Children of the 21st century could be forgiven for thinking the travelling experiences of their forebears must have been dreadfully dull in the years before backseat-mounted DVD players, smartphones and hi-tech car stereo systems.

But RetroFocus is only too happy to set them straight on the pleasures of premillennial motoring.

In the 1970s, panel van clubs began to spring up as the "shaggin' wagons" became icons as recognisably Australian as Lillee and Thommo.

Although panel vans were made for the road, much of the joys of panel vanning were to be had while you were parked, not moving.

And by that, we mean the ample room in the back was perfect for enthusiasts to spend hours remaking and remodelling in the most '70s of decor, as this footage from a 1977 episode of Flashez shows.

"There's people who like camping and this type of thing, well we go in for vanning and doing up vans for shows," one of our interview subjects states as he proudly gives ABC TV a tour of his van.

As we're treated to several shag-carpeted interiors, our other interview subject, Ken Gerke, gives us an idea of just how dedicated panel van devotees were.

He admits to spending approximately $15,000 ($84,000 when adjusted for inflation!) and weeks on end doing up the interior of his panel van, before conceding his friends of the non-panel-vanning persuasion consider him "a bit nuts" for spending so much on his hobby.

But hey, what's a measly five-figure sum to have your shaggin' wagon refitted four times over, only to completely remodel it every time you get bored?

"You get sick of the sight of it." Ken says, laughing.

Vanning enthusiast website vanning.org.au lists more than a dozen vanning clubs that are believed to be still active around the country today.

We can only hope some of the relics of yesteryear are preserved in all their '70s glory.