Spotlight on… Globecar

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When did Globecar start out?

“Peter Pössl founded the company in 1989, designing panel van conversions under his own brand name ‘Pössl’. Peter retired in 2002. Later in 2004, sister brand ‘Globecar’ was created within the Pössl Group. Globecar campers are built in Germany for the UK market.”

What sets you apart from the crowd?

“Quality, functionality and style all play equal parts. Globecar/Pössl claims to be the market leader in Europe for the panel van sector, and for good reason. Our campers are built to last and are designed for enjoyment.”

How would you sum up Globecar’s ethos and values?

“‘Das original’ and ‘Handmade in Germany’ continue to be the company’s headers in Europe, and both statements reflect the brand and product. The Germans are, of course, renowned for sound, robust build quality and that’s what you get with Globecar – a campervan that’s designed to withstand anything you throw at it.”

What do you think makes a great campervan conversion?

“Personally, I always subscribe to the ‘good night’s sleep’ club! A great bed makes the difference between a good holiday and a great holiday experience. With a Globecar, not only do you get a choice of a transverse or lengthways double bed, or twin singles, but you can rest assured that the best technology goes into the construction, to ensure a sound night’s sleep.”

What kinds of bespoke options do you offer?

“For the UK market we generally pre-order the vehicles from Germany with a high specification, as this is an expectation for our market. That means you get things like base vehicle and habitation comfort and style packs as standard. Habitation options such as an additional bed in the lounge or alternative fridges are also available. Some customers require very specific needs for the base vehicle and these require a longer lead time.”

What’s your best seller?

“This season, it’s been the Roadscout. It’s always popular, being an agile 5.4m-long vehicle. In addition, the Summit 640 Prime has sold out very quickly, too. This is our range-topping model so it offers the ‘wow’ factor. Overall, all the models have performed well this season and we’ve seen a particular swing towards automatic gearboxes, which is a continued trend.”

Have you got any exciting new developments in the pipeline?

“The 2021 season will see an all-new ‘Elegance’ product joining the D Line range, so watch this space! The announcement of an extended production line and new factory premises will also follow…”

What advice would you give to someone thinking about buying a campervan? 

“There are three basics to get right: sleep/eat/sit (including seatbelts). If a vehicle satisfies all these as a minimum criterion then you will have a great camping experience. So, when you’re looking at campervans, be sure to check beds are long enough and comfortable, and that you can get in and out with ease. Think about mealtimes and check that there’s enough space for you all to be able to dine together, and that you can also relax in comfort afterwards, too.” 

What’s the most unusual question you’ve ever been asked by a customer?

“Too many… some not suitable for publishing purposes… A particularly memorable one was whether I thought it was legal to let a parrot fly around in the vehicle while driving!”

What’s the best campervan trip you’ve personally undertaken and where did you go?

“A hugely successful fishing week with my son in Lincolnshire! But my favourite driving route is a tricky one to answer without mentioning Scotland’s many highlights, and also north to south Wales is fabulous via Snowdonia National Park then following the coastline all the way to St Davids.”

The Globecar range…

D Line

Price: £43,995

This model range is eight-strong and is available on either the Fiat Ducato or Peugeot Boxer chassis, offering a selection of colours, lengths and engine sizes (note that an automatic gearbox is available on Fiat).

All models offer four belted travel seats and two berths (a third bed is optionally available, made up from the dinette seats, and a second double bunk bed can be specified in the Campscout Revolution), with a choice of twin single beds or a transverse or lengthways double at the rear.

Washrooms are a particular highlight of Globecar campers and there’s a choice of compact side washroom cubicles, centrally located shower trays and separate shower/toilet cubicles.

Other key features of the D Line range include Truma Combi 4 space and water heating, a variety of fridge/freezers, two-burner hob with piezo ignition, underfloor storage, insect screens, softlock closing sliding door, a rising roof on some models and a selection of traditional interior décor choices.

Summit

Price from: £43,995

Like the D Lines, the Summit range is also available on either a Peugeot or Fiat base. There are three models in the line-up, called the 540, 600 and 640, which refers to the vehicle length (5.40m, 6m and 6.40m). Bed choices are a transverse double or twin singles and washrooms are, again, a standout feature.

Where the Summit differs is in the detail, as the interior styling and décor is aimed at a younger market. Rear seats also come with Isofix and an optional rear seat extension to provide three seatbelts here instead of two (giving a total of five travel seats). 

What’s more, all three Summit models are also available in Prime specification. These sit at the top of the Globecar campervan tree and offer the ultimate in luxury. Besides everything you get on the regular Summits, the Prime versions benefit from a huge SkyRoof sunroof over the cab, which opens and features a Dometic insect screen and blind.

The Prime also gets some very fancy LED lighting throughout, as well as a fridge with a double-hinged door, so beers can easily be grabbed from both inside and outside the camper.

Contacts

Globecar is represented by four dealers in the UK. These are Southwest Motorhomes (Illminster), Highbridge (Devon and Somerset branches), SMC Motorhomes (Newark), and Highland Campervans (Inverness) for Scotland.

Website: globecar.co.uk