ACE NOVELLA COACHBUILTS

Each month we focus on a great secondhand mainstream motorhome. We then tell you which is the best of the bunch, what to pay and which problems to look out for

"They'll be gone in a year," was (rather dismissively) opined by some established British converters in the early 1990s, when Derby-based Don Amott unveiled several Italian budget coachbuilt ranges in RHD and with an OTR price undercutting competitors by 25%.

They didn't disappear, but continued to find favour with British purchasers (especially young families) to such an extent that early in the new millennium, Swift produced a range to compete head-on with the hugely popular Italian imports.

Monikered Ace Novella, these coachbuilts did just that and then some. They were exciting, appealing, and sold by the shedload. Now, two decades later, they make a savvy pre-owned purchase.

Unveiled at the October 2001 NEC show, Novella's launch offer numbered four... all Luton over cab coachbuilts, and all named after well-known, iconic, Italian cities.

Torino, just 5.53m (18' 2") long, but with four sleeping berths and three travel seats, packed a lot of accommodation into a little package.

Layout featured a front lounge ahead of the wardrobe, plus the kitchen and washroom at the rear.

Milano featured what was then the most popular '6m' coachbuilt layout a forward lounge consisting of a double Pullman dinette on the offside, opposite which was a long inwardfacing settee. Next a centrally located wardrobe, and finally a rear kitchen and washroom, similar to the Torino.

Six-berth Verona's two double beds plus twin bunks were clearly aimed at mob-handed motor caravanners.

Milano and Verona were actually a tad over 6m, stretching the tape to 6.1m/20' 0". Another six-berth was the flagship Roma, the longest at 6.93m/22' 9", and the only launch model to feature a permanent double bed. It's located transversely at the far rear, and because it is above a spacious garage, it has to be a high-level one.