Torcars were based in Torrington, Devon and produced some cracking campervans from 1968 and throughout the 1970s from their small factory premises. The brand became synonamous with small/micro campervans, first based on the BMC half-ton van and later on the British Leyland Morris Marina van.
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| A Torcars BMC Suntor with its distinctive rising roof; seen here at a rally of the 'Sun-Tor Register', a UK group of enthusiasts keeping the surviving examples on the road. |
The first prototype of the Sun-Tor, based on the BMC van was produced in 1968, and went into small-time production after favourable reviews for the model at a large motorhome/camping exhibition. It became very popular in the UK for those seeking a campervan more suited to simple weekends away and fishing trips, and with the added bonus that the campervan would fit in the average UK garage (a point made clear in early advertising by Torcars). The Sun-Tor based on the BMC half-ton van ran for around three years, by which time BMC was now 'British Leyland', and the half-ton van was replaced by the Morris Marina van (the Marina being the replacement model for the long running Morris Minor/1000).
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| Another nice surviving example of the BMC Sun-Tor, this time on a Morris-badged version. |
Once the Marina had replaced the BMC van, the little Sun-Tor really captured the public's imagination, as the Marina became a top selling model in saloon form, pickup and light commercial van. Production was increased, staff numbers grew and Torcars even opened their own campsite alongside the factory in the Devon countryside. The campsite was a great ploy to lure prospective buyers to the factory, as Torcars did not have agents around the UK, and a Sun-Tor could only be purchased directly from their Torrington HQ. Around this time, a couple of Torcars employees left to form a company producing similar small campervans undewr the 'Nimbus' model name, although they used the Ford Escort as their campervan base vehicle.
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| Advertsing brochure for the Marina Sun-Tor |
With the success of their small Marina-based campervan, Torcars soon looked to other base vehicles to convert, and began to offer campervans based on the Chrysler Commer, the British Leyland Sherpa and the Toyota Hiace.
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| Advert from a motorhome publication, circa mid-1970s. |
In addition to campervan conversions, Torcars were also carrying out bespoke jobs for customers such as convertible saloon car conversions, various mobile shop and horsebox requests, and at one point were even producing children's wooden toys, no doubt utilising wood offcuts from camper conversions! Perhaps the toy making was also a sign that orders for Sun-Tor campervans were in decline; clearly something was amiss, and by the late 70s the factory had closed and the Sun-Tor brand name had been purchased by a motorhome dealer who did actually produce a few campervans (in revised design) based on the Morris Ital van (with side-hinged roof this time).
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| The Sun-Tor 'Commer Major II' |
Two versions of their Commer Sun-Tor were offered; a rising roof 'Major' in MKI & MKII versions, and a high top 'Commer Hi-Tor'.
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| Commer Hi-Tor |
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| The Marina Sun-Tor on the left, and Sun-Tor Sherpa on right. A large coachbuilt version of the Sherpa conversion was offered, and sold under the model name of 'Royale'. |
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| When the Toyota Hiace started to be imported to the UK, Torcars gave it their campervan treatment, though it is thought that very few were built. |
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