Is our Trophy the youngest - 22nd April 1997

I recently contacted Autosleepers concerning a spare part for our Trophy and asked them if ours was in fact the latest Trophy they built & was advised "probably". Does any one on the Forum have a newer Trophy?

We bought the standard two bed model but with a modification of an over a large overcab storage cupboard as we wanted to use it for more than a "weekender"

Over the past 19 years we have clocked up nearly 44,000 miles and used it many times varying for some long - 3000 miles touring holidays in France and just couple of nights away in CL's within a few miles of our home near Brighton.

We have really enjoyed it, now at the end of our motor caravaning but its been a great vehicle.

Norman

I'd hazard a guess that although registered in 1997, it was probably built at the end of production some time in 1996, and remained unregistered and unsold until 1997.

You should be able to get a reasonable indication about VW production year from whether it's short or long nosed (though I suspect if you know enough about VW VIN numbers it's easy enough to work out from that). IMO the Trophy/Topaz is one of the best small fully featured motorhomes ever made, and that's not because I'm a biased owner - I've never owned one!

Thanks Mojo,

Apologies for my ignorance but I don't really understand VIN nos. looking back through our file the VIN was F628.

The vehicle was ordered from Auto-sleepers via Southern Cross, Bagshot about 2 months before delivery say February 1997 and I recollect that they had to check that the fibreglass rear w.c. / w.b. / shower / wardrobe pod was available before they accepted our order

At the time we also asked them to design & install a purpose made large storage cupboard over the driving area so I don't think that it was a 1996.

If you or any other Forum contributer would advise me further I'd be very interested.

Kind regards,


Norman

Ah, right - so it was a special order, specifically for you? I would have thought by then the factory production would have switched over to the Topaz, which I guess may explain why they had to check availability of the rear pod. What made you choose the Trophy over the Topaz (which by then would have been their standard product)? IIRC the Trophy was a little bit longer than the Topaz?

The VIN is the long chassis number, but that's not really relevant if it was a special order, rather than bought "from stock".

Thanks  Mojo,

We chose the Trophy mainly because of internal space & also making up the bed but we thought both lacked storage space - which is why we asked Autosleepers to provide the overhead storage cupboard.

At the time I also used the Trophy for business purposes: I was a Chartered Building Surveyor & specialised in the Design & Project Management of Veterinary Surgeries and Hospitals which took me to site visits to vet clients with properties as far afield as Bristol and Birmingham. I got fed up staying in hotels so had my own, private motorised hotel staying either at nearby CL's or my clients premises or homes; in fact I even carried a small "mobile office and drawing board"!

Best Wishes,


Norman