Sprite Alpine 2 caravan 2012 model lends its looks from the new Swift and Eccles models.

The Sprite caravan brand is nearly 65 years old and in that time it has provided affordable caravanning holidays.

It’s had a turbulent history mixed in with some halcyon times when Sprites simply sold the world over.

The Swift Group who produce the Sprite nowadays have realised that the brand has a loyal following and a heritage as long as your arm.

The Sprite brand is being developed further and 2012 looks set to further its success.

I went a few days ago to see the first Sprite Alpine 2 caravan prototype being built (- yes the caravan was missing its rear end one-piece back panel).

So what is the Sprite like? Does it offer a stylish tourer that retains a “value for money” status?

For a web exclusive, why not check out my “first impressions review” of the new Sprite Alpine 2 caravan 2012 model which goes on sale from late October (and will be on show at the Motorhome and Caravan Show at the forthcoming  Birmingham NEC, 11th – 16th October). CLICK HERE

Campervan windscreen wiper trouble on our return from the Edinburgh Festival.

And so the last instalment of our madcap adventure to Edinburgh Festival and back in five days was coming to a close.

We were all feeling a bit tearful because of this but also because it was 7 in the morning which is always an emotional time.

We thought by getting up at this time we would beat the rush hour traffic back to Brighton. – Oh how very wrong we were…

You don't have to have 4x4 to tow. This mini and Sprite 400 caravan was deemed perfectly fine in 1960!

Going back over 40 years I remember my dad buying his first caravan, we were all excited at the prospect but one dark cloud hovered on the horizon. That was actually towing the thing! Not only the towing but attaching it to the car too – would it stay on?

Dad had always fancied caravanning back in the early 1960s when his parents offered him their then new 1963 Sprite Musketeer. However, dad who was a bit of a car fanatic, thought it a little un-cool and was basically frightened at the thought of attaching a caravan onto our family car.

Parking my campervan, Gene, in a very small space.

So we headed off in the direction of Yorkshire for a half way stop over at Heather’s friend Kate’s house. With the prospect of wine and pizza waiting for us we drove speedily through the evening traffic and arrived five hours later.

Gene (my campervan) and I were flagging and I was looking forward to collapsing in a heap. Fortunately Gene didn’t feel quite so exhausted and managed to struggle on bravely until we arrived.

Then the hard bit started – trying to manoeuvre Gene into a tiny space no bigger than an A4 piece of paper.