Danbury Heritage campervan

Base vehicle: VW Transporter Price from: £68,459 Berths: 4 Travel seats: 4 Length: 4.90m Width: 1.90m Height: 2.05m Gross weight: 3,000kg Payload: 520kg

Words & photos: Peter Vaughan

The Danbury Heritage

The Caravan, Camping and Motorhome Show in February marked something of a relaunch for the famous Danbury brand. It had already unveiled its Surf and the show saw the debut for the top-of-the-range Heritage. With this historied marque’s near 60 years of association with VW, it’s no surprise that these latest conversions are based on the T6.1 Transporter.

Under new owner, Vanworx, it is slowly building up the model range and expanding production. Currently, it has a team of six working at new premises in Somerset and hopes to build 60 campers this year.

Its new Heritage won’t be difficult to spot as this high-spec model comes with a two-tone exterior (painted, not a wrap), as well as a Sports Pack that adds 18in BBS alloy wheels, chromed side bars and a 35mm lowering kit. The show model, which also had an optional front splitter, looked very smart in dark metallic green over white, but other combinations are available.

Externally, there is no cutting into the base vehicle for the service items, so the hook-up is hidden under the rear bumper and the water filler for the 20-litre on-board tank is in the boot, where you’ll also find the gas locker for one Campingaz cylinder. Fully flush Volkswagen side windows are used, too, for an OEM-style look.

The specification

While the Surf is offered in Bronze, Silver and Gold spec levels, the range-topping Heritage comes in only in the two higher trims. Silver comes with the 150PS motor and manual or DSG gearbox, while the Gold (from £74,479) includes the automatic transmission as standard.

Both Silver and Gold versions are based on a Highline Transporter, while the Gold spec adds Discover Media sat-nav, Park Assist, LED headlights, privacy glass and heated front seats.

Inside, the Heritage also benefits from Webasto diesel heating, twin swivel seats, and full leather seating front and rear. A top-quality Reimo rising roof is installed, complete with roof bed as standard, and Danbury is now using the well-proven RIB rear seat rather than its own design, as previously.

The layout

The layout, unsurprisingly, is the typical side kitchen format but the design is attractive and there’s a choice of three furniture finishes. All the fixtures use mortice joints for durability, too. The galley includes a combination hob and sink unit with split glass lids, while the fridge is a 45-litre compressor model with conventional front-loading door. Above that is a cutlery drawer, while a useful area of gloss white worktop is adjacent to the sink.

Cupboard space is quite generous and there’s room to store a Porta Potti (included in the spec) under the rear bench seat. There’s a long, open shelf above the galley, too, for small odds and ends. Further aft, where the furniture is full height, there are sliding tambour doors for easy access to your clothing. Then, in the boot, the rear section of the bed folds to a vertical position when you want to carry larger items.

The bed

As usual with an RIB seat/bed, converting the camper into night-time mode is simple enough and you have a flat bed as you sleep on the opposite side of the cushion to the contoured seats. The double mattress here measures 1.86m by 1.12m. The RIB seat also includes height-adjustable headrests and three-point belts for rear passengers but it is a tad high for those with shorter legs.

Summary

As Danbury’s flagship model, the Heritage comes with a comprehensive spec, while a highlight is the use of smart plastic interior trim panels where lesser conversions use cheaper carpet lining. The result is a very attractive-looking camper.