A Hobbit-themed van called Frodo is one of the incredible six pimped rides to make it to the shortlist of 2025’s eBay Van Conversion of the Year competition – and it’s not the only wacky transformation
Frodo, owned by Jessica Kleczka, is joined by a fabulous hair salon on wheels frequented by celebrity A-listers and a burger van converted from a former fire engine.
TV presenter and architect George Clarke – known for his Channel 4 show George Clarke’s Amazing Spaces – was on the judging panel – selecting the half a dozen finalists, from which an overall winner will be picked by eBay in December and presented with a £10,000 prize.
George says: “This year’s awards have showcased an eclectic range of conversions for me to assess, featuring everything from ingeniously adaptable business vans to weekend adventure campers and fully equipped homes-on-wheels for full-time van lifers.
“Selecting an overall winner won’t be easy, but the creativity and craftsmanship displayed by this year’s entrants is incredibly inspiring.”
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Jessica’s Vauxhall Movano van Frodo was inspired by her love of woodland and mystical adventures and created with the help of her partner Risi and her beloved red setter, Heidi.
Kitting it out with vintage furniture and reclaimed wooden pallets, she designed it to be comfortable for long periods of travel, while keeping running costs low. Featuring a compost toilet, indoor and outdoor kitchens and an electrical system that means she can survive off grid for a week, Frodo is both a functional and a creative space.
Jessica says: “I believe that Frodo is a testament to what can be achieved with limited resources, little experience, and a lot of creativity. The van is practical, adaptable and a real joy of a place to call home. After buying the van on eBay, along with a water tank, cooker and cabinets, it took us three and a half months of seven-hour days to get him ready – he’s perfect for full-time living and off-grid adventure.”
Niall Seymour is a previous category winner from 2024, with his converted school bus, and has once again been awarded the special recognition award for his other creation, a burger van created from an old Scania fire engine. He built the kitchen from scratch and sourced most of the parts on eBay – even the gas connections, plumbing and flooring.
Niall says: “I was inspired by a friend who has a converted school bus which is a burger van. I thought, what’s more eye-catching than a school bus? A fire engine! We bought a fire engine online and spent more than a year gutting the interior, building a new body to house the kitchen and kitting it out – it is the only fire engine food truck I’ve ever seen with a fully built kitchen. It’s the best thing I have ever built!”
Alex Kamintzis has converted his Mercedes Sprinter into a mobile hair salon with two hairdressing chairs, mirrors and everything a hairdresser would need. “When we launched Evolution Mobile Salons, we believed it to be the UK’s first mobile hair salon,” he says. “From the van, I’ve had the pleasure of cutting the hair of a remarkably diverse range of clients, from A-listers to children and OAPs.
“The mobile salon travels everywhere – from farm shops and business parks to leisure centres – its functional design enables me to operate it with the same professionalism and comfort as a traditional salon.” The awards honour the UK’s finest van conversions that combine outstanding design, clever use of space, and exceptional craftsmanship across a variety of categories:
- Tiny Haven Award – best use of a small space
- Clever Camper Award – best engineering ingenuity and uniqueness
- Most Creative Camper Award – most outstanding creativity
- Globetrotter Award – best van for long-term living and far-away travelling
- Built for Business Award – award for the best conversion for a business
- Special Recognition Award – best conversion that isn’t quite a van
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