100 Timeless Classic Campers and Vintage Camper Restorations

this amalgam of all things camping was created  by Ford during an era when road trips camping   and most things car related were the happening  trends at first glance it looks like just a   station wagon with a boat on top but one push of  a button on the handy remote brings it all to life   the rowboat on the roof flips out and over  to reveal a pop-up tent underneath while   a small fan-shaped awning extends over  the tailgate when it's lowered a small   kitchen type thing he raises out of the rear  decking containing a dual burner cooker sink   and cooler just like most vehicle related fads  the camper car became a thing of a bygone era dubbed the fastest camper car in the world  at the time the Citroen CX Penthouse is   a LinkedIn version of the Citron cxi car  though it doesn't quite resemble a luxury   suite at a Swanky Hotel the penthouse has  a fully insulated rear compartment complete   with a toilet and living area it has the  distinction of having two doors on the   right side and only one on the left as well  as an electrical folding roof foreign [Music]   featured in Popular Mechanics magazine and the  movie Total Recall the 1979 Phoenix camper van   was a VW based van that expanded into a tent  Phoenix had the Sleek look of a modern sports   van when driving and its low frontal area  coupled with a curb weight of 2 000 pounds   along with its VW van chassis translated into  a highway fuel economy of 25 miles per gallon   the tent trailer expanded into a large room with  a height of six feet in the center 12 feet across   when expanded and came with a bench seat with  14 cubic feet of storage on each side nitrogen   cylinder assisted Gullwing doors provided easy  entrance into the low profile cab and the two   bucket seats in front allowed Central walking  space into the rear later cosmetic changes were   made to give it a facelift and it was reintroduced  as the mechanics illustrated's Renegade   this next one looks like something you'd  see if you were teleported to the Future   Space Capsule looking camper would look at home  Among the Stars and just happen to be built a   year before man landed on the moon starting out  as the dream of avant-garde designer Anthony   pisteria the marimba mini star was sadly two  ahead of its time and only a few were made   sporting an unusual oblong shape the camper can  sleep up to four people with enough space for a   kitchen with a fridge and a stove the very first  brochure for this futuristic vehicle marveled at   its 800 pound weight despite the fact that it's  made up of 35 miles of continuous fiberglass   this combination of an REO tractor and Curtis  aerocar was commissioned in 1938 and nicknamed   the Vagabond by its owner measuring 50 feet  in length the whole thing weighs in around 13   000 pounds outfitted for use as a traveling  office the trailer included a kitchen and restroom   seating for eight people and an observation  deck with an intercom connected to the cab it   went on The Auction Block in December of 2017  selling for just under 137 thousand dollars this off-road confident RV is not your  standard camper the revcon Trailblazer was   the first of its kind when it hit the market  in 1992. the 32 foot long 4x4 is all terrain   all season and comes equipped with a fully  insulated interior fiberglass shell with a   white outer shell built from aircraft grade  aluminum the 1994 model is built on a Ford   f-530 Chassis with an extra set of wheels on  a tag axle to handle the added weight [Music]   if this groovy camper van is stirring up memories  of the 60s it's because by 1965 a total of 187   000 had been built making the Ford Thames  400e somewhat of a commercial success   minivan versions could seat up to 12  people and without all those extra   seats it's square shape went  well to a caravan conversion   it allowed plenty of space for a pull-out sofa  sink and stove top while still feeling quite roomy   thanks to the collapsible roof which created  extra headspace when standing modifications   to the van meant that a larger engine had to  be used to compensate for the added weight The Peacemaker bus is the ultimate hippie machine  it was built and remodeled by a family who turned   it into an amazing RV with all of its interior  handmade this vehicle is made of two buses merged   together a GM motor coach and an arrow coach  giving it an unusual caterpillar-like design former president of the Ford Motor Company  Seaman nudeson came up with the idea for   the rec trans when he joined the white Motor  Company in 1971. built over a three-year span   it came with a fridge water heater stove and  furnace one of the most appealing features of   this was the ability of the engine to get over  10 miles per gallon moving a 5-ton motorhome this next entry on the list may look like  a cartoon fire engine on steroids but it's   what's inside that counts the interior has all  the Creature Comforts in the right places a   kitchen with dual