Vanmaster by Signature passes into new ownership

by Chris Jefferies
Vanmaster Caravans has been rescued after a new investor was found to carry on the legacy of this luxury manufacturer, it has been announced.
Operating under the new name of Signature Caravans, the company will continue to build the Vanmaster range, with the same approach to quality coachbuilding.
The new owner Phillip Narey told CaravanTimes: “As a Vanmaster owner I am passionate about the Vanmaster brand, and have been caravanning for the past 30 years.”
Phillip’s background in the manufacturing industry includes 20 years with Caststone, the domestic window surround manufacturer.
These developments come after ‘<' . strtolower('Array') href="http://www.caravantimes.co.uk/news/makes/vanmaster/vanmaster-goes-into-administration-making-20-redundant-$21382645.htm">Vanmaster fell into administration earlier this month, making all 16 of their staff redundant in the process.
The new ownership has bought Vanmaster’s assets, rehired 10 of those workers, and will deal with existing customers on a one-to-one basis.
The Vanmaster website is currently being redesigned, but owners can still contact the Wigan HQ on 01942 212 194.
Regarding the warranty situation, Signature Caravans released a statement that reads as follows: “Whilst having no legal liability or obligation to honour any warranty claims, Signature Caravans Limited will however endeavour to assist owners by sympathetically considering all claims and wherever possible provide the necessary labour and materials required to rectify the defects at significantly reduced rates.”
Passing the torch
What’s more, Cyril Darwin, one of Vanmaster’s founding members, has agreed to work with Phillip to ensure a smooth handover and pass on his knowledge of the caravan building process.
Phillip has expressed an interest in setting up a Vanmaster stand at the NCC Motorhome and Caravan Show at the Birmingham NEC in October, but nothing has been confirmed as of yet.
He told us that he was looking to take things slowly at first and gradually build up the company to where it was in its heyday.
The company added: “Whilst retaining its quintessential, elegant designs both externally and internally, the aim of the new owner is to bring the Vanmaster brand to a wider audience with the addition of an exciting choice of more modern designs, whilst still offering the more classical choice which has been the hallmark of British craftsmanship associated with owning a Vanmaster.”
And while the Vanmaster caravan brand has been saved, the future of sister company Bentley Motorhomes still lies in the balance, with a new buyer yet to be found.