Avondale Caravans
The Avondale Dart was the company's most popular touring caravan
Tuesday, 16, Nov 2010 04:00
Avondale Coachcraft designed and built this popular range of touring caravans for nearly forty years many of which are still seen on British roads today.
Based in North Warwickshire, Avondale was involved in the design and manufacture of touring caravans for 37 years before going into administration in 2008 when they ceased production.
Prior to this, the firm enjoyed relative success selling caravans throughout the UK with an annual turnover of around £16 million.
History
The company was started up by Gerald and Eileen Ball in 1970, and has been family run ever since it was formed. Following the retirement of Mr and Mrs Bell in 1991, their son Christopher took the reins.
As well as touring caravans the company was successfully involved in the development of several sites for static park homes and touring caravan parks throughout the country with ownership of Pathfinder Village in Exeter and Barton Broads Mobile Home Park in North Lincolnshire, both of which are maintained exclusively for the retired and the semi-retired.
Due to the fall off in new caravan sales and lower than expected orders placed for the 2009 model range Avondale went into administration on 16th September 2008.
Popular Ranges
The company's most popular model the Avondale Dart is still widely available on the second hand market and parts can be sourced from Caravan stock suppliers Magnum Motorhomes.
Billed as a light, strong, low cost family caravan it was designed to give good value for money at the lower end of the market. Two berth layouts in the Avondale Dart range include the Dart 380-2 which offers a traditional light weight 2 berth option, going up to the more luxurious 470-2 end washroom model with a more luxurious finish.
One of the final models to be launched was the Dart 475-4 unveiled at the International Caravan and Motorhome Show in 2007, which is a family friendly 4 berth caravan available with the choice of fixed bunks or an end dinette.
Magnum Motorhomes bought the back catalogue of Avondale stock and have a range of parts and handbooks and moulds available to buy. Other legacy ranges still available from used Avondale caravan dealers include Avocet, Argente, Eagle, Landranger, Osprey, Rialto and Windsor.