In fact the new premises was large enough to increase production from 160 - 310 units a day and soon became one of the largest converters of Volkswagen buses in the UK.
All of the interior furniture that Holdsworth conversions fitted to their buses was handmade and the materials used where of the highest quality. In addition to the factory fitted conversions Holdsworth also made DIY conversion kits for those who wanted to get their hands dirty whilst saving some money.
Unfortunately the company went into receivership in 1995 and was re-launched as Cockburn Holdsworth but never really survived.
Holdsworth Bay Window
There where two different types of Holdsworth Bay Window conversions, the basic and the custom version. The first had its kitchen unit sited by the sliding door to the right of the bench seat. This did not come with a sink and only contained a free-standing cooker and kitchen units and a cool box. This model also had a pump-tap for a washing bowl. The custom conversion came with the same kitchen unit but had a sink fitted instead of the free-standing cooker. The cooker for this model was placed behind the front passenger seat.
Photos to follow!
All the furniture in both Holdsworth conversions was made of real varnished timber and came in several shades to match the different cloth upholstery.
By the early 1970's there where two different elevating roof styles options, a single hinged full-length elevating roof and a pop-top style.
Holdsworth continued to produce Volkswagen Bay window conversions right up to 1979 when VW stopped production in favour of the T25.
T25 Holdsworth Conversions
Richard Holdsworth conversions went on to be one of the best conversions in the UK when the T25 had replaced the VW Bay Window model. In fact Holdsworth was awarded the motor caravan of the year 1987/88 and 1988/89.
Again Holdsworth had two different conversion types namely the Holdsworth Villa and the Vision.
Holdsworth T25 Villa
In 1985 the Holdsworth Villa was voted the Best Elevating Roof Motor Caravan at the Earls Court Motor show. This model showed many improvements over the earlier Bay Window Models. It had an electric fridge and a skin and cooker unit that was combined. There was extra storage space including a cocktail cabinet and even a chemical toilet under the rock & roll bed!
The conversion came with three different roof units, a fixed top, elevating and pop-top styles.
Holdsworth Vision
The Holdsworth Vision had a fixed high-top roof that gave the conversion the sense of much more space. The interior layout was a step-change in the approach to Volkswagen Camper conversions. Such was the layout that it felt like there was two separate rooms and felt more like a motorhome. The kitchen, toilet and wardrobe where at the rear of the vehicle with a curtain that separated this area from the main living area.
©Class Campers 2007