A couple of months ago, we featured the latest demonstrator from conversion specialists VW-T (a stand alone company and nothing to do with us - Ed), based on a brand-spanking new Sportline.

The concept behind the Camper conversion was to demonstrate the company’s approach, blending genuine innovation with OE standards of fit and workmanship.

Not surprisingly, the quality of the conversion was so high that the Van didn’t remain in the company’s hands for very long. In fact, pretty much as soon as it debuted on the show scene, the company received an offer they simply couldn’t refuse, though not, thankfully, of the Mafia variety.

And so they were faced with the prospect of not having a demonstrator. Clearly, this isn’t acceptable and so the company, under the guidance of sales manager Tom Varkala, embarked on building its next demo vehicle.

As the original was based on a brand new, top-of-the-line Van and the very best (read: genuine VW) equipment, it was no cheap exercise. In fact, the base vehicle alone was around £30,000 and, by the time VW-T had finished with it, it stood them in the thick end of £50,000, according to Tom. So they decided the second demo vehicle should be just as innovative, just as useable and built to just as high standards, but this time starting with a secondhand Van and using aftermarket parts to produce a similar quality Camper on a more achievable budget.

Pendle power After a bit of scouring, they found this 2.0-litre, 84bhp Panel Van at auction, just a year old and in very nice condition. Now, 84 is a very unreasonable number when it comes to Van engine power outputs, but as the engines on all variants – with the exception of the Sportline – are mechanically identical, VW-T immediately fitted a Pendle Performance re-map, bringing the output straight up to 160bhp. VW-T is a Pendle dealer and knew that the conversions had all been developed to work with the factory gearbox ratios, so the knew there would be no additional worries there.

The brakes were also left alone, since they were just about brand new and the guys felt they would be quite up to the job of hauling the Van up to rest, even with a few more ponies and torque on tap.

However, the suspension was dropped 40mm using a set of H&R lowering springs, fitted alongside the factory dampers. But here’s where we get interesting. The 20-inch wheels are replicas of those fitted to the Audi TT RS model. However, as aftermarket examples, they are not only sensible money, they also fit the T5 stud pattern and have an offset that means they fill the ’arches perfectly. And when we say perfectly, we really do mean it.

You know you’ve built a good Van when your new demonstrator is sold before you’ve even finished it, just from a few photos on the internet Words Jim Blackstock Photos Dan PullenPeacefuldemo

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Staying outside, the company retained all the original bodywork, but added a pair of fog lights to lift the front end, which Tom says have the added bonus of looking very cool at night. They also added a Sportline tailgate spoiler and aftermarket Sportline-style running bars before colour coding the bumpers, grille and mirrors in Reflex Silver.

Openings were cut for the side and rear windows, which were filled using aftermarket parts, again to keep the cost down. However, according to Tom, there is another advantage here, in that aftermarket options are apparently far easier to fit, being more forgiving than the VW items to tolerances in the hole cutting process, and featuring wider trim strips to accommodate this.

Roofless peopleThey also cut the hole in the roof ready for the high-lift Pop Top Roofs UK roof. This is a Reimo-style item that, because of the high lift, means that even the tallest of adults can sleep in the roof bed either way round, should they so desire. The exterior of the roof was finished in black to provide some contrast to the silver paintwork and bring the overall aesthetic down.

The tailgate features another of the company’s innovative touches. They removed the squashed-in ‘Transporter’ badge and developed their own expanded version to sit underneath the handle and across the centre of the ’gate. Very trick and, as one customer pointed out, very Overfinch (look it up if you don’t know what that means).

Inside, the Van features VW-T’s base furniture and seat layout, which is then tailored to suit individual requirements. In this instance, it uses light facings with brushed aluminium details to create a modern, airy feel, matching that of the exterior perfectly.

