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Double anniversary Jayco-VW camper
Australia’s leading RV manufacturer, Jayco, released a 50th Anniversary Volkswagen camper van, based on the 2025 Crafter van. Its release also coincided with the 75th Anniversary of the birth of Type 2 VW ‘Kombi’ van.
The 2025 Jayco JRV-X campervan celebrated the company’s 50 years of Australian RV manufacturing and fused retro charm with modern innovation. With a two-tone blue and white exterior that was reminiscent of the iconic VW vans of the 1950s-70s and a contemporary Oxford Blue and Natural Oak interior, the JRV-X combined nostalgia with a fresh, modern edge.
Inside, the campervan was designed with both style and practicality in mind. A two-burner cooktop, air-conditioning, 152-litre compressor fridge, microwave, hot water system, 24-inch TV/DVD combo with sound-bar, 300Ah lithium battery, 200W solar panel, 105L fresh water tank and 65L grey water tank meant that this 2025 Jayco represented a far cry from the ‘comforts’ of yesteryear.
Also, its dynamics were vastly different: all-wheel drive, traction and stability control, anti-lock brakes, cruise control, 130kW/410Nm diesel and an eight-speed automatic transmission delivered greatly improved performance over that of the 22kW split-screen original Kombi. Features that included a blind spot monitor, front and rear park assist and a rear-view camera weren’t even thought of back in 1950.
HV’s Kombi history
Historic Vehicles’ Allan Whiting has travelled around Europe on two separate occasions – in VW campervans, of course.
We’ve recounted some his experiences in this linked story in our Car Features section.
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