refrigerators a queen-size loft  bed and a full-size bathroom with a shower it   measures in at eight feet wide by 21 feet long  and comes in your choice of six color schemes   foreign -esque is the 1962 wind Spiel which  wouldn't be out of place as a movie prop from 20   000 Leagues Under the Sea this lightweight  Caravan weighed in at only 661 pounds despite   having a propane stove refrigerator and water  tank included the interior features a sloped   triangular Booth seating that comes together  at a rear-facing window the front-facing wall   houses the kitchenette and a large window to  look out at the surroundings only five or six   models were ever built at a cost equivalent  to eleven thousand dollars in today's money this mini version of an RV was designed  with practicality in mind it provides all   the conveniences of a larger RV but at six feet  wide and 21 feet long it's still small enough to   fit in your average garage the Vixen was smoother  than most of its competitors on the market with   its folding windows and hinged roof that provided  over six feet of Headroom three different models   were offered between 1986 and 1989 but only  587 of the vehicles were actually produced   foreign the telescopic apartment was a Nifty  addition that attached to the back of a Model   T Ford the apartment had slide out compartments  that offered everything you would need while   away from the Comforts of your own home such as a  kitchen area complete with a camp stove as well as   a chest of drawers a full bed was nestled inside  the body of the apartment providing privacy and   shelter when sleeping its next entry is another  futuristic looking camper to add to the list the   all-aluminum bolus Road Chief looks like a huge  Silver Bullet it has a low center of gravity   efficient interior space and a lightweight design  sharing similar features with the iconic Airstream   trailer and while airstreams became a household  name only 80 of these were ever built in the   mid-1930s fast forward 80 years and we now have a  newer longer version paying homage to the original   we've featured a few of Randy grubb's Creations  in the past and we've never been disappointed   with his work this one named The Deco liner  is no exception it incorporates a hand form   framework onto a 1973 GM motorhome cabin chassis  with an overall length of 26 feet riveted aluminum   panels form the outer shell giving the vehicle  an industrial retro look the interior features   couches behind the cab and in the rear which  convert to beds and a small countertop with a   deep well cooler outside is an arching stairway  leading up from the rear to a flying bridge that   offers bench seating for up to five people The  Deco liner can also be driven from up top using   a steering shaft that comes through the roof  of the cab to connect to the lower steering   column Grubbs sold the vehicle to a private  buyer in 2013 for an undisclosed sum [Music]   just when you thought we were done with the  bizarre looking Camper vans this one popped   up and of the many crazy campers on the list  this one possibly tops them all the coaster   trimmer van is a one-off that was built  in 1982 by a British couple although it   does have a compact design the hard edges  do leave something to be desired [Music] want to go on vacation but don't want  to leave your swimming pool behind no   problem the executive Flagship boasted the biggest  trailer in the world at the time of its invention   not only did it have a portable pool it  also had a helicopter pad on the roof motorhome was nothing short of luxurious at   the time with a price tag of  seventy five thousand dollars [Music] these elaborate trailers produced  by International Harvester were used   extensively by Italian explorer attilio  Gotti during his final two expeditions to   Africa a total of eight trailers were used  with each one measuring 44 feet in length   and weighing 9 tons once on site two of them  could be joined together to create a five-room   living space that had both electricity  and air conditioning features included   two full-size bedrooms and a bathroom with a  full-length tub as well as an office containing   a personal bar although they weren't the  easiest to navigate in the rough terrain   they made up for it in Comfort costing a  cool fifteen thousand dollars each [Music]   this odd little bug of a motorhome was the first  Airstream that was not pulled by another vehicle   measuring in at 20 feet long the argosi hit the  market in 1974 but was discontinued in 1979. even   though you can't get one of these brand new there  are a ton of restored models up for sale [Music]   while some of these crazy campers are a great  success and others are just one-off custom   builds there seems to be something for everyone  would you want to make your very own motorhome   would you own one of the vehicles from this  list be sure and let us know in the comments first hitting the road in 1963 the mini Wild Goose  was a BMC minivan that had been