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Identifying 1989 BF van camper

Posted: Fri Apr 23, 2021 9:42 pm
by orangeisnon
Hi all, I recently bought this old Born Free camper without knowing much about it. It didn't come with any manuals and I can't find a model printed anywhere on the body. I've attached a photo. It isn't so much an RV as it is a van with the top half of the body cut off and a fiberglass top screwed on. Perfect size for me.
I've seen the manuals and sales papers that say "1989 - all models", but this one isn't listed in there. Even searching google I've only been able to find pictures of one other one, that one had been converted to 4WD (not mine though) and was sold, so no chance of getting more info from them.
The body has the BF logo printed several times, as well as the custom dashboard inlay, so I'm confident it is a real BF. Just not sure what it is called or if any documentation still exists?

Re: Identifying 1989 BF van camper

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 11:29 am
by orangeisnon
Almost 3 years later I still have no information on this thing. Well, kinda.
I'm going to attach the photo I found on the wayback machine of the same body style, but 4wd converted. I think that was a 1990, mine is an 89.
I also found a plaque on the body of mine stating it is a model BF19MPV, serial number 4006. If that means anything to anyone, please feel free to chime in!

Re: Identifying 1989 BF van camper

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 1:26 pm
by bfadmin
It sounds like you have a Military Police Vehicle (MPV).

There is a series of links to webpages under the Know Your Coach button on the club's homepage that might help you:
https://bornfreervclub.org/

The Identify Your Coach page, https://bornfreervclub.org/Coach_ID_Plaque_20231210.html, shows several examples of the ID plaques on the back wall of the coach. This plaque gives the "official" factory designation of the coach. You've found your plaque, which is a big help. (If you send me a picture of yours, I'll add it to our collection.)

The Field Guide to Born Free Motorcoaches is an index page to pictures of many of the different models Born Free made. There's a link to another MPV:
https://bornfreervclub.org/Field_Guide/MPV_FG_20231210.html

Unfortunately, we don't have any other documentation for this model.

Good luck in your search for more information.

Re: Identifying 1989 BF van camper

Posted: Sat Jan 27, 2024 2:00 pm
by orangeisnon
Military Police Vehicle?? That's wild!
I will definitely get you a photo of the plaque when I get home. I'll add some more photos as well. She's not the cleanest right now and unfortunately the interior had been gutted by a previous owner, but it's such a nice little platform for someone used to the bare minimum (tent camping) and I wish there were more like it. I think the popularity of Sprinter campers in the modern day is a testament to that.

Re: Identifying 1989 BF van camper

Posted: Mon Jan 29, 2024 9:27 pm
by orangeisnon
Attached two photos of the tag. Hopefully they're clear enough!