Locally-built UK Bailey vans coming 

In a market broadside to rival British and European caravan importers, Bailey Australia plans to assemble Bailey UK caravans on a specially designed, Australian made chassis at its Campbellfield, Melbourne factory.

Based on the successful ‘Bailey of Bristol Unicorn IV Pamplona’ design, the ‘Australianised’ Pamplonas with their distinctive panoramic front lounge and rear bedroom layout will be relatively untouched from their UK counterparts other than their plumbing, electrical, appliances and locally designed and built chassis.

Significantly, they will retain their patented Alu-Tech construction and narrower 2280mm (7ft 6in) Euro-width, rather than broader 2490mm (8ft 2in) girth of Australian Bailey Rangefinder models, along with the UK-built model’s quintessentially British ‘drawing room’ interior furnishings.

Bailey Australia boss, Adrian van Geelen said that while the original Bristol-built Pamplona remains one of the most successful models in the Bailey Australia range, there have been some limitations in its design that will be overcome by local assembly.

As such, the Australian Unicorn IV Pamplona will feature a more rugged locally-designed and manufactured chassis with greater ground clearance and an increased payload, larger water tanks holding a total of 200 litres and a new, one-piece entry door with a more secure, lockable fly-mesh.

Van Geelen said since becoming the first British manufacturer to enter the Australian market in 2010, Bailey had continued to adjust its vans to ensure they could handle the Australian climate and conditions.

In 2016, Bailey took it a step further by being the first British manufacturer to set up shop in Australia, manufacturing the Rangefinder series of tandem-axle models in a joint venture that is fully supported by the UK.

“Our locally designed and built Rangefinder models have been very well-received and popular, but there has been a continued demand for the British Bailey range,” he said.

“The Australian Unicorns  will look identical to their UK counterparts and will be immediately recognisable as coming from the British stable, but they will feature more than 50 alterations for compliance and practical reasons.”

The first tandem axle ‘Aussie’ Pamplonas will be built from August this year in Campbellfield and will later be joined by single axle Bailey Pursuit models, which again will be visually identical to their UK counterparts and will form the entry level to the Bailey caravan range in Australia.