converted into   a motorhome it was marketed toward retirees who  wanted a comfortable and economical Carefree life   the model Brent had a telescopic roof  that raised electrically providing just   under six feet of Headroom features included a  portable gas stove dinette seating and room to   sleep four people the wild goose was only in  production for five years with approximately   60 units being built leaving fewer than a dozen  that are currently roadworthy the original price   for a full rig was the equivalent of just over  twenty six thousand dollars in today's money this one started out way back in the days of 1913  as a motorcycle sidecar manufacturer then they   tried their hand at funeral cars and ambulances  before settling on making coaches and buses one of   these was called the Starliner and it had a good  run of about a decade starting in the late 50s   not only were these used as Transit and inner  city coaches but many musicians chose to use   modified versions as their mode of travel  these custom models offered the standard   amenities of modern day motorhomes  including a full kitchenette and   dinette a bathroom with a stand-up shower  and a private bedroom in the back [Music] originally manufactured by Holiday House  Geographic in 1961 this model X is only one   of two known to exist the factory burned down  in 1962 with parts for only seven units having   been made the existing molds were discarded  soon after guaranteeing the collectibility   of this super limited production this restore  maintains the beauty and Design Elements of   the original while still being equipped like a  modern luxury travel trailer it features a large   Lounge area with an L-shaped couch and love seat  that both modified a sleep up to four people the   kitchenette includes a stainless steel countertop  with a dual burner cooktop a two drawer fridge and   a sink with a built-in drain board the front  of the trailer houses the dressing room and   bathroom which contains a foot flush toilet  along with a hardwood floored shower area   the price when it was manufactured ran  around eight thousand five hundred dollars   it was fully restored by organ-based  flight Camp from the frame up   the current list price for this  one is 250 thousand dollars Romani Gypsy trailers Vickers glendale's or  marchams and the Westmoreland star 60s and 70s   a couple of the more luxurious Romani Gypsy  trailers that were available in the 70s were   the Westmoreland star or markhams as they  are often called Westmoreland star Caravans   known almost universally as West born and star  started in 1961 with Alan dent and Ted Sears   who previously worked at other companies building  for travelers Vickers and Lonsdale Caravans in May   of 1971 the original body shape was altered very  slightly by adding a large somewhat curved single   window at the front and rear becoming the very  distinctive trademark of these Vans and in 1977   the star feature was added on the roof based in  Lancashire England Harry Vickers created a niche   market producing travel trailers from 1961 to 1977  becoming increasingly individual over the years   Mr Vickers produced Travelers trailers that were  often known to be the iconic flash Gypsy trailer   as they were without a doubt the most ornate only  shown by the flashier Westmoreland star trailers double decker was built around the Imperial  880 model as a one-off for the company's 60th   anniversary it comes in at just under 15  feet high and just over 30 feet long the   main floor houses a full-size Kitchen in the  front a centrally located living room with a   love seat and sofa along with the bedroom and  bathroom taking up the rear of the trailer   staircase to the Upper Floor brings you to  an indoor Lounge area with a door providing   access to a spacious balcony on a side  note the CEO of the company has stated   that this one could be billed if they  were to receive a minimum of five orders while you're deciding on which camper you  like best why not go ahead and share this   video with your friends then let us know in  the comments which one you would like to own after a one-year rebuilding process this 1969  Bailey Mikado went from an empty shell that   had to be reinforced just to be moved to  the finished product that you see here the   all-wide interior and large Windows provide  a sense of openness to a 13-foot space that   would seem cramped otherwise bench seating  spanning the width of the trailer serves a   dual purpose as both a small dinette and  an extra sleeping space beside that is a   small kitchenette having a sink a dual burner  cooktop and stove with a decorative cutting   board cover and a mini fridge the front  of the trailer houses the bed which has   plenty of storage underneath along with  a wardrobe and cabinet space beside that foreign custom built by the grace Brothers at birkenhead  South Australia this camper is truly one of a kind   dating back almost 60 years the highway Palace  has all the luxury that the name promises   