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VW T5 amdro angel featured in David Eccles VW camper Inspirational Interiors
ANGEL the born again campervan
2005 T5
This T5 conversion, designated Angel, is the prototype from the Welsh conversion firm Amdro, known well for their alternative camper conversions on the T4 base. Their slogan is “Making a Difference in the Outdoor World” and they have designed the interior around the key concepts of simplicity, practicality and responsibility, creating an interior that is geared to the outdoor and sports market and as environmentally friendly as possible. The cooker is fuelled by methylated spirit not gas, lighting is low power LEDs, the fridge is a 12v compressor version that runs off the leisure battery, which in turn is charged from a solar panel on the roof, and natural, sustainable materials have been used throughout. Laminates and fabrics have been specifically chosen for rugged endurabilty to cope with the outdoor leisure use.
The new age of the campervan
The exterior is inspired by the early campers with bright colours and a splash of chrome. This gives a unique image that brings a smile to all who see it.
The name angel has been given to convey that the van will be a delivering a message to everywhere it goes. The campervan will also prove to be an angel to all who use it!
The interior layout has been designed as a simple to fit DIY kit. All the furniture goes together like a jigsaw with slots and tabs to locate before screwing into the pre drilled pilot holes. All the hinges are integrated into the design by clever Computer aided design. The furniture is easily fitted and removable to make for a true multi purpose vehicle. The non slip commercial ply floor bolts to the existing lashing points on the van and the furniture all attaches securely to pre drilled holes in the floor. Sustainable wood has been used throughout, with cabinets made from birch ply, which has been pre- faced with hard wearing laminate originally developed for playground furniture. Natural materials have been used for heat and sound insulation with sheep’s wool for the sides and hemp for the roof and floor. The seat upholstery, roof and sidewall lining is all made from a hard wearing brushed velour fabric, as used by the medical industry, which is stain-proof, waterproof, fire retardant but also washable – the seat covers can be removed and out through a washing machine. Blue tones from seat upholstery, cabinets and side panels create tranquillity. Blue has been chosen initially due to the corporate colour scheme which was inspired by the outdoors and the blue sky.
Instant floor space can be achieved by having the table fold up against the side wall and the front bench seat hinge up behind the front cab seat and the front panel removed. Ideal for that fridge you’ve just bought and need to carry home or extra kids bikes. There is an optional storage under the facing bench seats. Panel in for closed storage or can be removed which creates floor space running the full length of the van – perfect for carrying surfboards or ski’s. The full width space in the rear behind the seat has also been designed to fit two bikes into, meaning all your outdoor leisure gear can be safely stored inside the van itself and can stay there even when the bed is out.
The wide rear seat carries three people and is fitted with head restraints and seat belts. By the side of this is a unit which houses the 12v compressor top loading fridge and sink, accessed by lift up tops. At the front of the unit, by the load door, is a small top cupboard with cutlery holder, under which is a larger storage cupboard. The door of this hinges down to form a useful worktop / standing area. Opposite this, behind the passenger seat, is the cooker unit, with lift up top and more storage under. The table is used to form the bed base, unfolding down between the bench seat to make a roomy, long bed – something those over 6’2” will appreciate! The table is also hinged allowing for two different sizes to be used. A surround sound hi-fi system and DVD player provide entertainment and keep the kids happy on those long journeys, with 9.2” screen mounted on the drivers seats headrests and extra 7” screen and control from the front in a pop out screen. It also has built in i-pod control so no need to carry hundreds of cd’s.
VW themselves recognised the importance of the camping and leisure market by introducing their own factory fitted camping interior, The California, for the T5 base, something they had never previously done and the T5 model is growing in popularity very quickly. However, apart from the irritating sliding door on the “wrong side” on RHD California’s, they are also quite pricey, and this affordable, easy to fit and eco - friendly practical T5 interior offers a different route. Amdro has come up with an interior solution perfectly geared to flexible leisure use that does not need to access full campsite facilities, and specifically designed to the needs of the outdoor lifestyle. At the time of writing the only interior colour available is the blue shown, but there are plans to offer red and green colour schemes. Amdro is selling DIY kits supported by instructional videos and also complete and ready to go angel campervans, which are based on re cycled and reborn ex lease vans.
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The interior is finished in calming blue tones, echoing the water sports theme, and hard wearing wipe clean fabrics and laminates used for practicality. Finger holes make for clean lines on the cabinets.
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The large open space at the rear can accommodate two bikes. Note how the rear bulkhead and seat base is open allowing surfboards to be pushed under and carried inside.
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The twin front bench seat has an optional open base to maximise floor space making for a long floor run to the rear.
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The side unit houses a 12v compressor fridge that runs off the leisure battery and a stainless steel sink.
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The table, finished in blue laminate to match the cabinets, has a hinged extension leaf. Darker blue contrast panels in the seats add relief and styling detail.
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Walls are lined with sheep’s wool and trimmed in a lighter blue fabric. Lighting is provided by low wattage LED strips and touch control spotlights.
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The table can be folded up flat against the side wall and the front bench hinges up to create a large floor area for instant space.
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The full length wide double bed, made up by folding down the table, is perfect for taller people.
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The cooker is an eco friendly methylated spirit version, housed in the top of the unit behind the front passenger seat, with storage cupboard under.
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The front of the side unit housing the sink and fridge has additional storage cupboards that feature flap down doors to provide standing areas.
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The interior is designed as a simple to fit DIY kit; a non slip commercial ply floor bolts to the lashing points inside the van and the furniture all attaches securely to pre drilled holes in the floor. The seat belts mount through the chassis and to existing wall mounting positions.
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The other day I came across Amdro, a specialist van converter offering a product that is genuinely new – or more accurately the ethos behind the company is new. The young management and design team are concerned for the future of the planet and wish to reduce our consumption of fossil fuels. In fact, their conversions won't use much fossil fuel at all. . .
AMONG the mega-bucks displays of shiny new motorhomes it was great to see a company with a different ethos – that of recycling and an environmentally-friendly approach to motorcaravanning. Wales-based Amdro Alternative Camper Conversions offer motorcaravans based on used panel vans modified to run on used cooking oil! They also offer DIY furniture kits.