Holdsworth Motorhomes
Encyclopedia
The Holdsworth Motorhomes Company was a UK based camper van conversion company running from 1968 to the mid 1990s that was run by Richard Holdsworth It was of importance in the UK for being one of the first campervan conversion companies and went on to be highly successful with the motor industry having contracts in place with British Leyland who gave their full approval for the conversion of their Sherpa
vans into campervan
s and due to the quality of their conversions they were also popular with the public. The Holdsworth company was the first of its kind in the UK to gain approval from Volkswagen. Before Holdsworth campervan conversion outside of Germany was a cottage industry but the companies success turned conversions into a profitable business and the model was adopted by a number of other companies. Holdsworth success continued through the 80s but in the 90s the company ran into increasing financial difficulty and after one deal left the business with a surplus of stock the company ceased trading. The company would become Cockburn Holdsworth but this venture was short lived and it would shortly cease trading as a camper van manufacturer.
in London.
The company began as is the way with many camper van conversion companies from a love of VWs and travelling. Richard and Heather would return from a holiday in Australia
and decided that they needed a campervan to explore the UK and Europe
in. They carried out a conversion with Richard constructing the furniture and his wife Heather working on finishing the interior of the vehicles including Upholstery
and soft furnishings such as curtain
s.
The conversion was successful and would lead to further conversions. Companies became aware of their work and would ask Richard to build conversions kits that they in turn could offer for sale to their customers for fitting in their own vans. During this time the Holdsworth conversion business would move to premises in Ashford
, Surrey
offered by a vw campervan conversion company.
The success of the business saw a further move from Ashford to an ex-aerodrome hangar in Woodley, Berkshire
during 1972. The company would convert many ordinary vans into campervans, these vehicles included Commer Standard and a Commer Super, Ford Transit
, Bedford
and two types of Volkswagen
: one with a fixed roof and one with a rising roof. The line was extended with the addition in 1977 of the Leyland Sherpa van and the combination of VW vans that was offered was constantly evolving.
The company would branch away from camper vans into mini bus conversions and it was this side of the business that would ultimately see its downfall. A deal to supply a few thousand minibus conversions collapsed and the company was left holding stock that it couldn't sell. The financial burden of this overstocking would lead to its ultimate demise.
LDV Pilot
The LDV Pilot is a panel van that was produced by LDV Limited from 1997 until 2006, and closely based on preceding models dating back to 1974 ....
vans into campervan
Campervan
A campervan , sometimes referred to simply as a camper, or a caravanette, is a self-propelled vehicle that provides both transport and sleeping accommodation. The term mainly describes vans that have been fitted out, often with a coachbuilt body for use as accommodation...
s and due to the quality of their conversions they were also popular with the public. The Holdsworth company was the first of its kind in the UK to gain approval from Volkswagen. Before Holdsworth campervan conversion outside of Germany was a cottage industry but the companies success turned conversions into a profitable business and the model was adopted by a number of other companies. Holdsworth success continued through the 80s but in the 90s the company ran into increasing financial difficulty and after one deal left the business with a surplus of stock the company ceased trading. The company would become Cockburn Holdsworth but this venture was short lived and it would shortly cease trading as a camper van manufacturer.
History
Starting in the late sixties, the campervans were converted in a lockup garage at Clapham CommonClapham Common
Clapham Common is an 89 hectare triangular area of grassland situated in south London, England. It was historically common land for the parishes of Battersea and Clapham, but was converted to parkland under the terms of the Metropolitan Commons Act 1878.43 hectares of the common are within the...
in London.
The company began as is the way with many camper van conversion companies from a love of VWs and travelling. Richard and Heather would return from a holiday in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and decided that they needed a campervan to explore the UK and Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in. They carried out a conversion with Richard constructing the furniture and his wife Heather working on finishing the interior of the vehicles including Upholstery
Upholstery
Upholstery is the work of providing furniture, especially seats, with padding, springs, webbing, and fabric or leather covers. The word upholstery comes from the Middle English word upholder, which referred to a tradesman who held up his goods. The term is equally applicable to domestic,...
and soft furnishings such as curtain
Curtain
A curtain is a piece of cloth intended to block or obscure light, or drafts, or water in the case of a shower curtain. Curtains hung over a doorway are known as portières...
s.
The conversion was successful and would lead to further conversions. Companies became aware of their work and would ask Richard to build conversions kits that they in turn could offer for sale to their customers for fitting in their own vans. During this time the Holdsworth conversion business would move to premises in Ashford
Ashford
Ashford is a relatively common English placename: it goes back to Old English æscet, indicating a ford near a clump of ash trees. It may refer to:-Places:In Australia:*Ashford, New South Wales*Ashford, South Australia...
, Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
offered by a vw campervan conversion company.
The success of the business saw a further move from Ashford to an ex-aerodrome hangar in Woodley, Berkshire
Berkshire
Berkshire is a historic county in the South of England. It is also often referred to as the Royal County of Berkshire because of the presence of the royal residence of Windsor Castle in the county; this usage, which dates to the 19th century at least, was recognised by the Queen in 1957, and...
during 1972. The company would convert many ordinary vans into campervans, these vehicles included Commer Standard and a Commer Super, Ford Transit
Ford Transit
The Ford Transit is a range of panel vans, minibuses, and pickup trucks, produced by the Ford Motor Company in Europe.The Transit has been the best-selling light commercial vehicle in Europe for 40 years, and in some countries the term "Transit" has passed into common usage as a generic term...
, Bedford
Bedford Vehicles
Bedford Vehicles, usually shortened to just Bedford, was a subsidiary of Vauxhall Motors, itself the British subsidiary of General Motors , established in 1930; and constructing commercial vehicles. Bedford Vehicles was a leading international truck manufacturer, with substantial export sales of...
and two types of Volkswagen
Volkswagen
Volkswagen is a German automobile manufacturer and is the original and biggest-selling marque of the Volkswagen Group, which now also owns the Audi, Bentley, Bugatti, Lamborghini, SEAT, and Škoda marques and the truck manufacturer Scania.Volkswagen means "people's car" in German, where it is...
: one with a fixed roof and one with a rising roof. The line was extended with the addition in 1977 of the Leyland Sherpa van and the combination of VW vans that was offered was constantly evolving.
The company would branch away from camper vans into mini bus conversions and it was this side of the business that would ultimately see its downfall. A deal to supply a few thousand minibus conversions collapsed and the company was left holding stock that it couldn't sell. The financial burden of this overstocking would lead to its ultimate demise.
Legacy
Holdsworth Motorhomes created some outstanding campervan conversions many of them panel conversions. Innovative use of space created comfortable conversions that combined a utilitarian ethic with a sense of romance and adventure. During its life the quality of the company's work was recognised by external motor companies such as British Leyland and most notably Volkswagen who gave the company approved status for its conversions. The landscape that the company left behind was a healthy campervan conversion industry with many companies following in the wake of the Holdsworth Conversion Company. Richard Holdsworth is today the president of The Holdsworth Owners Club and as well as advising on motorhomes is now a novelist and at work on his second novel.External links
- Richard Holdsworth website
- Camperbug is a resource for campervan owners
- Official website of the Holdsworth Owners Club