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MOTORHOMENEWS

~ A personal take by Christopher Macgowan on tourism, travel and motorhomes.

MOTORHOMENEWS

Tag Archives: Bailey

Third-Generation Bailey Autograph range launched.

07 Saturday Sep 2019

Posted by chrismacgowan in Marketing, Motorhomes

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#motorhomes, @motorhmenews, AL-KO, alde, Bailey, Bailey Autograph, bailey of bristol, Bristol, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Honda, motorhome, motorhomenews, NEC, Peugeot, Stanton House, Swindon

The third-generation Bailey Autograph motorhomes were launched this week.

Available in eight layouts including new fixed bed and fixed island bed variants, and with and without dedicated rear travel seats. They represent what you might call “the real deal” with a Peugeot drive train, AL-KO chassis, Alde heating and a policy of no hidden extras so a dedicated motorhome owner can be assured that the level of luxury will meet or exceed expectations.

The full eight-model range – which I have to say look pretty attractive to me – will be on show in Hall 19 at this year’s NEC Show October 15th to 20th.

It is interesting how time plays tricks with our memories. Back in 2011 when Bailey announced its first motorhomes it seemed a very big deal indeed – a brave move perhaps – and certainly a strong signal that the caravan-only company was prepared to innovate, change and move with the market. During the last eight years the company has continued to dominate the caravan market – so no loss of focus there – and has become a serious and successful motorhome manufacturer fighting its way with the Hymers, Rapidos and a string of other UK and continental European manufacturers. We all know that companies often struggle with change; they either don’t change or don’t do it very well and are burdened by their history.

Not so Bailey I would suggest.

The launch was held at the delightful Stanton House Hotel near Swindon and whilst obviously the launch was the all important part, I had a bit of a trip down memory lane. The original manor house was renovated and hugely improved to meet the demands of Japanese guests from the nearby Honda car factory and their suppliers. I was a fairly frequent visitor there because of my automotive background and although the hotel has for many years embraced all visitors with or without a Honda connection, the signs are bilingual, the website is in English and Japanese and the restaurant has an exceptional Japanese influence as well as catering of course for European tastes.

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Not on our way to the Arctic…..

01 Monday May 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in Places

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arctic, Bailey, Berlin, brandenburg, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews

The amazing Bailey of Bristol Arctic Adventure involved a key moment when the two caravans and the one motorhome stopped for a memorable photo opportunity at Berlin’s Brandenburg Gate on their way to Finland. 

Equally memorable for Emily, Faye and Anna (l to r) we are in Berlin this weekend but, sadly, Ryanair will not be taking us onwards and upwards to the Arctic…….

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Bailey invades the Arctic.

16 Thursday Feb 2017

Posted by chrismacgowan in Travel

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arctic, Bailey, bailey of bristol, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews, Nick Lomas, simon howard

Bailey motorhome and caravans aim for the Arctic Circle.

Bailey will be heading off on its Artic Adventure in a motorhome and two caravans.

To demonstrate the strength and durability of its Alu-Tech construction, Bailey of Bristol is about to embark on another marathon product endurance test. This time the company, in association with The Caravan Club, will be taking an Autograph 75-2 motorhome and two caravans on an epic 5,000-mile journey to the Arctic Circle.

The Bailey Arctic Adventure will set off from the Millbrook Proving Ground in Bedfordshire, travel through Europe across the Arctic Circle to the Millbrook Winter Test Centre in Ivalo, Northern Finland and then back.

The journey will take 16 days and the team will visit 12 countries in the process taking in some of Europe’s most iconic locations including the Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, the official home town of Santa Claus at Rovaniemi in Finland, and the Oresund Bridge linking Sweden to Denmark on the way.

Road and weather conditions at this time of year in Scandinavia will be challenging. With temperatures possibly dropping as low as minus 30 degrees centigrade there will be plenty of snow and ice on an already harsh terrain, making driving potentially hazardous.

