Full review

This Camelot campervan came into my hands care of one of Autohaus’ most recent dealer appointments, Salop Leisure. Hence, the Shrewsbury badging. It also explains the price because, while a typical Camelot from Autohaus starts at nearly £42,000, this Shrewsbury derivative has snuck in at under £40k – and still includes a lot of fittings you won’t get in the standard-issue version.

There’s a huge variety of colours in which you could have your Camelot. The opportunities are limitless – thanks to its own paintshop facilities at its manufacturing base in Watchet. Look on the Autohaus website and there’s a particularly neat function where you can spec your own vehicle, with colours as well as base vehicle and conversion options, to your heart’s content. Transmission is an easy-enough-to-operate five-speed manual and this VW also has cruise control, a stereo upgrade and electric door mirrors with fold-away function. But there’s no air-conditioning.

Few would go as far as describing the performance as lively. It’s certainly economical and, like all T6 Transporters now, the Euro VI engine comes with BlueMotion Technology. Don’t forget, also, this is the high-top version of the Camelot, using a roof supplied by Reimo. There’s an elevating roof alternative. This example has barn rear doors, but there’s no reason you shouldn’t ask for a tailgate, should that be your preference. Note, also, the colour-matching to the roof, bumpers and door mirrors, while the black Fiamma awning also comes courtesy of the Shrewsbury package. Autohaus choice even extends to where you want your mains inlet – under the bonnet or beneath the rear bumper.

The floorplan comprises a four-single-seat layout. And, up front, the layout is not so different from that original Camelot… although, in this case, those four seats sit around a single table. The cab seats have both height adjustment and swivels. The rear seats are from RIB. They tend to be a bit bulky as seats, with a bit more squab length than is always comfortable, but do bear in mind their second role as beds. On the plus side, they offer firm support and the integral, adjustable head restraints are excellent.

Will that table cope with four? Hmm. It’s a little small and sits on a pedestal leg in a socket that seems equidistant from each seat. That’s not ideal, but the tabletop shape is rectangular so you can swivel it to whatever best suits your needs. For storage, the leg clips to the B-pillar behind the driver.

Extra daylight and ventilation comes from the Mini Heki over the lounge. I’d recommend asking for some kind of reading light over one or both of the swivelled cab seats. You’d rather watch TV? You’re in luck, as one is supplied as part of the Shrewsbury package, mounted high at the front of the roof. Also in the Shrewsbury specification is Webasto blown-air heating, and hot water remains an option.

This Camelot’s upholstery, in an Alcantara style, is top notch. The main electric control panel and switchgear look a little dated, but couldn’t be easier to use. There’s easy access to the fuses, too. Lighting is all-LED – including four units in the ceiling and a further four in the lounge. There are double mains outlets, and12V sockets behind the nearside rear seat, plus the same set into the top of the wardrobe, where they’re supplemented by two USBs. The furniture units here have a light wood finish and silver edging, but again Autohaus offers lots of choice.

The main kitchen unit, along the rear nearside, sports a Smev two-ring hob and sink combination. Unusually, there’s a Smev oven/grill option beneath, then two floor lockers. A shelved cupboard sits under the sink, plus there is an upper-level locker with two doors. The hinged ledge concealing the toilet also makes for a very handy worktop.

Swivelling the cab seats and folding over the rear ones to make two single beds is pretty straightforward and it also makes sense to stow your sleeping gear in the rear seat bases for convenience at bedtime. Curtains to the side windows are in a close-fitting stretch material that’s ideal in a vehicle like this (no rattles, either), while light switches are within easy reach. Thanks to the use of the more expensive version of the RIB seats, there’s also the facility to push the upper ends of each bed together to make something closer to a double. There’s plenty of privacy when the toilet is in use, thanks to a sliding screen to block off the rest of the interior, while all you need to do is draw the curtains across the relevant windows. Emptying the tank is simple, too – it’s just inside the offside back door. Storage is plentiful. A total of nine lockers line the roof, they don’t over-encroach into the headspace. There’s a gas locker for a single Campingaz cylinder.

This is impressive stuff from a converter that specialises in VWs. And there’s three-year warranties for both the base vehicle and, unusually, the same amount for the conversion work.

If you enjoyed this review, you can read the full version and more in the March 2017 issue of What Motorhome magazine.

You can get a digital version of this latest issue of What Motorhome magazine here.