Stanford Coachworks Newsletter:

Edition 28 - January 2023

In this month’s edition…

The End of an Era for our 1969 Ford Transit

We were sad to see our little MK1 Ford Transit head to its new home this month, but we took a look back at all the fun memories that we had with it.

Adventures for all of the family with our Volkswagen T6’s

Take a look at our latest Volkswagen T6.1 conversion inspired by the new Porsche 911 992 GT3. The perfect vehicle for all your family adventures!

We want to know what you think of your Stanfords conversion

Customer satisfaction is incredibly important to us here at Stanford Coachworks, so we would love to know what you think of your conversion.

The End of an Era: We Say Goodbye to our 1969 MK1 Ford Transit

We were sad to see our 1969 MK1 Ford Transit head to its new home earlier this month, but we are sure that its new owner will have just as much fun as we did with it!

Converted for our 20th anniversary, the 1969 MK1 Ford Transit quickly grew to become a Stanfords-favourite with everyone. To create something a little different, we converted the Transit into a retro camper van complete with:

Castrol coloured bespoke stitched seating
Kitchen area with gas hob, sink, fridge drawer and Nespresso coffee machine
20-inch smart television with HDMI input
1960’s inspired features such as a vintage picnic hamper and a retro record player

Although initially designed for our birthday, this iconic ‘Castrol green’ Ford Transit has been on many adventures with us over the past eight years. From taking part in the traditional Guildhall Cart Marking ceremony, to meeting famous faces at various exhibitions, our little Transit will truly be missed!

Take a look at some of our favourite memories below.

Back in 2015 we celebrated our 20th anniversary and in great Stanfords-style, we knew that we had to do something a little different to mark the event. When first seeing the MK1 Ford Transit for sale, Jess and Lee had the brilliant idea to honour their first ever conversion, carried out on a Ford Transit, by giving the 1969 classic a new lease of life, and transforming it into a retro camper van!

The stunning Transit was first unveiled at our 20th birthday party, where our long-term clients, suppliers, family and friends all got the opportunity to enjoy the bespoke conversion for the first time.

20th Anniversary Birthday Event

A special Stanfords event that everyone loved also had the pleasure of exhibiting the fantastic Ford in 2015. The Stanford Coachworks Brands Hatch Expo was a thrilling even that attracted many of our customers and suppliers to get kitted up for an exhilarating hot lap around the ex-Grand Prix circuit! The film star Ford, which previously cameoed in movies such as The Bank Job and The Lady in the Van, sat proudly in the paddock that day and hosted a number of vintage picnics accompanied by plenty of smiling faces.

Brands Hatch Expo

In 2016 we had the honour of visiting Guildhall Yard in London with our special Ford Transit to take part in the annual Cart Marking Ceremony. Cart Marking is a historic ceremony where Sheriffs and Carmen, dressed in traditional robes, brand vehicles with a red-hot iron in a ritual known as ‘Cart Marking’. The ceremony dates back over 500 years and celebrates the origin of vehicle licencing and transport throughout the ages. Our Ford Transit certainly was a head-turner at this event!

Guildhall Cart Marking

During our first visit to the London Classic Car Show, we had to, of course, bring along the star of the show. The 1969 MK1 Ford Transit took pride of place at the front of our stand and fetched much attention. Everyone was in awe of the iconic van as it bought a new lease of life to the 1969 Transit, referred to by some as ‘the backbone of Britain’. Although no longer in its original state, many admired our conversion commenting that it’s perfect for a family day out. The Ford Transit even had the chance to meet some famous faces at the show too, including Phil Glenister and Danny John-Jules!

London Classic Car Show 2018

Family Adventures with a Touch of Luxury!

At Stanford Coachworks, we always like to have a demonstrator vehicle available for our clients to take a look at. Our latest demonstrator vehicle is a little more luxurious and has been carried out on a Volkswagen 150 DSG T6.1 Highline.

We have converted this Volkswagen panel van into a premium passenger carrying vehicle inspired by the brand-new Porsche 911 (992) GT3. With five seats in total, plus masses of storage space in the boot, these types of conversions are perfect for adventurous families who enjoy a little bit of luxury.

The Monaco by Stanford treatment

We are known for doing things a little different at Stanfords, so we couldn’t just settle on a basic exterior for our latest demo! This stunning T6.1, finished in metallic black, has undergone the Monaco by Stanford treatment and now features some sporty extras such as:

Our colour-coded front splitter and rear spolier
Striking matte gold accents in the front grille with matching matte gold VW emblem
Premium 20-inch matte gold alloys
Matte black side bars and roof rails
Limo tinted rear windows and tailgate
Monaco matte gold side stripes

Inside of the vehicle, we have fitted three rear saloon reclining seats, upholstered in a black e-leather with a premium tan honeycomb stitch design. To match this, we have also reupholstered the driver’s and front passenger’s seats in the same design. These front seats even feature three-level heat functions too! Rear saloon passengers won’t miss out though as they also have access to additional comforts, such as LED blue / white roof lighting and USB / USB-c charging sockets.

Throughout the vehicle we have lined the roof and lower side panels with a premium black suede material. The window surrounds feature a contrasting grey soft-feel material which is incredibly durable and easy to keep clean - perfect for those muddy adventurers! For vehicle flexibility, each seat has been fitted to a tracked floor via removable fixings. This allows the seats to easily be moved around in order to accommodate for additional luggage. We have also overlined the flooring with an easy-clean wood-effect covering.

Perfect for the whole family!

Our demonstrator really is perfect for the whole family as we have even included a designated safe space to bring your pets along on adventures too!

In the boot, we have designed a separate custom-built area with a large pet space and a lockable storage compartment. Even with pets in the vehicle, there is still enough room for luggage. To achieve this, we have installed a small divider which separates the pet area from the boot so that luggage can securely be stored in a section behind the rear passenger seats. If you’re not bringing fury friends along for the journey, this large space can also be utilised to transport adventure equipment such as paddle boards and bikes.

Get in contact with us today if you would like to find out more about our Volkswagen T6 conversions.

Client Feedback

Have you recently taken delivery of a Stanford Coachworks conversion? We would love to hear your thoughts!

Customer satisfaction is incredibly important to us, so we would love to hear what you think about your vehicle and of our service. If you have a few moments to spare, please complete our online feedback form below - we promise it will only take you two minutes!