Torcars Sun-Tor Register
- 35 Walkerith Road, Morton Nr Gainsborough, Lancs, DN21 3DA.
Torcars Sun-Tor Register
The clubs foundations were laid in 1995, and was formed to cater for the owners and enthusiasts of all the vehicles converted by Torcars of Torrington, Devon.
SunTor's converted by Brownhills (pre-1990),& also vehicles converted by Nimbus (C&W) Conversions Ltd, of Torrington, are also very welcome to join the Club.
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Torcars, was formed at the end of 1968, with a partnership between, Ron & Mary Webster, and Alan & Dr Margaret Hutchinson. Ron had formerly been trading as; "R. Webster & Co", in Hove, Sussex. Building campers to customers own specifications on various base vehicles. One of Ron's customers was so impressed with the quality of the conversion of his Transit mk1, that he asked if he could invest in the Company. This was Alan Hutchinson, who had just given up working as a computer salesman.
It was government policy at the time to try and get businesses to move to rural regions, where jobs were desperately needed. Ron & Alan looked at several sites, which included places at Bristol, and in Northern Ireland. Ron & Alan, liked what they saw at Great Torrington, in Devon, a three-acre factory site, a little over two miles, from the town at High Bullen. They insisted on having extra land beside the factory, for a camp site for potential customers, and all holiday makers were welcome.
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In April 1969, Torcars moved to Torrington, and into temporary premises, an old disused bakery in South Street, while the factory at High Bullen, was being built for them. They started by producing SunTor campers based on the Austin/Morris A60 half-ton van (150), of which the prototypes had been built in Hove, on used vehicles.
Following the untimely death of Alan Hutchinson, on the last day of 1970, his brother Paul, stepped in to fill his position as a partner.
In September 1971, Torcars move into their new Factory and Showroom at High Bullen. The official opening of the new factory & camp site took place on Friday, 19th May 1972, by Mr Tom Wicks, Chairman of the Motor Caravanners Club.
They went on to produce the Marina SunTor (1000), Commer SunTor Major & HiTor (250), Sherpa BrenTor & SunTor (150) , and the Toyota Hi-ace SunTor. Torcars also produced a number of one-off conversions on customers own vehicles, such as two Range Rovers, and a Coach.
In 1973, W. Mumford Ltd acquired a 50% share, the Torcars Directors following takeover was, David Burke (Chairman), Ron Webster, Dr Margaret Hutchinson, Gerald Apps (Chief Executive), W.G. Mumford, & D.H. Wilks.
Mumford, produced the Marina Convertible, and the Leyland Princess Estate car, and although badged as Torcars, these were converted in Plymouth.
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During the winter and quiet periods, Torcars were "makers of quality handmade wooden toys" in there cabinet shop. With the brand name "Tortoys of Torrington", they produced such things as childrens Blackboard & easel's, Desk & chair's, Stilts, etc, as far as is known, the Tortoys was only sold through, Harrods of London.
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By the end of 1979, Torcars had ceased trading, and in January 1980, Brownhills of Newark, became the new owners. Mr Pearce, of Brownhills, bought Torcars for the SunTor brand name, the sale included one Marina and a huge quantity of spares.
Brownhills first SunTor, was based on the Ital van.
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C&W Conversions, was created by two former Torcars employees, Percy Colwill & Bryn Wathen, in 1972. They moved into the former Torcars factory, in South Street, Torrington, and produced the Ford Escort "NIMBUS", & Ford Transit "NIMROD" camper vans. They even managed some exports, on left hand drive Escort vans. Ivor Knight, whilst still working for Torcars, did the seats for the Nimbus vans, from his workshop at home.
Percy Colwill, left C&W Conversions, to start up on his own, as Euro Conversions (South West) Ltd., and C&W Conversions became Nimbus Conversions Ltd, now with Bryn & Rhona Wathen as directors.
Rhona, sadly passed away in July 1977, and Nimbus ceased trading in May 1978, shortly before the death of Bryn Wathen, in July, a year after his wife.
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The club has to date identified 430, of the 2,000 or so vehicles converted by Torcars. If you have ever owned a vehicle from the Torcars stable, we would love to hear from you. Do you have information, photo's, or indeed anything regarding, Torcars, Nimbus (C&W) Conversions, or Brownhills.
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Following the death of Ron Webster, in 2005, the Register as been given all the documents, and photographs, which were held by him. A very importent collection of motoring history is now held by the club, however we are alway's keen to add to the clubs archive material.
New for 2011, we have added 100's of new photos to our archive, together with a factory notebook which contains the production & conversion details of some 330 vehicles. The information within these pages gives when & the names of who converted the vans, for the period 1973/74.
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The clubs newsletter "Let Sleeping Bags Lie" is published every month.