[{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BlogPosting","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jamie-olivers-samba-split-screen-campervan-up-for-sale\/#BlogPosting","mainEntityOfPage":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jamie-olivers-samba-split-screen-campervan-up-for-sale\/","headline":"Jamie Oliver’s Samba Split Screen Campervan up for Sale","name":"Jamie Oliver’s Samba Split Screen Campervan up for Sale","description":"In the early days of Jamie Oliver\u2019s ground breaking TV cooking series, The Naked Chef, we got to see a street-wise Essex boy leading the sort of life that any would-be cook could only dream of; opening a window and pinching perfectly manicured herbs, collecting fresh meat from the local friendly butcher after winding his way through the streets on his scooter to cook for his lively family on a lovely abode. Of course, life isn\u2019t that perfect, but to […]","datePublished":"2017-06-23","dateModified":"2017-06-26","author":{"@type":"Person","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/#Person","name":"Isabelle Lawrence","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/author\/isabelle-lawrence\/","identifier":30,"description":"Max Wheeler is a leading motoring journalist and classic car specialist at Smart Motoring, renowned for his sharp insight and infectious passion for all things automotive. With years of experience covering motoring news, supercars, and the enduring legacy of classic cars, Max brings stories to life with style and authority. Whether it\u2019s the roar of a Lamborghini, the elegance of an Aston Martin DB5, or the cultural impact of vintage motoring icons, he delivers expert commentary that inspires enthusiasts and collectors alike. Dedicated to celebrating the heritage and future of driving, Max Wheeler is your trusted voice for classic car news and beyond.","image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","url":"https:\/\/secure.gravatar.com\/avatar\/8d331506e3c530b5ec4930c30a01ed8cc29b0537227573ae5da98f559e681401?s=96&d=mm&r=g","height":96,"width":96}},"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Smart Motoring","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2024\/10\/smart-motoring_news_logo_g-e1765846726493.webp","width":600,"height":60}},"image":{"@type":"ImageObject","@id":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Jamie-Olivers-campervan-feature.jpg","url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/06\/Jamie-Olivers-campervan-feature.jpg","height":520,"width":1200},"url":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jamie-olivers-samba-split-screen-campervan-up-for-sale\/","about":["BLOG","CLASSIC CARS","TUNED\/MODIFIED CARS"],"wordCount":519,"keywords":["Jamie Oliver","volkswagen","VW campervan","vw samba"],"articleBody":"In the early days of Jamie Oliver\u2019s ground breaking TV cooking series, The Naked Chef, we got to see a street-wise Essex boy leading the sort of life that any would-be cook could only dream of; opening a window and pinching perfectly manicured herbs, collecting fresh meat from the local friendly butcher after winding his way through the streets on his scooter to cook for his lively family on a lovely abode.Of course, life isn\u2019t that perfect, but to his credit Jamie Oliver did actually own and use the scooter (he recently found his original scooter on eBay and re-bought it for \u00a31,800 \u2013 no-one can recognise him under a helmet he says) and he did later have a beautiful VW 23-window Samba campervan.That right-hand drive 1959 split screen 23-window Samba is currently up for sale once more on eBay for a cool \u00a3165,000. The camper underwent a full restoration between 1992 and 1997, a couple of years before The Naked Chef began its three series, 2 and a half year run.Matt Keene at Airkraft in Cornwall carried out the restoration, and the van was subsequently bought by Oliver in 2000. Thanks to the proceeds of a highly successful TV series no doubt, Jamie Oliver was able to carry out some further desirable customisation on the sunroof deluxe camper to further enhance its comfort and worth.An \u00a38,500 aural upgrade had the Samba kitted out with a couple of roof mounted TV monitors, plus a Sony PlayStation and DVD player along with the more conventional sound and visual upgrades of CD changer and speaker set up and sat nav.The famous coach trimmer Bernard Newbury trimmed the interior in 2002 at his humble abode in Leigh-on-Sea (I\u2019ve been to see Bernard in his workshop before when I owned my Beetle and a nicer man you couldn\u2019t wish to meet; no job is too big or small), while the stock engine was replaced with an air-cooled Porsche 914 2.4 litre – not an uncommon upgrade for those that can afford it. What must have been nice in the summers though was a bespoke Porsche cooling fan setup.The campervan appeared in the 6-part Channel 4 TV series, Jamie\u2019s Great Italian Escape in 2005, where it featured heavily along with a matching cooking trailer. You might remember it more recently featuring in a fun moment in Top Gear where the Stig put the Samba through its paces while a terrified looking Jamie attempted to knock up a salad in the back \u2013 take a look at the video courtesy of Bernard Newbury\/Top Gear. If anything might convince you that this 23-window has been restored to a very high standard, this video snippet might \u2013 I\u2019ve been in campervans before where a simple right-hand turn proved a tough decision for the body to make as to whether to stay on the chassis or not\u2026Yes it\u2019s a steep price, but it comes with all paperwork (which is rare in itself), and in today\u2019s inflated campervan market I can honestly say that I think it just might be worth every penny \u2013 and Jamie has signed the dash too."},{"@context":"https:\/\/schema.org\/","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"name":"Blog","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/#breadcrumbitem"},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"name":"Jamie Oliver’s Samba Split Screen Campervan up for Sale","item":"https:\/\/smart-motoring.com\/blog\/jamie-olivers-samba-split-screen-campervan-up-for-sale\/#breadcrumbitem"}]}]