Classic Tandy Austin Maestro Campervan review

Tandy were a small maker of campervans and caravans on the Isle Of Wight in the mid 80's. They converted the Maestro van into a campervan for two folk and made a 4 berth 3 m length Caravan too. I spotted this at the classic car show and did a quick review on it as the battery on the camera ran out!!

[@fionastuart7825]

Very interesting!

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

it was and not seen one ever in the fllesh!

[@paulbower5274]

lovely to see. thanks

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

I remember the caravan more - around 150 made not many left - thanks Paul

[@kevinflood8212]

Nice to get a look at that restoration Andy. Ideal for one person and usable as a daily driver too. Never came across anything like that, probably weren't many made. You have a great ability for coming up with unusual restorations. Great review as usual Andy.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

It was a first for me Kevin - knew of it but never seen one in flesh and its quite a compact vehicle. Great to see and nice and original inside too. In the 60s and 70s and 80s there were a few convertors of cars such as the Marina by Sun Tor. next book visual history of motorhome shows coachbuilt bodies on minis and Bedford Rascal!!

[@stevelittle152]

I am currently restoring a Phoenix Escape camper which followed on from this model

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

It did and was ex Tandy folk but they to succumbed but a great little campervan which will be featured in my new book now in process Story of The Campervan - thanks for letting me know and love to see the Phoenix after

[@trucker5722]

Nice restoration I think most of us of a certain age has had a mistro ,montego or ital or all of them. A great pity all the strikes and problems of the 80s put paid to British Leyland. Nice to still see the odd one about.

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

I had a friend who worked their - qulaity was an issue he saw some scary stuff such as forcing doors to shut! Tragic that we let it slip away, if only VW had got them could have been a different story!

[@thomas05ish]

The Maestro was a good design but not particularly well built . This camper is ,I suppose, the forerunner of today’s VW Caddy/Caddy Max based campers . Any of these small campers offer basic accommodation with the advantages of low fuel consumption and being easy to park. Horses for courses I suppose!

[@caravanindustryexpertandyjenk]

Build was a problem and apparently fall outs in the design stages as well but great to see one and another such design was by Sun Tor using the Marina!