My new camper... What is it ?

[Cypriot]

Hi all
I am new member to this forum and new owner of a T25 camper.
I am from Cyprus.
My camper is "i think" Devon.
I surf around 1000s of sites and could only find one picture similar to my camper. (Talking about roof section)
What is exact model name of this conversion does anyone know ?


This is not my camper.
But it looks same.
I will need lots of info and help cos i am really new to camper.

Thanks for your help

[Molly Man]

It looks like the early Holdsworth elevating roof fitted to the 'Villa' about 1980's...does that sound right?
Is the interior walnut faced plywood with plastic laminate worktops...and draylon seat covers!?

Molly Man

[Cypriot]

It looks like the early Holdsworth elevating roof fitted to the 'Villa' about 1980's...does that sound right?
Is the interior walnut faced plywood with plastic laminate worktops...and draylon seat covers!?

I will post exterrior and interrior pictures as soon as i get hometo get your info

[sabcully]

Hi all
I am new member to this forum and new owner of a T25 camper.
I am from Cyprus.
My camper is "i think" Devon.
I surf around 1000s of sites and could only find one picture similar to my camper. (Talking about roof section)
What is exact model name of this conversion does anyone know ?


This is not my camper.
But it looks same.
I will need lots of info and help cos i am really new to camper.

Thanks for your help

Hi Cypriot
Have bought my first T25 today and am in the same boat as you are meaning: I am also new to everything.
Can't wait to get the van home, hopefully over the weekend. Will follow your posts so I can learn the same time as no doubt will
also do a lot of head scratching.
Have fun in your new camper !

[Cypriot]

Hi all
I am new member to this forum and new owner of a T25 camper.
I am from Cyprus.
My camper is "i think" Devon.
I surf around 1000s of sites and could only find one picture similar to my camper. (Talking about roof section)
What is exact model name of this conversion does anyone know ?


This is not my camper.
But it looks same.
I will need lots of info and help cos i am really new to camper.

Thanks for your help

Hi Cypriot
Have bought my first T25 today and am in the same boat as you are meaning: I am also new to everything.
Can't wait to get the van home, hopefully over the weekend. Will follow your posts so I can learn the same time as no doubt will
also do a lot of head scratching.
Have fun in your new camper !

Hey there
Hope we both have fun
Here is my original picture in front of my house at the end



I think Molly Man is right it looks like Holdsworth model and the year is 83
and yes interrior is just like you said as in the picture :



Is there any web site that i can find info about Holdsworth models and parts ?

[hobajay]

Ooh, am very excited to have found this thread, I have been trying to find out what conversion we have since we bought our camper over a year ago!

Our interior looks exactly the same as Cypriot's, although we have a different roof, a viking spacemaker. Can I safely say that we have a Holdsworth Villa?!

Sorry for hijacking your thread Cypriot!

Some pics:

[Molly Man]

Hi Hobajay..........yes your interior looks very Holdsworth, even down to the moulded side panels around the windows, not surprising that the roof has been changed as you only have to look at Cypriots to see how the concertina versions fair over the years. Holdsworth certainly put an identification plate inside the cab, drivers side, on the A pillar
by the the time of the 'Villa 3' You may have a plate somewhere on your earlier 'Villa'...have a good search round!
The 'buddy seat also looks original Holdsworth by its shape.

Molly Man

[hobajay]

Hi Molly Man,

Thanks for that! There is definately no identification plate visible, I've cleaned every inch of that van since we bought it (when those pics were taken - bit cleaner looking now!) and saw nothing.

I spoke to the previous owner to see if he knew what it was, and even the owner before that who had owned it for most of it's life. 2nd chap told me it had once had a sticker on the back but it had long since fallen off and he couldn't remember what it said, but thought it began with a W!!

Am chuffed to now be able to say what conversion it is! So thank you Molly Man for your knowledge and thank you Cypriot for starting the thread!

Jo. - proud owner of a holdsworth villa!

[Molly Man]

Welcome to the 'Holdsworth Owners' ....the more the merrier!....ownership with style!

[Molly Man]

Hobajay and Cypriot...
Came across this info today...hope its of use!

Molly Man


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.

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.

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.

[hobajay]

Hi Molly Man,

Thanks for that! How cool to have a cocktail cabinet?! Not sure mine has that unless it's masquerading as something else! Still, plenty of room for booze in the buddy seat after we removed the stinky chemical toilet!

So I take it you have a Holdsworth Villa too, can I be cheeky and ask to see pics of your interior? What kind of roof do you have on yours?

Hope you don't mind me asking!

Jo.

[Cypriot]

Hi all again.
Thanks for all the information here.
I am gonna start restoration of mine this weekend.
And I think it will last long.

I'll paint it to the original colour of the car which is white.
And after that start the restoration of interior.

We'll see whats next