OBITUARY: BARRY STIMSON

It was with sadness that we learned of the passing of one of Britain’s most inventive and prolific campervan designers, Barry Stimson, at the age of 82.

Best known as the man behind the original Romahome, which set the standard for micro-motorhomes for decades, Barry’s concept started life on a tiny Honda truck in the late 1970s and evolved through various incarnations until it was thoroughly overhauled with a completely new look, again by Barry, on the Citroën Berlingo in the late 90s. Throughout, the concept of a glass-fibre monocoque body, moulded internal furnishings and a stepped floor to give standing room in the galley remained.

His popular Renault Trafic-based Alpine (later St Michel) campervan was another standard setter, introducing a level of washroom sophistication unheard of at the time in a panel van.

These were just two highlights in a career that included the Hitch-Hiker (a sort of expandable dismountable that turned a hatchback Fiat car into a camper), the Trailfinder (based on the Renault Extra) and the Sportique (a truly one-of-a-kind campervan based on the Renault Clio car).

Many of his vehicles were built and marketed by his own company, Design Developments, while he also undertook design work for other manufacturers. The most remarkable of these designs was surely the Cockburn Holdsworth Odyssey, which featured an upstairs bedroom – complete with a flight of stairs.

His most interesting models may now be nearing classic status, but Barry was still coming up with new campervans as recently as 2019 with the Free Spirit, based on the Peugeot Partner. It showed the same attention to practical, ergonomic design that had always been a Stimson trademark.

Campervans and motorhomes weren’t the only outlet, however, for Barry’s design talents. His name was equally well-known in the kit car world. And he designed boats, trikes, amphibian and tracked vehicles. He was never short of ideas.

We send our condolences to his wife, Caroline, and family.