Bailey goes back to special editions
BAILEY IS WORKING with a group of dealerships to bring out factory-fitted special editions of its caravans for the first time in more than 20 years. In recent times, only a handful of dealers have brought out dealer specials – and all of these vans have been adapted by the dealers themselves. For the 2019 season, however, Bailey has lined up with 10 dealers across the country, each of whom will be producing their own dealer special, based on the new Bailey Phoenix (see panel, right). Bailey’s marketing director Simon Howard admitted that such a large new campaign is a big departure for the brand. He said, “We last brought out Bailey specials when we did the Ranger, and that was as long ago as 1996. But we understand that our dealers want to be able to offer something unique and different today.” In addition to standard Phoenix spec, all of the new dealer specials will be offering an external barbecue point and mains socket, a solar panel, a wider Hartal stable door with window, a Thetford Caprice combined oven, grill and hob, and a Tracker intruder alarm. The special editions will also come with a bespoke doormat, and bespoke exterior graphics and internal soft furnishings. A swan-neck kitchen mixer tap and Remis pleated blinds and flyscreens to the principal windows should complete the look, although some dealers have selected extra spec in addition to this. The news comes shortly after Bailey welcomed more than 150 caravans and motorhomes for the biennial Bailey Owners Club factory visit at Dyrham Park near Bath. Members were shown around the production facility at South Liberty Lane in Bristol and the new plant at Clevedon in north Somerset.