40 years of CS-Reisemobile - a vehicle history

Back in the 1970s , Claus and Susanne set off to discover faraway countries in used vans they had converted themselves. At the time, their main vacation destination was Turkey. After each trip, the design of the respective vehicle was critically optimized. It turned out that the vehicles were easy to market after use.

At that time, however, the focus was on the conversion of used base vehicles. The main focus was on the VW Bully, but also the VW LT and the Mercedes 207D. However, the demand for new vehicles also increased. In 1990, the VW T4 took over from the Bully and was not particularly popular at first.

At the time, CS focused more on the Ford Transit, which was modern at the time. Demand increasingly developed in the direction of larger vehicles with a wet cell.

The then new Peugeot Boxer, offered by CS as the Korfu, was also popular.

The appearance of the Sprinter at Mercedes was almost a “revolution”. This replaced the ageing T1 (207D) in 1995. The Sprinter could do everything better than the competition and was fast on the road with its original 122 hp. The typical concept of the time with a dinette seating area - convertible into a bed - and a pull-out roof bed, which was available at the time in the Ford Transit (Samos) and the Peugeot Boxer (Korfu), was transferred to the Sprinter.

This model (Korsika) was initially very successful, but was squeezed in the next few years by the increasing demand for 2-person vehicles. The Duo model with the bunk beds arranged lengthways was very popular. This polarizing variant still exists today in a modified version. The Corona was presented in 1999 and had a unique selling point even then thanks to its large separate shower.

The Amigo was a very special model at the time. A Sprinter - only 4.99 m short - with a sanitary room and a spacious roof bed was very popular. Around the year 2000, the Cosmo and the Rondo completed the CS range

This was now based entirely on the Sprinter. Vehicles on the long wheelbase followed. The Rondo XL and the Luxor. Initially, these longer vehicles only played a subordinate role, but this changed with the increasing popularity of lengthways beds. The appearance of the next generation of the Sprinter was a major step forward. The internally named 906 variant grew in width and length and was fitted with the popular 6-cylinder engine as an option.

The current variant - the 907 - is still very closely related to the 906 in many respects. The continuous model updates in terms of engine, transmission and drive versions keep the vehicle fresh. This is reflected in its popularity on the market. Not least due to the wide range of equipment options, unique selling points are created time and again.

At CS, the proportion of all-wheel drive vehicles has continued to increase over the last few decades. In recent years, this has remained fairly constant at around 90%.

In many respects, CS has long cultivated a conservative philosophy geared towards outstanding quality. This is confirmed time and time again by customers who drive their four-wheel drive vehicles around the world. If you look at how many older vehicles still appear on the market and the prices at which they are traded, this is a nice confirmation of our philosophy. The next - currently active - generation will continue to adhere to this philosophy.