Bailey Approach Autograph 750

PRICE FROM £46,950 PRICE AS TESTED £46,950 TYPE APPROVAL European Whole Vehicle BERTHS 4

The Approach name is an apt one, as Bailey did indeed approach its fledgling motorhome project in thorough fashion – crash testing its designs several times before finally going into production.

The result was a five-model range – four low-profiles, one overcab – that inspired confidence, especially when you add Bailey’s unique rot-proof Alu–Tech construction, high specification and lengthy structural integrity guarantees into the mix. Value-for-money too, is a feature – the Approach range has become a Bailey, bang-for-your-buck, success story.

Now it’s time to build on that success: for 2014 Approach SE becomes Approach Autograph – the five models on offer are now all low-profiles and the 750 is one of two new models launched.

Layout
The Autograph 750’s layout is unique amongst British makers (though common in continental conversions).
It features twin single beds above a garage design; up front there is a Euro-style lounge with the bathroom and kitchen in the middle of the ’van.

Upgrades
Externals are both more attractive and practical, thanks to improved styling and colours, coupled with the latest chassis from Al-Ko. Last year’s slab-like, boxy styling and grey and magnolia hues are gone.

Bailey has had first dibs on Al-Ko’s brand new ultra-low chassis for next year. And the chassis is effective too, giving a super-low stance, improving on-road handling and allowing the lowest internal step heights in the business at the habitation door.

The Approach interior has also been upgraded, with classier locker doors that feature Hessian-style printed trim. Upholstery comes in two versions with cloth and leatherette in combination.

In the cab
The 750’s Peugeot Boxer cab comes with cruise control, air-conditioning and remote central locking that extends to the habitation door are all included.
The motor is the 130-horsepower unit, with six-speed manual gearbox, and it’s the only one on offer. Performance is fine, with Peugeot’s lusty-and-gruff 2.2-litre motor offering good acceleration and relaxed high-speed cruising.

Lounge
The lounge offers swivelling cab seats, half-dinette, twin travel seat and an inward-facing side seat ahead of the table. There’s a decent side sofa too and the area feels spacious thanks, in part, to the fact that this motorhome is wider than all of its obvious rivals on the market – there’s room for seven to sit comfortably in here, with the body count reduced by three when watching TV as the telly’s station is situated above the side sofa.

The lounge’s final trick is to convert into a bed. And again, it differs from the usual design: where most make up into a transverse double, this one is arranged lengthways.

The bed isn’t huge at a tad over six feet long and just 3ft 7in wide. Bear in mind too that the table must be stowed in the garage for safe travel – its weight makes this tricky.

Kitchen
The cook’s work-station is a compact one as the layout places it in the middle of the ’van and just behind the door, ahead of the nearside single bed.

Compact, yes, but well equipped too. Gone is last year’s separate hob and oven, replaced by that stalwart of the British motorhome kitchen, the slot-in stove. And yes, you do get three gas burners, one mains hotplate and separate grill and oven – in short, just about the best motorhome cooker it’s possible to have.

Above, a locker door hides a nice stainless-steel microwave too.

The only thing that disappointed me slightly was the rather basic fridge. It’s a decent size and has the current-fashion removable freezer box, but not only are its controls manual, they’re the type that requires two hands to fire things up on gas, while peering at a tiny analogue meter that tells you when the burner is lit. All a bit 1980s...

Washroom
The 750’s bathroom is designed with the washbasin contained within the shower compartment, while the Thetford C250 swivel-bowl loo lives just inside the bathroom door.

Showering is a pleasant experience, with good flow from the water-saver head. The basin serves as a great receptacle for gel and wash-cloth, but its presence makes closing the bi-fold door a tad tricky once you are inside the cubicle.

Beds
Progressing to the bedroom and the reasons to buy. Single beds are the only option in here and they’re easy to get at thanks to a set of stairs giving access. Both beds are sensibly wide, but not overly long – the nearside one is a smidgeon over 6ft 1in, the offside bed just over 5ft 11in.

There’s no problem getting sat up in bed as there’s a lack of overhead lockers, while padded headboards make it easy and comfortable. My late-night ‘Kindle-ing’ was a pleasure with plenty of light from overhead spots and reading lamp.

Garage
Purchasers of this motorhome will probably want the garage as much as they do the single beds. And if they also want a British-built motorhome, then the Autograph 750 is the only choice as no other mainstream UK converter offers this format.

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The Autograph 750 is a unique British motorhome that offers plenty of value – especially considering its impressive kit list. However, try the beds for size before you buy.