60 YEARS OF ADRIA...let's leap back into the past

As we embrace our 60th year of producing stylish and great quality leisure vehicles, we take a little leap back into the past. The first ever Adria caravan was produced in 1965.

However when the first generation of caravans were made in 1969, the exterior was completely white, made of white lacquered aluminium, a year after that, in season 1970, the caravans received a blue decorative stripe at the window level.

In 1978, Adria introduced the second generation of caravans. The economic boom in Europe had also fuelled growth in the European caravanning market. As a result, Adria continued to expand, broadening its product range, which by 1978 included five series, fourteen models, and twenty-two types.

Whilst Adria achieved impressive sales figures, they also faced what could be described as "sweet troubles," as they struggled to meet the demand and supply caravans to customers in the required quantities. To keep up with market demand, the company had to work on Saturdays during May and June of that year.

The first idea behind us developing a "self-propelled caravan" came about in the late 60's when the international registration of a new brand name Adriatik was created.

Since the goal was to present both models on the upcoming fairs, the R&D team had to come up with the design and actual prototype for the Adriatik 450 within just a week. Driven by the successful production of the first prototype the development team worked day and night and managed to get the Adriatik 450 prepared for public presentation in due time.

Even though the sale of these models was never realised due to difficult economic situation in Europe, the making of these prototypes provided valuable experience and insights of how to design and construct a motorhome, paving the way for successful development and positioning of the Adria motorhome program in the years to come.

After several prototypes had been made the initial production of motorhomes, which were then marketed under the brand name Adriatik. The very first motorhome prototypes - Adriatik 420 and Adriatik 450 - were developed in 1982, both overcab models on the Renault chassis.

Fast forward to 1986 and the model range at that time only offered two models, both of which were overcab versions then made on the Fiat Ducato 14 base vehicle. It quickly became clear that for successful sales of motorhomes more models were needed, so new layout versions were developed in the following two years.

In 1987 square exterior body shape with sharp contours and broken lines, which was typical for first motorhomes, was changed, and rounded lines defined the new design of motorhomes. With growing popularity 1991 saw the introduction of the first semi-integrated model of Adriatik motorhomes, which was available in five layout versions.

Due to difficult economic and geopolitical situation in that period Adria Caravan was faced with demanding financial situation and the production of Adriatik motorhomes in Deinze consequently stopped. In the same year a new company Adria Mobil, d. o. o., was established and today we can say that this meant a new beginning and revival of the Adria brand.