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completed the self-enclosed camper. It seems you could even purchase
special teapots, cups, saucers, even cutlery unique to the
Dormobile. If you can visualize an old VW Camper, then you have the
outline in your mind of a Dormobile.
This particular Dormobile was built for a Mr. Peck, an
eccentric Canadian who believed that nuclear annihilation was
inevitable. To survive the end of the world as he knew it, he bought
many acres and constructed a compound in the wilds of British
Columbia. There he installed a hydroelectric generator to assure
power and purchased the Dormobile for survival transportation.
The 2.6 six-cylinder engine was the largest Rover would install in the
Land Rover at the time; while it had great torque and extra
horsepower over the 2.25 liter four-cylinder, its pre-war design
rendered it a poor choice for long-term, full throttle running.
Nevertheless, it would propel the Rover effectively. To further bolster
the vehicle, Peck also ordered the stronger ENV axles front and rear.
As a custom feature, this Dormobile includes a wine rack and extra
cabinetry in lieu of some seating. There were also brackets installed
so the folding table could be used, under an awning, outdoors in
nice weather.
When the world avoided nuclear warfare, Peck decided to
travel the world in his Dormobile. As was the custom of world
travelers in the ‘60’s, he painted the name of each nation he visited:
England, Scotland, Switzerland, Wales, France, Italy, Yugoslavia,
Greece, Turkey, Germany, Austria, Syria, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon,
Egypt, and Saudi Arabia. You can still see the faded outline of Arabic
script on the roof that loosely translates into “We’re your friends.”
One can only assumed it worked as Peck returned with his
Dormobile to Canada. He remained in British Columbia until his
death in 1991.
The Dormobile then wound up as an expedition vehicle for
Green Road Wilderness Expeditions. Ray Wood’s company would
take sportsmen and adventurers deep into the forests of British
Columbia, and the Dormobile proved a useful addition to his
fleet of 109”s.
Within a year, Mike continued, he had seen the Dormobile
advertised in Hemmings Motor News. With my uncle Richard
(who also owns a Dormobile) he flew up to Vancouver, BC, intent on
purchasing the car. Showing all the usual caution of a Land Rover
enthusiast Mike purchased it on the spot. In the GRWE shop, Mike
installed new brakes and a set of new springs to ready it for
the trip home.
Without hesitation Mike and Richard now set out on the 2,000
mile trip to Louisiana. There was some puzzlement at the Canadian
border as the officials tried to determine why two Americans were
driving a car with Canadian license plates, full of spare parts
and luggage, out of their country. After some delicate negotiations,
they were allowed to leave Canada and proceed on the week-long
trip to Baton Rouge.
Mike recounted many trips in the Dormobile - including his
honeymoon. When the unique fuel pump failed, Mike searched high
and low for an exact replacement. “I wanted to keep it original,”
he noted, “and not use a replacement pump.” As family
responsibilities piled up, Mike accepted Richard’s offer to store this
Dormobile right next to Richard’s ’65 Dormobile in Mississippi.
After Mike’s tale, we looked at the Dormobile with a newfound
respect. We pulled the car out from under a lean-to, feeling the yank
of a stuck front wheel. Pulling the car forward did not free the brake
but a tug on the rear of the car released the shoes on the drum. We
put the Dormobile on a trailer and brought it back to Mississippi.
We’re moving forward gently with the car. Turning the engine
with a crank demonstrates its not stuck, even though it has not been
run in many years. We’ll sort out the brakes and hydraulics, check
the fuel system, change out all the fluids, and have her running in no
time. Right now, the two Dormobiles are undoubtedly telling stories
with each other and sharing their tales of travel with the MGB-GT,
Triumph TR-4A and motorcycles housed in the same shed. Then it
will be ready for new adventures, and probably, more tall tales.
P
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