at just over 42 feet long the spacious  interior provides plenty of room to   move around but the trade-off is that it  only houses two single beds with a large   kitchen plenty of cupboard space and a raised  wood panel dining area restricted sleeping   quarters just might be forgiven especially  as the bathroom contains its own sunken tub including a pop-up on a camper trailer of  this size doesn't seem to be a feature on   current Styles but then again it may not have  been that prevalent back then either way it's   worth mentioning just for being so over the top  and yes the pun was intended the addition of the   pop-up allowed the bedroom to be located above the  main floor this opened up extra space below for a   small garage which provided an optional use as a  toy hauler and this one also had a standard slide   out because why not the benefit of the extra  room shows in the layout which has a spacious   kitchenette and dining area a full-size bathroom  with a tub and sleeping accommodations for more   people than you probably want to be around  foreign this amazing piece of artwork comes   from indonesian-based Udi umos whose owner has a  name I'll butcher if I try to pronounce it and I'm   pretty sure there are more than a few hipsters in  a State of Shock because the designer modified an   existing VW van to create this masterpiece but  it was originally wrecked so get over it the   side entrance opens to a layout featuring a small  kitchen area with a single burner cooker a deep   well stainless steel sink a convection oven and  a mini fridge made to resemble the front of the   van a large bench offers extra seating in addition  to the captain's chairs in the cab area this bench   can also lay down flat to connect and enlarge the  sleeping area located directly behind it the roof   has been modified to increase the standing room  as well as having a pop-up roof mounted on this   while additional sleeping accommodations can  be found above the cab area everything about   this vehicle implies a skill set that I cannot  even begin to put into words so I'm just going   to be quiet and show a few more photos while  you hum the Jeopardy theme in your head [Music] unveiled in 1961 a fawobu when hitched to a  car looked more like there was a boat trailer   going down the road than a camper van in fact the  name is an abbreviation which stands for driving   living and boat raising the roof is surprisingly  simple you lift one end up and prop it up using   the exterior wall and then move to the other end  of the vehicle to repeat the sidewalls are stored   stacked on top of each other under the roof and  just need to be moved into place to complete the   setup the resulting structure has a submarine type  aesthetic with a porthole door for entry inside   there is extremely limited space surmounting to  really only enough for a small double bed and a   bit of storage it was originally priced at 5960  Deutsche marks the equivalent of around twelve   thousand dollars today this first entry made its  debut at the 1972 Tokyo motor show the Toyota rv2   is a wagon style concept that has a pair of  clamshell doors forming the rear section of   the vehicle these doors opened out to create a  space that could then be covered by stretching   a tent between them the space provided enough  room to sleep two people while the front seats   could fold down flat providing accommodations  to sleep two more the rear tailgate could also   fold down to provide room for extra seating  although a fully working prototype was tested   and somewhat well received by the general  public the rv2 never saw production [Music]   the Dodge travco aerodynamic Class A  motorhome was built from 1965 until the   late 1980s with available lengths ranging  from 21 to 32 feet this was powered by a   Chrysler 318 cubic inch V8 engine that was  known to cruise at up to 70 miles per hour   the concept began in 1961 when Ray Frank built the  original Dodge Frank motorhome a more conventional   boxy looking RV then Frank moved to a more rounded  fiberglass body and increased the window sizes and   the motorhome evolved into the Dodge travco  the original Dodge chassis used in the travco   could handle a gross vehicle weight rating of more  than six tons and utilized a live dual rear wheel   axle and an I-beam front axle suspended on semi  elliptical leaf springs later travco produced an   intermediate-sized motorhome the lspree which  was only 22 feet long and had an aerodynamic   design that combined the roominess of a large  motorhome with the ride and fuel economy of a van   other models of travco motorhomes  included the 220 270 and the 320 travstar [Music]   well I had to include this one on here due to the  Ingenuity of it all the road yacht is a fitting   name as it's built around a 1971 neoplan Skyliner  bus it utilizes a split level design with the   bottom floor serving as the main living quarters  depending on what it's being used for the Upper   Floor can serve as extra living space with a  