To combat this, the 2.0 Blue Hdi 160bhp engine of the Autograph 75-2 should be able to take this journey in its stride, said Bailey, especially as the motorhome has been fully winterised, are fitted with winter tyres and supplied with snow chains.

As with all Bailey leisure vehicles the ‘Arctic Adventure’ motorhome and caravans are built using the company’s patented Alu-Tech body shell construction system.

Bailey points out that this award-winning technology creates vehicles that are more robust, more durable and yet lighter than those manufactured using conventional methods and offer greater protection against the elements to keep owners comfortable, safe and secure all year round.

To date over 40,000 Bailey caravans and motorhomes have been built using this method.

The team will be posting daily blogs and social media updates as often as possible via the Bailey and The Caravan Club social media channels details.

Talking about the challenge ahead, Bailey Marketing Director and a member of the ‘Arctic Adventure’ team Simon Howard, said: “After completing the West2East challenge in Australia we wanted to show people the other side of the ‘extreme caravanning coin’. Whilst the road and weather conditions in Northern Finland will be the polar opposite to those we experienced in the Australian Outback, they will be no less challenging.

“Hopefully we’ll be able to show people that if you put your mind to it you really can go anywhere and do anything in a modern leisure vehicle” he added.

Commenting on The Caravan Club’s involvement Director General Nick Lomas said: “The Caravan Club is delighted to support the ‘Arctic Adventure’ as it highlights what fantastic adventures you can have in a caravan or a motorhome. Not everybody can travel to the Arctic Circle but we hope it inspires people to have their own adventures, whether it be travelling for 10 miles, 100 miles or a thousand miles.”

You can follow regular updates on the team’s progress on the Bailey of Bristol Twitter @BaileyofBristol (#ArcticAdventure) and as well as the new Bailey of Bristol Facebook page.

 

Christopher Macgowan

@motorhomenews

Bailey launches sub-six metre compact.

02 Wednesday Oct 2013

Posted by chrismacgowan in Motorhomes

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Approach Compact 520, Bailey, Christopher Macgowan, motorhomenews

20131002-040331.jpg

Bailey of Bristol has launched a sub-six metre coachbuilt as part of its range of motorhomes for 2014. Called the Approach Compact, the new model sits alongside the five-strong Approach Autograph range launched by Bailey in July of this year.

The Approach Compact 520 is a two-berth end-bedroom, front lounge, with a central kitchen and washroom plus a raised rear fixed double bed with garage storage underneath. The Approach Compact 540 is a three-berth with a full width end washroom, a central kitchen and an L-shaped front lounge with a drop down double bed.

Measuring 5.99m long, 2.15m wide and offering up to 2.05m headroom, Bailey says the Compact’s main raison d’être is the promise of the “practical advantages of a panel van conversion, such as ease of use and lower running costs, but with the design flexibility and extra interior space found in a coachbuilt.”

SOURCE

Christopher Macgowan
@motorhomenews

HM at the Bailey factory.

23 Friday Nov 2012

Posted by chrismacgowan in General

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Bailey, Bristol, chrismacgowan, Christopher Macgowan, Grenville Chamberlain, Her Majesty the Queen, motorhomenews, The Caravan Club, The Duke of Edinburgh

20121123-100832.jpg

Her Majesty the Queen looking over a Bailey motorhome when she and the Duke of Edinburgh (who is himself Patron of The Caravan Club) visited the factory in Bristol yesterday. The Caravan Club was represented by the Chairman, Grenville Chamberlain.

Christopher Macgowan
twitter: motorhomenews

Royal visit to Bailey Caravans.

22 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by chrismacgowan in General

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Bailey, Grenville Chamberlain, The Caravan Club

20121122-235133.jpg

The Chairman of The Caravan Club, Grenville Chamberlain, had the honour of being presented to Her Majesty The Queen when today she visited Bailey Caravans in Bristol.

Christopher Macgowan
twitter: motorhomenews

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