In 1961, the Trevelyan family and their two young sons, built their own motorhome based on a Morris Commercial J2 van, which they took on holiday to the South of France. On return they converted an Austin van, which attracted five orders from Henlys in Bristol. Going into business with local builder Bob Halling, the first retail products were produced.[2]
Auto-Sleepers core product developed through the adoption of the successful monocoque body, a two-piece clamshell glass-fibre unit which gave the living unit strength and a lack of edge joints, which on a traditional sandwich construction produce a weaker body which is prone to leaking.
The Trevelyan family sold the business in 1997 to Steven Riley and Bill Cook, whilst retaining a small shareholding themselves. In 2000 the company was sold to Ian Capes and Stuart Johnson, whose Marquis company in 2005 was acquired by the Italian motorhome manufacturing company SEA Group.[3]
Present
Modern Auto-Sleepers Nuevo based on a Peugeot Boxer chassis
In June 2009, existing directors Geoff Scott and Mike Crouch acquired 100% of the shareholding via their company Trigano Group - the UK's largest dealer network of motorhomes, trading under the Marquis brand - returning Auto Sleeper into British private ownership.[4]
