Pendragon Contracts is to supply a fleet of vans designed to be high-tech sales outlets to franchisees of tool retailer Snap-on.

Pendragon is supplying 175 refitted vans and intends to supply more than 300 on lease.

The Iveco vans have been fitted with computers, plasma screens and product displays.

Pendragon is also recycling existing vehicles, storing them and then refitting them.

“These vans are £60,000 Ivecos, the only vehicle that can carry the 5.5 tonnes of materials, said Andy Barrell, head of national accounts at Pendragon Contracts.

"We came up with the solution after approaching a body-building company to design and build the vans to specification on a particular budget.”

The vans also come equipped with point of sale displays and a computer that generates invoices, payment records and finance agreements between the franchisee and customers.

“We were determined to win this contract and had to show the directors of Snap-on we were able to do something extra that other companies couldn’t deliver,” said Mr Barrell.

“Our team discussed the situation in great detail and designed a completely new interior for the Snap-on vans, well known in the industry for providing a mobile shop that is actually a first-class retail outlet.”