lounge area bathroom and beds at each end or   it can be set up as a workspace for use during  promotional tours the roof is separated into   three sections that open independently of each  other with the front section having the ability   to slide forward and increase the floor space the  road yard is available to rent with an included   driver so feel free to let loose and enjoy the  trip if you get a chance at this one [Music] this Japanese camper may look like someone has  stuck a poorly designed house on the back of a   truck but you won't believe how creative  it actually is the two-story mobile home   measures just 15 feet in length but still  has room for a spacious kitchen and bathroom   on the lower floor as well as a fold-out  deck offering 21 and a half square feet of   usable space the Upper Floor which raises  on air cylinders houses the sleeping area designed by the food Machinery Company  the FMC 2900r motorhome took to the roads   in 1974. at first glance it looks a bit like a  bus which led to many of these being converted   into buses back during the 70s the classic  70s interior consisted of a long couch and   fold-away table a spacious kitchen and  of course shag carpeting on the floor   priced between 27 and 55 000 which was the cost  of the average home at the time led to it mainly   being popular among upscale motorhome buyers  at the time touting celebrity clients such as   Clint Eastwood Carol Burnett and Pat Boone  to name a few nowadays you can find models   selling on eBay for around two thousand dollars  and there are believed to still be around 700   to 800 units out there down from the 1000  that were originally manufactured [Music]   after about four years of testing his  prototypes during family holidays a gentleman   by the name of constant Russo presented  the Rapido confort to the public in 1961.   setting it up only took a few minutes involving  nothing more than unfolding the top and locking   the hard walls into place doing so more than  doubled the footprint of the trailer creating   a space that could easily accommodate up to  four people on one side was a dinette with   a fold down table while opposite this was a sofa  running the length of the wall centrally located   was the cooking area having a sink and dual  burner cooktop sleeping accommodations were   made by modifying the dinette and the sofa into  double beds that could sleep up to four people   when not in use the confort could be stowed  away on its side in a standard garage [Music] introduced in 1976 the GMC Birch Haven was a  23 foot long motorhome that was the epitome   of luxury and styling in its day the exterior  carried the same design as the other models   but the interior was where the party was at a  front dinette that converts to a twin bed sits   directly across from the entrance two layouts  were offered one with a fully enclosed side   wet bath and one having a rear dry bath with a  step in tub ing on the layout the kitchenette   was either directly to the left of the entrance  or behind the opposite dinette this also offered   different sleeping accommodations which could be  a couch across from the kitchenette or a second   dinette in the rear all natural wood cabinets and  shag carpet throughout accented everything with   a range of exterior paint schemes that were  color coordinated with the interior [Music]   a Sleek revolutionary camper with a  polyester body the hennimag henschel   f20l Orion was a camper produced in the  70s and manufactured by hanamang henschel   a German truck company that started in 1969  in Hanover and folded in 1974. later Mercedes   acquired the intellectual property rights  and continued to manufacture them until 1978.   during this time several of their models  made it overseas the Orion being one of them   few were sold here and they are scarce and  extremely hard to find any information on back in the day if you had the problem of  wanting to go on vacation and pull both   a trailer and a boat the 1968 Corvair Ultra van  might have been the solution to all your problems   aircraft designer Dave Peterson built this one to  make his dream of a motorhome powerful enough to   pull a boat come true one year after the Corvair  was released Peterson set out on adapting one of   the first Ultras going on to build at least  15 early ultravans the van's rounded edges   and white paint with a mustard yellow stripe are  definitely reminiscent of the time it was made [Music]   Hollywood cinematographer J Roy hunt spent  a lot of time away from home leading him   to build several hot cars but it was the 1937  model onwards that Drew the most attention with   its futuristic look built on a 1937 Ford truck  chassis and a streamlined body thanks to the use   of aircraft engineering the model is believed  to be the first to house a fully functioning   shower and toilet the interior is quite crowded  though the light wood finish manages to give it   an Airy feel only 50 of these were ever built in  the following decade making them