Danbury Conversions
of Danbury near Chelmsford - later at Yate and Bridgwater
Motorised caravans
1964 Established. Started out converting and customising VW Beetle cars (the T1), before branching out to the T2 van, which more closely resembled the look of the vans we have today. The T2, enjoyed huge success and although production ceased in Europe in 1979, Danbury saw there was still a huge demand for these classic campers and imported them from Brazil. The Transporter continued to be updated over the years to the T3, T4, T5 and so on, with Danbury constantly evolving to keep up with the changing times and needs of its customers. Danbury went from being a small family run venture to becoming a fully fledged modern business with a factory just outside Bristol. It branched out to converting Ford Transit Custom and Fiat Ducato chassis into campervans
1967 Motor Show. Danbury, near Chelmsford. Volkswagen Chassis with Danbury conversion to give seven seats.
1978 Motor Show. Danbury Conversions, Stratford House, Maldon Road, Danbury. Displays three Volkswagen conversions.
1980 Motor Show. Danbury Conversions, Main Road, Danbury, near Chelmsford. Displays three Volkswagen conversions.
1989 Managing director Mrs Joy Dawson. 'Dawson's Danbury Conversions Ltd. originated in Danbury, Essex, in 1967. Mrs Dawson and her husband met when they both worked for another company. They decided that they could probably do an equally good, if not better job themselves, and decided to launch their own firm. Another aspect of the work of Dawson's Danbury Conversions is the refurbishing of pubs, including the furniture-making and upholstery.' 'They moved to Mellis nearly three years ago from a small factory in Needham Market, which they rapidly outgrew. Now it looks likely that there will be a retracing of steps back to Needham Market, to even larger premises with a lot of much needed parking space for about 40 motorised caravans. At present there is a workforce of 10' '"There is a lot of similarity between fitting out a boat and fitting out a caravan," she said. "In both cases the designer is faced with putting as many facilities as possible into a limited space." Again like boats, caravans must not only be well equipped, but comfortable, so a lot of attention is paid to the upholstery and the minor details which help to make a perfect finish.'[1]
2017 Danbury Motorcaravans acquired by French firm Pilote Group. 'Based in United Kingdom in Bristol, the company has been founded over 20 years ago by two brothers, Chris and Jason Jones,'[2]
2020 Danbury Motorcaravans Ltd, Great Western Business Park, Yate. The MD is Mark Stevens.[3]
2020 Acquired by the Vanworx Group