American Car - November 2015

70 ACM

blueprints

Thanks

Richard Boatwright,

Boatwright Partnership,

01376 552399,

http://www.boatwright.co.uk

Steve Walker,

Oldcott Motors,

01782 782081,

http://www.oldcottmotors.co.uk

Full-Size Dayvans - 1970-current

The Dayvan – or, more correctly, the Conversion Van – came into its

own during the custom van craze in the seventies.

Since the late fifties, vans and pick-ups had become less like simple

agricultural and industrial tools, and a lot more refined, comfortable

and easy-driving. People bought them as recreational vehicles, and

the dayvan was born as a hybrid between the minibus and the RV

'camper' van.

Dayvans were just that – comfortable vehicles for days out, with all

the comfortable trappings but none of the 'habitation' guff such as

sinks, cookers, and bathrooms. They were called conversion vans

because third-party conversion companies bought the basic van or

minibus from the factory and converted it with plush trimmings, TVs,

perhaps even a bench seat that folded down into a nice bed for an

afternoon nap.

The full-size vans were great for this, offering ample space, plus the

torque to tow a boat or race car. Who can forget the A-Team's custom

GMC with captain's chairs and the ability to outrun almost anything? In

the mid-eighties, the rise of the 'people-carrier' bit a big chunk out of

the full-size dayvan market, but one of them, GM's Astro/Safari range,

spawned a whole new breed of dayvan in itself.

The days of the new full-size conversion van are, arguably, long past,

though there are plenty still out there, and their practicality and

individuality make them popular for UK imports. Are they practical

future classics that need saving, or just builders' vans in posh frocks,

best forgotten? We asked Richard at Boatwright Partnership and Steve

at Oldcott Motors.

ACM_146_Blueprint_Layout 1 17/09/2015 17:15 Page 1