built like a tank.

Checking Out The Conqueror Overland Adventure Trailer

This thing has everything, and I mean everything. Like a big kitchen? You got it! Like an outdoor wine holder too? Don’t worry, you’ve got it! The Conqueror Overland Adventure Trailer series has everything you could possibly need to enjoy an adventure in luxury and more besides.

Conqueror off-road Camping trailers have been safari and outback tested for over 25 years in the harsh and unforgiving environments of Africa and Australia, so we already know that they’re rugged and can withstand anything that you’re likely to put them through.

Unlike some of the more rustic trailers that we’ve looked at, there’s no wood in this build whatsoever. Conqueror don’t want their builds to get damp and then rot, so the main construction of the chassis is CNC cut and bent 3 mm steel.  Other critical strength parts are made of thicker material and laser cut for precision fitting.

Remember how the Vintage Overland Trailer didn’t have room for a kitchen sink? Well this beast has room for two, plus a pull out hob, plenty of food prep space, and an outdoor toilet and shower area further round the back.

The inside living area is pretty nice too. There’s a double bed up in the pop top sleeping area, and a TV for those that like to really feel at home on the road. The interior definitely gives off that military inspired vibe, which I guess isn’t going to be everybody’s cup of tea..

I Have The Power!

Your not going to be without juice in the Conqueror Overland Adventure Trailer. It features a Neutron 12 Intelligent Power Management system with Smart Phone apps-110v (which has gotta be good, right?) There’s 3 LED lights fitted inside, 2 Hella Plugs, 2 battery boxes with circuit breakers for extra safety, and an Anderson plug with 16mm wire connected to batteries for vehicle or solar charging.

The trailer holds a 130l water tank too, which is plenty for cooking and showering on the road.

Final thoughts…

You can park the Conqueror Overland Adventure Trailer anywhere and everything is ready to roll. It’s easy to operate and set up, but it would be a little but inconvenient in wet and windy weather. It’s ok saying it’s been tried and tested in Africa and Australia, i.e two hot countries, but I’d like to see this do a stint in the Lake District in the middle of Winter to see how it holds up.

The whole build is outdoors orientated; it prompts you to cook outdoors, to shower outdoors, and basically spend a lot of your time using the exterior features. If you like sitting on the pull out bed by the coal fire then this probably isn’t for you. But if you’re already in the market for an adventure trailer than you can’t go wrong with the Optimus Prime of all off road vehicles.

When you think “Camper Van”, you probably don’t think of Fiat right? Well that could be about to change. Early this year Fiat announced this incredible masterpiece, the Fiat Ducato, a 4X4 Exhibition camper van built for the mountains and crafted for the true adventurers out there.

Fiat teamed collaborated with 4×4 specialist Automobiles Dangel, body customizer Olmedo Special Vehicles, and interior specialist Technoform. This beast features a custom LED light bar, a front winch, new oversized wheels, crazy storage space and a solar panel on top for all you gadget junkies.

Inside is where it gets real fancy, you have a custom built modern dining area, a kitchen with a stainless steel sink and glass top stove, a FULL SIZED bed which features a television for those netflix and chill kind of nights. And our favourite and certainly under appreciated feature is the four seater dining room, with leather and spinning seats! It has enough space for you and 3 friends to eat and prepare food, plus it’s a great place to get your work done too!

The Ducato hides a 2.3L MultiJet-2 I-4 diesel engine which contains 150hp with its combined four-wheel drive, which will help you tackle those rough roads while you venture your heart away. We’re in love! 😍