The multi-functional caravan from the USA.

OK, folks. You read it here first, but there are some interesting new caravan ideas coming to the UK at the start of next year. And there’s a clue in the current relative weakness of the US dollar versus the good old pound sterling.

First off, check out the name Eterniti, it’s on a range of all-new caravans with slide-out sections. They’re from America but built on chassis from BPW in Germany, using a GRP shell constructed in the US, and promising full UK specifications and reasonable weights. They’re expected to retail around the £20,000-£25,000 mark. Definitely one to keep an eye out for.

Next up is a concept so new it doesn’t actually have a brand name yet. It’s being made under the working title of the “multi-functional caravan”, using a special box-construction chassis and frame, again from the USA.

Calm before the storm at Birmingham's NEC, which proved a big success last week.

I hope you enjoyed my blogs from the Motorhome and Caravan Show at Birmingham’s NEC last week, with plenty of news on the very latest caravans and motorhomes. The show itself can be counted as a success, with record numbers of folk visiting and manufacturers almost unanimous in pointing to sales that were “above expectations”.

The only disappointment was hearing that the dealer group Discover Leisure had finally faltered and fallen into the hands of administrators during the course of the show itself.

"Say it with flowers" from this Lynton Scimitar classic caravan in Cheltenham

On a recent trip out to Cheltenham, I came across a flower seller by the road, using a 1979 Lynton Scimitar as his little shop. I managed to take a quick picture (and get a bunch of flowers for Mrs J). Apparently the owner had several people take a picture of his Lynton flower shop caravan!

Being a caravan historian I am always keeping an eye out for any vintage caravans.