The layout uses a side-mounted kitchen /storage unit with a traditional seat / bed at

the rear. The latter is from the RIB range and features sculpted base and back rest cushions, with integral seat belts and a rear-facing perch seat for hanging out of the back end. However, when turning into a bed, the base folds over and out and the seat back folds down into the space left by the base to provide a completely flat ‘mattress’ to sleep on, giving the best of

both worlds. The seat / bed was trimmed

in silver and anthracite leather to match the exterior theme and the storage area underneath can be accessed when in the seat position either by folding out the base, or through the front-mounted door.

Alongside the seat is a full-length kitchen / storage unit, which houses a Waeco compressor fridge, running off 12V

only but efficient enough to be able to run for a couple of days before draining the on-board leisure battery, according to Tom. Above this is a Smev sink unit and matching Smev double hob, while below this and alongside the fridge is a combined oven / grille unit that’s finished in chrome with a mirror door, so you can check the state of your barnet at a moment’s notice.

Using aftermarket parts to produce a similar

quality Camper on a more achievable budget

THE STYLE STEAL

VEHICLE: T5.1 SWB 2.0 CR Panel Van

ENGINE: 2.0 TDi (84bhp) Pendle Performance stage 1 ECU chip swap / re-map for 160bhp and 265ft.lbs torque

WHEELS: 9.0 x 20-inch Audi RS rotor replicas

SUSPENSION: Stock VW suspension

BODY MODS: Colour-coded bumpers, grille and mirrors in Reflex Silver;

pop-top painted Black Magic metallic;Sportline tailgate spoiler; Sportline-style

running bars

CAMPING INTERIOR: Pop Tops UK extra lift elevating

roof; Sargent PMS; VW-T cabinets and storage; Smev sink,double stove and oven;

Waeco CR50 fridge; RIB ¾-width rock ’n’ roll bed; MV

Airo diesel night heater

CAB AREA: Captain’s seats on dual swivel bases;full

silver and anthracite leather re-trim

Bottom hinged, eye-level storage is perfect for a tin of your favourite baked beans, and all the bits you think you don’t need (but you do) on a camping trip

With new heater elements sewn in, the two tone silver and anthracite leather makes for a swish interior that looks good enough to be VW specification, direct from the Hanover plant

You’ve no idea how useful a 12V reading lamp is in a pop-top until it’s 2am on a pitch black campsite and you need a wee

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VW-T were approached by the producers of The Borrowers to film no.2 in here. Fact

With the bed folded down, the hob and fridge can both still be used, as can the full-height roller door-equipped storage locker at the rear.The front seats were then trimmed to match the seat / bed and equipped with electric heating during the re-trim process, for a touch of added luxury. Both were also fitted with swivelling bases, with a safe underneath the passenger seat and a stop on the driver’s seat so that no knees were harmed during the photoshoot.

Small, but usefulFinally, VW-T built some very useful eye-level storage units between the sides of the Van and the roof. Although these may look small and somewhat inconsequential in the pictures, on closer inspection we found you can actually fit loads of little bits and pieces in them, which is always useful on a trip. They also provide the mounting place for the LED downlights to illuminate the worktop and cooking area.

Naturally, the Van has a leisure battery on board, as well as a 240V hook-up, using an inlet sunk into the rear ¾ panel on the driver’s side. This features a Sargent EC155 control system to switch between the two and keep the battery topped up, while there is also an MV Airo diesel-powered night heater mounted under the driver’s seat, with the controls and thermostat on the side of the tall unit in the rear.

As they did with their last conversion, Tom and the guys popped a couple of photos of the Van during the build process up on their website, where it was spotted by a keen fan and, would you believe it, sold before it was even finished. That sounds like the perfect way to run a conversion company to us. Job done.

It was spotted by a keen fan [on the VW-T website]… and sold before

it was even completed

Extra lift pop-top provides enough space for adults to sleep head first or feet first, without feeling claustrophobic

We’re not sure if it’s just the lens that’s been used, but this looks like one of the most spacious interior set ups we’ve seen

20-inch Audi TT-RS-alike wheels are sometimes known as ‘rotors’ and are fitted across much of the modern day Audi range

Sliding side windows permit a bit of breeze if the air con can’t satisfy the rear seat occupants

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Fully functional, funky and yet subtle enough to blend into the crowds. We like