Riviera

Discussion in 'Camper Conversions' started by Joker, Nov 3, 2011.

  1. The story behind ASI Riviera is one about the small guy sticking it to 'the man'

    Riviera Motors were based in Beaverton, Oregon just 5 miles from Portland. (Portland being the destination port for most Volkswagens into the USA)

    Automotive Services Inc (ASI) was just 15 miles away - ASI were contracted by Riviera to build a camper conversion, because...

    VW could not keep up with the massive demand for the Westfalia in the USA market. Not wanting to see sales suffer they imposed quite a draconian (but all too common) term on the importers - to get 10 Westfalias you also have to take 10 panel vans or micro buses. As these lesser models were harder to shift on Riviera decided to build their own camper in response, a near direct rip off of the Westfalia. They then imposed the same terms onto the dealerships downstream of them - for every 10 Westfalias you take you have to take 5 Riviera campers. (not sure about the actual number imposed, i've just added that to provide an example)

    Thus the ASI/Riviera Camper was born. In the 1960's these were either panel vans or microbuses,

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    In the 70's they took microbuses only which had all the correct seat belt mounts and factory window apertures.

    Owning a Westy myself and currently having two Riviera vans in my possession I can attest to the superb craftmanship and practicality of the Riviera campers. Dare I say the Riviera actually trumps the Westfalia in a few ways, particularly in the roof bed stakes. At the least they are on a par in terms of build quality.

    1976

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    If you have a genuine Riviera camper layout yourself please feel free to add photographs to this thread
    :)
     

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