The Hillside Leisure Dalbury E, our latest entrant into our Hall of Fame, was chosen because it will be remembered as the portent of a seismic shift in motorcaravan drivetrains. Brothers Adrian and David Cross set up Derby-based Hillside Leisure over 20 years ago and they are still very much at the company helm today, with the company one of the best campervan converters in the UK.

Launched in 2013, Dalbury was the (then) latest in a long line of campervan conversions of compact base vehicles featuring a rear hinged elevating-roof, this time based on the Nissan NV200. With a length of only 4.4m, it was a small campervan too.

The side kitchen with the passenger cab seat swivelled round
Well-proven and practical interior layout features a side kitchen with sliding worktop/hob cover.

Access to the ‘accommodation’ is via a nearside sliding door. A pair of asymmetrically split rear doors opens onto the storage area behind the rear seat. The latter is a fully crash-tested RIB rock-n-roll settee/bed featuring two dedicated travel seats. Although extremely well executed, the conversion is fairly standard with its campervan layout. What places the Dalbury in another league is the E version, with an all-electric 80kW powertrain. This was Britain’s first production zero engine emission campervan.

Many new (solely) electrically powered light commercial vehicles are about to be launched, and we expect further Hillside Leisure conversions to follow in the groundbreaking Dalbury E’s footsteps.

Take a look at another inductee into our Hall of Fame, the Suntrekker Demountable – it was the first demountable to sell in any number.

Key details of the Hillside Leisure Dalbury E on Nissan ENV200.

  • All-electric drive to front wheels.
  • Winner of the 2015 Caravan and Motorhome Club Design Award for Micro Motorcaravans.
  • Overall length: 4.4m/14’ 5.25”.
  • Overall height: 1.92m/6’ 3.75” (roof lowered)

If you’ve enjoyed reading this article, why not get the latest news, reviews and features delivered direct to your door or inbox every month. Take advantage of our brilliant Practical Motorhome magazine SUBSCRIBERS’ OFFER and SIGN UP TO OUR NEWSLETTER for regular weekly updates on all things motorhome related.