Regent returns at Adelaide Show

A reborn Regent Caravans will bounce back with a new range to be unveiled at the 2013 Adelaide Caravan and Camping Show, which opens on Wednesday.

The well-respected Regent Caravans, which went into voluntary liquidation in April last year, has been revived by new owner Caravans Australia, which also builds Legacy Caravans and is the Australian agent for Bailey Caravans.

The first caravan to lead the Regent revival – a 20ft 6in (internal length) Regent Cruiser tandem axle (pictured) – was completed at the company’s refurbished and modernised factory in Campbellfield, Victoria only late last week.

A smaller 19ft 6in Regent Monarch is currently being completed and will be rushed across the border to accompany it on display in Adelaide.

Both will be joined at the Victorian Caravan, Camping and Touring Supershow in Melbourne from March 7-12 by a third and larger 21ft 6in Monarch model, completing the reborn make’s initial three-model rollout.

An innovately-styled fourth Regent model is currently on the drawing board and may be seen later this year.

Selling in the $60,000-$65,000 range, the point of different for the revived brand according to Regents’ general manager Graeme Groves, will be its hand-built quality and fittings, employing traditional stick rather than vogue CNC-cut flat-pack furniture.

The new range will also have a very complete specification, with opportunities for customers to personalise their caravans.

"The industry is moving towards one-size-fits-all caravans for economy of manufacture," said Groves. "We’re building Regents on established and proven caravan construction values because we know that there are a great many people who are looking for a modern take on a traditional van.

"We removed 11.8 tonnes of rubbish when we completely renovated the old Regent factory and have replaced much of the old equipment with modern machinery and tooling to build the new models more accurately and better."

Not that there’s anything fusty or old fashioned about the new Regents that visitors will see at the caravan shows in Melbourne or Adelaide.

Built on robot-welded chassis, with the latest ‘plug and play’ electrical fittings, both the Cruiser and Monarch on display in Adelaide feature front north-south queen-size beds with inner-spring mattresses and rear separate shower and toilet ensuites, with the Cruiser having a rear and the Monarch a centre entry.

Regent will offer customers the choice between two principal interior décors – modern Brilliant White, or traditional timber tones.

Glass-look colour full-height splashbacks, with an optional oven to supplement the four burner cook top with grill and microwave, plus large 190-litre three-way fridge/freezers, should also make the new Regents appeal to travelling Masterchefs.

Other standard features across all models include double-glazed windows with screen and blockout blinds, twin large 95-litre water tanks, large Ibis roof-mounted reverse cycle air conditioners and top-loading washing machines.

The new Regent range represents three of 13 new caravan models being rolled out this year by
Caravans Australia, including facelifted 2013 models available with off-road packs from Legacy Caravans
recently unveiled at the Newcastle Caravan Show.