incredibly rare it's not every day you come across a vintage  camper van with corrugated Bodywork this   beloved classic is agelessly cool with  its boxy nose and Standalone headlamps   the type h camper van was built between 1947  and 1981 and is now being reproduced for the   70th Anniversary but with a modern twist  fiberglass body panel kits allow you to   transform a modern van into a retro looking hvan  and still retain all the features of a new vehicle the images you see here are from restored trailers  staying true to the original design and offering   a glimpse of the Elegance that yesteryear had  to offer a large u-shaped dinette took up the   front of the trailer having a telescoping  table that allowed for it to be used as   an extra sleeping area a centrally located  closet and counter sit opposite a stainless   steel kitchen air consisting of a triple  burner cooktop sink and refrigerator the   main sleeper is a full-size bed in  the rear sitting in an east to west   configuration although short-lived the company  managed to produce approximately 120 trailers   in two different models over its lifetime  with a rumored 25 still in existence today [Music]   this truck camper was built by McNamee coach  Corporation in South El Monte under the camp   King coaches division this tri-level skyrider  camper was created by Merle D mcnemy who was a   1992 RV Hall of Fame inductee for his innovative  ideas that helped shape the recreational vehicle   industry built in the mid 60s this three-level  truck camper had a kitchen area on the first level   a cab over section on level 2 and an extended roof  and Sky Deck area on level three the sun deck is   accessed by a fold-up roof that hinges from the  rear and creates a passageway to enjoy the Sky   lounge with a Plexiglas wrap around picture window  allowing passengers to enjoy the view at the rear   of the camper is another slide out section  that helps increase the living space inside   the camper and the extended roof includes  additional sleeping above the kitchen area   german-based austerman produced just over 1300  units of this one from 1959 to the early 60s   with current estimates of existing models running  around 50 to 60 depending on who you talk to name   the canaspa it came in several models of varying  links which were designed with towability in mind   the narrow footprint decreased wind resistance  while increasing the driver's view behind the   vehicle the Caravan could be expanded via a  series of hand crank gears on each side that   moved the walls outward increasing the width to  just over seven feet features included a dining   area with a fold-up table that converted to  a sleeper the size of a king-size mattress   along with the solid wood Cabinetry there was  also a flush mounted sink and a dual burner   gas cooker the interior conveyed the style  of the times and though it wasn't the most   luxurious of campers the unique design  definitely served its purpose [Music]   the 80s was the period for transforming  Passenger cars into campers and with this   next one it's no different bischoffberger  built many models converting Audi c2s and   c3s for the next caddy campers the  Audi's rear axle was built into the   converted bigger cars such as the  Audi 200 type 43 and 44. [Music] in 1958 David Holmes enlisted Chuck Pelley founder  of design Works USA to design the Holiday House   Geographic also known as model X as a limited  production model with a price tag of almost 8   500 there are thought to have only been parts of  seven of these revolutionary fiberglass trailers   ever made with only two currently known to be in  existence one a 1961 Holiday House Geographic has   been completely restored from the ground up by  flight camp in Bend Oregon and it's in beautiful   condition among the most desirable vintage travel  trailers in the world this is 24 feet long sleeps   up to four people and has a water capacity up  to 40 gallons and one air conditioner this was   available for sale on eBay but the listing ended  on August 22nd at a price of 225 thousand dollars what started as a project for personal use in  1947 culminated into a caravan business that   is still going strong today even though there  were tumultuous times involving bankruptcies   and buyouts first introduced in 1954 by  Dutch company Kip Caravans the kaikin was   a lightweight model intended to be towed  by smaller Vehicles the roof raises at an   angle to increase the Headroom in the interior  which can be accessed via a rear door inside   is a closet sitting opposite a cooker sink  and extendable countertop the front of the   trailer has a dinette with bench seating  that converts to a king-size sleeper the   sides of the raised roof could be a choice of  hard panels or canvas that could be folded in   opening the camper to the outdoors although  it only offered the basic necessities for its   time it was a game changer that saw a lot  of use throughout many European countries manufactured during a nine-year span starting  