Blue Sky Recreation Limited. Freephone: 0800 069 9601, Freefax: 0800 069 9602, Email: info@blueskyholdings.co.uk
The Generic Dandy Bit
The Dandy models commenced production in 1963. At this point, they were manufactured in a dark green
colour scheme on the camper walls, and, uniquely, the canvas part of the camper was constructed in PVC. This was a characteristic
that was to continue throughout the life span of the range, and makes them the only brand that can, safely, be packed away wet, and
left for longer periods, unlike their canvas contemporaries, that can only be packed away wet for some 48 hours or so, before mould
and mildew start to become an issue.
By the early 70's, the green PVC walls had been replaced by orange, and, towards the
end of the 70's, in 1978, this was, again, superceded, this time by brown PVC. During the 1980's, there were various colour cobinations,
including brown and white, brown and mushroom, and all mushroom. During the 1990's (the last years of the original Dandy company)
the walls were, again, changed, this time, to a light blue and white (pictures 6 and 7). In 1994, double glazing was introduced in
all models. The light blue and white colour scheme continued until 2003, when Ian Smith, an employee of the original company,
acquired the business, and transferred it to his new company; Riva Leisure Products Limited. During the period from 2003 to 2008,
the new company continued to manufacture the Dandy models, in the dark blue and white colour scheme. The business ceased trading in
2008, and Riva Dandy Sales came into being. The latter is still very actively involved in spares and repairs for
existing Dandy units.
The Dandy Designer
The Dandy Designer was one of the newer models introduced when the Dandy models
ceased to be named after their number of berths, and began to receive 'proper' names. As with all models, production then continued
until 2008, when current owners, Riva Leisure Products Limited ceased manufacturing them. The Designer was a variation
on the standard four berth layout, with rear door, kitchen opposite, on the front wall, and a double bed, either side. The left hand
bed (viewed from the door) was a fixed double. The right hand bed could be made up into a large settee, when not being used as a bed.
Unlike most standard four berth models, however, instead of a small bench in front of the left hand bed, there was, actually, a small
single dinette, which converted to a single bed, thereby turning it into a five berth model.
The Designer was slightly larger
than siblings; the
Dart and
Delta, in order to accommodate the single dinette. Unlike those models, it, also, featured integral wheels,
rather than external wheel arches. Externally, it was identical to the
Dandy Discovery. Both models offered five berth accomodation,
however, whilst the Designer achieved this using a single dinette, the Discovery replaced the dinette with a single bed settee.
The
equipment levels in the Dandy's tend to be fairly basic. The Designer had a kitchen unit with dual burner hob and grill, plus cold
water fed sink. Like many entry level models, there was no fridge in this model.
Included in the Paperwork section above is
the latest Riva brochure for the Designer, as well as a couple of brochures, from 1980 and 1996. Two further brochures are,
also, included below,
along with a set of assembly instructions, from Riva Dandy Sales / The Dandy Forum. We
also have two videos, the first is an official Riva Dandy Sales video, showing the assembly of a Designer and the second is an
owner produced video of a 1991 model.