Let’s be honest, among car enthusiasts, towing a caravan has hardly got the best of images. Here in Denmark, it’s often put in the same category as driving a tired old Opel. But stop and have a look here, just how inviting camping life can be.
Or at least it could be back in the seventies if we are to believe this brochure from Komfort. I too was raised in a camping-family during the seventies, yet I don’t recall having ever encountered a Komfort quite like this one – let alone a Komfort with such two lady inhabitants quite so keen on displaying the many advantages of the Komfort; and their own for that matter.
Of course, me never encountering such a Komfort might have something to do with the manufacturer – despite their very European-sounding name, Dutchman – being American. I don’t suppose many would have travelled quite that far with their caravan – not even the Americans. To be honest, with those two lovely ladies in mind, I’m not too sure I would have been doing much driving at all. Rarely have I seen any other brochure portraying nearly as suggestive undertones to the easily influenced consumer.
Apropos tones, that’s another aspect of the seventies which I truly value: the tones and the scale of colours used in the Komfort are virtually the very definition of the seventies. Of course, as always there’s a little bit of that depth to the velvet and skin colour which has been lost in translation as those Kodachrome slides were digitalised. Even so, you can still sense the rich and warm seventies colours.
There’s naturally no denying that the two ladies have lead roles in the brochure – even more so than does the caravan itself. They’re perfectly casted as well with a blonde and a brunette. And please don’t start the monotone 21stcentury equal-rights speech: It’s clear to see that the brunette is responsible for the caravan’s gas cylinders; a highly important role which could potentially be a matter of life or death. But I have faith in her. I’m sure she will manage perfectly well. Just like the brochure clearly demonstrates all the other pleasantries of seventies camping life which the two ladies have at their disposal. They can bake you a fresh loaf of bread if the local bakery isn’t up to standards – and it’ll be done wearing a disco dress which even ABBA would have been proud of. Or how about set dinner in your Komfort with local red vine which has been suitably decanted? There are also full shower facilities to be enjoyed with lipgloss, mascara and hairdo all in place. Then there’s that comfortable sofa and the vast bed… for dessert. I imagine the neighbours might complain about the noise next morning.
Let them complain all they want. I certainly have nothing to complain about, as thisis the camping life I want. Back home in the US of A, the Komfort would probably have been towed by a full-size Buick, but here in Europe I would probably strap it to the back of a ’67 Opel Diplomat Coupé. Then I would set out to explore holiday life together with my wife and the secretary. After that, I might require a quiet holiday on my own…
