Danbury Sport

Danbury are far from strangers to building VW campers, but this Sport conversion can be based on either a new or a secondhand VW Transporter, bringing it into the financial reach of many who couldn’t contemplate purchasing a new T5.

This particular Sport is based on a T5 that has done 40,614 miles and with a new conversion fitted, the only the pre-facelift dashboard and grille betrays its age. The 1.9-litre turbo-diesel engine produces 102bhp, although engines with higher power are available, as are automatics.

This Sport doesn’t have too many extras in the cab, though, and the gearbox is a five-speed manual (six-speeds come with the 130 and 174bhp engines), the radio is standard VW van issue, and there’s a glovebox where you might expect a passenger airbag.

Danbury’s Sport conversion is based on their Surf layout, familiar to generations of VW camper owners. What makes the Sport different from the Surf is its blinged-up appearance. Alloy wheels, colour-coded bumpers and blacked-out side windows, all adding a whole heap of style onto this white VW van.

For the £15,695 conversion-only price you get a two-burner hob and grill (the oven is an extra £199), as well as a choice of five laminate furniture finishes and five vinyl floors.

The fridge is a 50-litre compressor model with a small freezer compartment. A pull-out worktop extension can either be used while cooking, or as a table for the swivelled passenger seat. An island-leg table is also available for the bench seat’s occupants.

The crash-tested bench seat is set back to maximise floor space and side cupboard access, so there isn’t much room for your bedding and belongings. Below the back shelf and under the rear seat, is a ‘boot’ area, that is ideal for outdoor equipment. The wardrobe is generous, with a hanging rail and a deeper section for larger items.

Bed-making is by pulling a handle to make the seat fold, and you simply have to remove a soft central cushion to reveal the handle that pulls it up again in the morning.

At under £30,000 if you convert a used VW T5 this is an ideal way into the van conversion market. The Danbury has all you need for basic frill-free camping, but we’d also want to tick the box to add a Webasto diesel heater.