A Volvo Moment: Asleep behind the wheel
 

In the 1950s, it was a selling point if a car was convertible for sleeping purposes, and this advantage would be highlighted in advertising. Hotel rooms were expensive, and if a business traveller or a family on holiday could sleep in their car they could make big savings. ‘The PV544 is just as comfortable to sleep in as it is to drive,’ said a Swedish advertising film from 1958 - to name but one example.

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And here I thought the Austin Maxi was the first to advertise this....

I remember many moons ago, when in the RAF, I had a Morris 1000 Traveller, and, doing a favour for a mate, agreeing to hand his bedding in for him as he'd had an early start on leave, I had this pile of bedding in the back of the car. When I picked up my girlfriend later in the day, I had quite a bit of explaining to do - those days were not as 'relaxed and free' as in later years!

Ithink your both right. i might be wrong, someone will put me right.
was one of the top volvo guys an ex british motor com, (b.m.c). designer.
or the other way around.

I want one of those blankets .:lightbulb:

Sleeping in a 2 doors coupé. Priceless

Well I never knew that!

One of the reasons I love my 940 is that you can fit a single orthopaedic mattress in the estate with the back seats down (tin tent) and take very cheap holidays, no need for tents! Stay at a campsite (park in the shade for sleeping) if you need shower facilities and off you go in the morning, no tent to put up or take down! No doubt you can fit a whole single mattress in the back of a 200 or 700 estate as well!

No room for that in my V40!

one pillow for two people? mmmmh

and yes, I want a few of this blankets tooooooooooooooo

thank you Bob

regards, Kay

In the 1950's and '60's Harold Radford Coachbuilders of Hammersmith specialised in conversions on Rolls-Royce and Bentley cars. They basically took a saloon and made it into a hatchback or estate and fitted all manner of special fitments. The rear seats were specially designed for conversion to a double bed. They also fitted washbasins and gentlemen's grooming accoutrements, spirit flasks and cut crystal glasses, smoking accessories,writing instruments and pads, picnic table and stools that folded away in the boot and fishing rod cases under the sills alongside the chassis. Fitted gun cases could be ordered from a list of over 40 accessories that any self respecting sporting gentleman could wish for or possibly need.

Everything was of course to the highest quality and all fitted into specially designed cases that fitted under the seats and in the door panels, in fact anywhere there was room to fit anything in. By the mid sixties they were carrying out Radford conversions on the original Mini and possibly some other BMC models.