Turnbulls

What Turnbulls does

Turnbulls is a privately held Plymouth, UK-based automotive conversion business that has operated continuously since 1956 under the Turnbulls name, originally as a vehicle radio retailer and installer. Following ownership transitions through Wincanton Motor Co., Arlington, and LEX, the radio division was acquired in 1995 by the current owner, Ian, who has run it independently ever since. In 2015, Ian and co-founder Ashley established A I Campers as a wholly owned subsidiary of Turnbulls, focusing the business on bespoke camper van conversions and pre-converted van sales alongside the original vehicle audio, security, and tracking offerings.

The core technology is bespoke camper van conversion craftsmanship, including pop-top roof installations, custom furniture fabrication, electrical integration using Sargent power systems (240v hook-ups, AGM leisure batteries), sound deadening, and leather/alcantara interior work. Conversion packages span Ford Transit Custom, Fiat Talento, Mercedes Vito (including the premium Konigsmann model), VW Transporter Trailblazer, and a limited VW Anniversary Edition. Supporting product lines include vehicle audio (Alpine, Pioneer, Focal head units and speakers), ScorpionTrack GPS tracking with a 96% theft recovery rate, alarms/immobilizers, dash cameras, parking aids, and external/internal accessories. All conversions are backed by a minimum 2-year warranty.

The business operates a sales-led, showroom-based go-to-market targeting individual consumer buyers in the South West of England (Plymouth and surrounding region, with anecdotal pull from customers as far as London). Revenue is generated through one-time hardware sales of pre-converted vans (priced £33,995–£54,995) and bespoke conversion services quoted per build, supplemented by lower-ticket hardware sales of tracking systems (from £449), audio components, and accessories. Pre-converted vans are also distributed via a reseller partnership with Plymouth-based dealer Elliott Jarvis Cars. The company employs 27 staff, has no external investment, and does not disclose revenue.

Name

Turnbulls

Legal name

Turnbulls

Website

https://turnbulls.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1956

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Turnbulls is a Plymouth, UK-based automotive conversion company (founded 1956) operating the A I Campers subsidiary, delivering bespoke camper van conversions, pre-converted van sales, and vehicle audio/security/tracking services to individual consumers.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Camper Van Conversion Services

NAICS

Motor Home Manufacturing (336213)

SIC

Motor Vehicles & Passenger Car Bodies (3711), Truck & Bus Bodies (3713), Services-Automotive Repair, Services & Parking (7500)

akta.pro primary industry

Recreational Vehicle (RV) Bodies & Towables Manufacturing (IMACAGAJ)

Keywords

• Camper van conversions
• Vehicle security systems
• Car audio installation
• Vehicle tracking systems
• Pre-converted camper vans

Headquarters

HQ city

Plymouth

HQ country

United Kingdom

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Bespoke Camper Van Conversions: Custom conversion of customer-provided or purchased vehicles into camper vans. Pricing varies based on vehicle type, conversion complexity, and selected features. Work can be priced in stages for budget flexibility.
2. Pre-Converted Camper Van Sales: Sale of fully converted camper vans including Ford Transit Custom, Mercedes Vito, and Fiat Talento models. Prices range from approximately £33,995 to £54,995 for completed conversions.
3. Vehicle Security and Tracking Systems: Supply and installation of ScorpionTrack tracking systems (starting from £449) and vehicle security solutions including alarms and immobilizers.
4. Car Audio Systems and Accessories: Supply and installation of vehicle audio systems, head units, speakers, and accessories. With over 60 years of experience in vehicle audio.
5. Vehicle Accessories: Supply and fitting of accessories including cameras, parking aids, external accessories, and interior accessories for various vehicles.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Turnbulls aiCampers designs and builds bespoke camper van conversions tailored to individual customer specifications and sells pre-converted camper vans. Through its A I Campers subsidiary (established 2015), the Plymouth-based company transforms vehicles (Ford Transit Custom, Fiat Talento, Mercedes Vito, VW Transporter) into personalized camper vans with luxury interiors, pop-top roofs, kitchen units and Sargent power systems. The business also supplies and installs car audio systems, vehicle security (alarms, immobilizers) and ScorpionTrack tracking systems with 96% theft recovery rate.

Product overview

Turnbulls aiCampers is a family-owned camper van conversion and sales company with over 60 years of automotive experience, operating as a subsidiary of Turnbulls established in 2015. The core offering consists of bespoke camper van conversions tailored to individual customer specifications, alongside a portfolio of pre-converted camper vans for sale. The product range includes specific conversion packages for Ford Transit Custom, Fiat Talento, Mercedes Vito (including the premium Konigsmann model), VW Transporter Anniversary Edition, and VW Transporter Trailblazer. Supporting services include car audio and security systems (featuring Alpine, Focal, Pioneer, and ScorpionTrack integrations), vehicle tracking with 96% theft recovery rate, cameras and parking aids, and internal/external accessories. All conversion work is backed by a minimum 2-year warranty.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Konigsmann: A Mercedes Vito camper van conversion model featuring luxury specifications including electric underfloor heating, leather and alcantara seating, and premium audio/navigation systems
• Trailblazer
• Anniversary Edition

Products and services

• Bespoke Camper Van Conversions

Quantifiable outcome

• 96% theft recovery rate for vehicles equipped with ScorpionTrack tracking systems
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration7 records

Feature6 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Elliott Jarvis CarsminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorElliott Jarvis Cars, a Plymouth-based car dealer, hosts listings for some of Turnbulls aiCampers' pre-converted vans for sale, providing additional sales channel visibility for completed camper van conversions.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves10 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Hillside Leisure: UK-based specialist in VW Transporter and other van conversions including the Trooper and Cross-Trail ranges. Directly comparable as a bespoke converter serving the same B2C UK market with similar pricing tiers and warranty offerings.
• Jerba Campervans: Scottish-based VW Transporter campervan converter offering bespoke and pre-converted vans. Comparable product mix, target customer, and conversion philosophy to Turnbulls aiCampers.
• Redline Campers: Yorkshire-based VW campervan converter offering bespoke and pre-converted builds. Comparable in product type, customization approach, and UK B2C market positioning.
• Vanworx: Cornwall-based VW Transporter camper conversions, directly comparable as a regional UK bespoke converter with showroom-led sales and similar product range.
• Le-Van: Premium German campervan converter specializing in VW and Mercedes conversions with high-end interiors. Comparable product tier and customization philosophy, though serving primarily the German market.
• Love Campers: UK campervan conversion specialist focused on VW Transporters with bespoke builds. Directly competes in the same niche, similar price points, and same B2C direct-to-customer sales model.

Others

• Elliott Jarvis Cars: Plymouth-based car dealer that already hosts some Turnbulls aiCampers' pre-converted van listings. Functions as a channel partner and adjacent local automotive retailer, useful comparison for the local Plymouth market dynamics.

Broad incumbents

• Swift Group: Major UK leisure vehicle manufacturer producing caravans, motorhomes, and campervans at industrial scale. Overlaps in the campervan segment but competes on volume and dealer network rather than bespoke craftsmanship.
• Auto-Trail: Established UK motorhome and campervan manufacturer producing a broad range of leisure vehicles. Comparable as a UK leisure vehicle player but operating at significantly larger scale with dealer network distribution rather than bespoke one-off builds.
• Westfalia: Historic German campervan conversion specialist with established VW and other conversions. Comparable product category but operates at much larger scale with broader European distribution.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/turnbulls

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Turnbulls