From ruin to radiance: how Susanna’s run-down caravan became the apple of her eye

Susanna Virtanen knew right away what she wanted. She had been dreaming of owning a caravan for quite some time and had admired them at car shows. She was especially enchanted by the SMV, an egg-shaped caravan model, whose taillights and rounded shapes captivated her with their uniqueness.

When Susanna saw an advertisement for an old caravan on an online marketplace, she immediately seized the opportunity and wrote a message to the seller: “Hey, you have my caravan for sale, please don’t let anyone else have it!”

Before this moment, Susanna had missed out on many similar caravans. Fortunately for her, the seller was moved by her message and decided to sell the caravan to her.

“When I sent the message, I was sure this gem would slip through my fingers too. But it didn’t,” says Susanna, who then happily brought Laila home.

Helmi the water dog loves life in the caravan. The house rules are a bit more relaxed there: in this special place, she is allowed to rest on the bed.

Small details create a fun atmosphere inside the caravan.

In the summer, the caravan is also used for overnight stays.

The Swedish company Sörby Mekaniska Verkstad began manufacturing caravans at their factory in the 1940s. It’s said that it all started as a compromise between owner Helmer Berglund and his wife Elin, who had differing wishes.

“It’s quite amusing that the idea for the caravan is said to be the result of bickering between the factory owner and his wife. It combined Helmer’s dream of traveling with his wife’s wish for a cottage. After all, a caravan is a cottage on wheels,” Susanna explains.

The egg-shaped caravan, named Laila, is an SMV 14 model, which was made as a mirror image of its predecessor. It’s believed that the model change was due to Sweden adopting right-hand traffic around that time.

The caravan stays outside only during the summer and moves into the barn for winter storage when the autumn rains start approaching. Laila was manufactured in 1969.

This Beetle, named Ulpu, is Laila’s companion. Ulpu doesn’t have a tow hook and couldn’t pull the caravan anyway. Susanna uses another car for trips.

When it arrived at its current home, the caravan had already seen a lot. The old, dented lady was clad in blue and white hues. It was registered but uninspected.

“The caravan was literally completely rotten. That’s often the case before restoration with caravans of this age,” Susanna says.

Due to its rotten frame, the caravan barely survived the journey from Rauma to Loimaa. The previous owners had enthusiastically had new cushions made for the sofas but only then realized the amount of work left and stopped the project there.

The restoration began by dismantling the rotten and broken parts. The only thing that remained after that was the aluminum shell, whose frame was patched and resealed. The outer shell had been attached to the frame with aluminum nails, which Susanna dug out one by one and replaced with screws. The surface was made watertight with new seals.

The family enjoys cottage life with Laila the caravan in their own garden. They don’t care for camping sites, but they do take Laila on trips to Lake Pyhäjärvi in Yläne.

This old cooler is from the same wild 60s as Laila. Susanna is on the lookout for a small, period-approriate fridge.

Helmi the water dog enjoys the caravan too.

During the renovation of the exterior, Susanna sanded down the old paint and repainted the caravan with a mohair roller. One window was also replaced.

She built a completely new frame inside the caravan and added insulation. She also paneled the interior with birch plywood.

“It was a really challenging renovation, mainly because of those charming, round shapes. The restoration took years. I almost threw in the towel at times,” Susanna says.

“This wreck of a caravan cost only a thousand euros, but a lot of money gone into its restoration. I haven’t even counted the hours of work.”

The passengers can draw artworks and messages on the wall with chalk.

The interior of the caravan was paneled with birch plywood.

The record player also fits the atmosphere of the 60s caravan.

The caravan doesn’t have a separate heater. Wool socks and warm blankets are part of the standard equipment, as Finnish summers are always cool.

Laila is more than just a caravan to her owner.

“She puts me into a good mood and makes my summer,” Susanna smiles.

Susanna and her daughters play board games, read, and listen to music in the caravan. Vacationing in such a small space creates a unique atmosphere. Susanna says their favorite spot is a parking area by the lake, where they can have some peace and quiet. When Laila is parked there, the family spreads out a sunshade in front of the caravan, creating an outdoor living area beneath it.

“A summer evening with treats and my giggling girls is when I have the most fun in the caravan. Helmi rests her head in my lap, and Delilah is of course playing on the record player.”

You can follow Laila’s journeys on Susanna’s Instagram account delilah_vintagecaravan.

The family always looks forward to spring. In the summer, Susanna’s children Lilja and Selma often sleep in the caravan.

There’s a surprise in the garden behind the house. Laila’s home garage is in Loimaa.

Susanna buys cheerful decorative items that fit the 60s vibe from flea markets and discount stores.