Austin J5 – AKVR
The Client:
The Peninsula London, located at Hyde Park Corner, wanted to transform a beautifully restored vintage vehicle into a fully operational mobile coffee unit that could serve guests at the hotel while retaining the character and functionality of the original vehicle.
The vehicle itself had already been sourced and restored by a specialist company before coming to 4Sure, giving us a unique starting point – and a very different set of challenges from a conventional catering conversion.
The Brief:
The Peninsula wanted the vehicle to operate as a self-contained coffee unit, serving directly from the rear while remaining capable of getting back on the road when required.
Importantly, the vehicle was also intended to take part in the historic London to Brighton Veteran Car Run, so everything we added had to work around the limitations of a drivable vintage vehicle.
The finished conversion needed to:
- Provide a complete coffee service from the rear of the vehicle
- Operate independently without a support vehicle
- Incorporate fresh and waste water systems and hand-washing facilities
- House a commercial coffee machine, grinder and essential serving equipment
- Allow the coffee station to be quickly stowed when returning to the road
- Keep additional weight to an absolute minimum
- Complement the quality and character expected of The Peninsula London
What We Delivered:
Working within the confines of a vintage vehicle meant approaching the conversion very differently. Every component had to earn its place, with particular attention given to weight, storage and the ability to switch seamlessly between serving and driving.
Coffee & Service
- Commercial coffee machine and grinder incorporated into the serving station
- Dedicated drawers providing convenient storage for tea, coffee and other essentials
- Rear service counter designed to create a practical coffee station when parked
- Sliding coffee station that could be easily extended for service and stowed securely when the vehicle returned to the road
- Hand-washing facilities incorporated into the compact layout
- Fresh and waste water systems allowing the unit to operate independently
Power & Weight Management
Weight was one of the biggest considerations throughout the project. The age and design of the vehicle meant there was a strict limit on how much additional equipment could be installed.
- Lightweight materials and components selected wherever possible
- Battery and inverter system providing self-sufficient power without the need for a generator
- Batteries and inverters weighing approximately 260kg combined – a significant proportion of the vehicle's available payload
- Power equipment cleverly concealed behind the sliding coffee station
- Mains connection allowing the batteries to be replenished when the vehicle returns to the hotel
- Fully compliant and certified electrical installation
Bespoke Extras
The project extended beyond the vehicle itself. We also created additional equipment specifically for its role at The Peninsula London.
- Custom standalone counter providing additional serving space within the hotel
- Bespoke storage designed specifically for The Peninsula's umbrellas – ready for the unpredictability of the British weather
- Additional elements designed to complement the appearance and premium finish of the vehicle
The Result:
The finished conversion gives The Peninsula London a distinctive mobile coffee experience without compromising what makes the original vintage vehicle special.
Behind its traditional appearance is a carefully engineered modern catering setup, with onboard power, water, commercial coffee equipment and clever storage all incorporated within extremely tight space and weight restrictions.
When it's time to serve, the rear of the vehicle transforms into a practical coffee station. When it's time to get back on the road, the counter slides neatly away, concealing the modern electrical equipment behind it and allowing the vehicle to return to its original purpose.
A unique conversion where modern catering technology meets vintage motoring.
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Before
During
Finished