in 1956 the century definitely wasn't flashy or   fancy directly behind the cab is a dinette  area with bench seating and a wall mounted   table while a stainless steel sink with fold down  cabinet top covers sits above a mini refrigerator   at the time it was in production  it was considered the best on the   market going for a price that was  equivalent to the cost of two houses this little Caravan was manufactured over a  13-year span by german-based Schaefer and before   you ask it's not the same company that makes the  beer four different models were created with all   of them using plexiglass instead of actual  glass due to the curved shape of the windows   it's developed somewhat of a cult following with  about 300 of the trailers still in working order   this seems like a high number considering that  only an estimated 450 to 800 of the Caravans   were ever built two cool things worth mentioning  though the first is that the company actually   made a floating version but it never reached  production the second is that the design was   the inspiration for the later production  of the also popular Orion campers [Music]   this Woodsman 4x4 looks more like a tank  than a motorhome with its sharply angled   sides but despite the somewhat unhomely look  it boasts a shower three-way fridge and furnace   the 20-foot long Behemoth may  not be the most attractive at   the bunch but it's definitely more  robust than the rest on this list the star streak 1 and star streak 2 motor homes  were both built on a Cadillac chassis with an old   Toronado 455 Engine with minor differences that  you can use to tell them apart they were built   by Air Force officer Paul Jones of Cape Coral  Florida the start streak one is in the California   Automobile Museum in Sacramento's permanent  collection this one is set on a 1971 olds tornado   chassis and has trim from Cadillac the panels  glass and things were all hand fabricated and   the windows have a foot of paneling between the  back corner and the back edge of the side window   the star streak 2 motorhome is in the motorhome  recreational vehicle and motorhome Hall of Fame   in Elkhart Indiana and has five circles  on the Belt Line full length side windows   and an aluminum colored trim piece at the  top of the side this was built in 1988 on   a 1976 Cadillac chassis using a 1976 olds  tornado 455 engine the length was 22 and a   half feet with a height of about seven  feet and a curb weight of 5400 pounds built in 1954 the Royal Windsor toured the country  in a traveling circus a further two were built   with all of them featuring mollycroft roofs  which allowed natural light into the interior   the original was 37 feet long but was extended to  42 feet in 1960. in 2012 it was fully restored to   include modern luxuries such as central heating  a dishwasher a flushing toilet and a shower [Music]   doing the research I started reading the owner's  blog her name is Jesse and she started posting   about her 1978 Dodge Commander in August of 2016.  one of the changes to the layout Was the removal   of the dinette and its subsequent replacement with  a built-in shelf and table combo that has a fold   out extension across from This Is The Galley  which retains the original four-burner stove   with an oven up above instead of below moving  toward the rear is the completely remodeled and   restructured bathroom that saw the original wet  bath replaced with a full stand-up shower and a   compost toilet the sleeping accommodations  consist of a platform bed in the rear that   raises for storage and a cab over single bed that  lowers as needed the outside still has that 70s   color scheme we all remember so well and that bit  of originality is the icing on the cake for me [Music] Larry Shinoda who had designed the 1963 Corvette  Stingray and the Boss 302 Mustang helped to   develop the rec trans Discoverer which was made  by the white Motor Company the rec trans camper   was 25 feet long with a fiberglass shell that was  mounted on a Dodge M 300 chassis with a 413 cubic   inch Chrysler engine these came with a three-speed  automatic transmission could Accelerate from 0   to 60 miles per hour in 11 seconds and could  get 10.1 miles per gallon this comes with only   one door that is located on the passenger  side with a refrigerator and freezer that   can operate on either electricity or LP gas and  there is also a bathroom a kitchen and a dining   table there were approximately 3 300 rectrans  built from 1971 until January of 1974. [Music] personally I think this one is a genius idea  but given the track record of this style of   boat camper combo it's probably a good thing  I'm not in the industry compact made this one   in the early 1950s only building an estimated  16 to 20 with less than half of those remaining   today the trailer and boat were both made  from fiberglass and built to resemble the   rear ends of Ford vehicles of the day a selling  point that unfortunately didn't help in the end   the boat served as the roof of the trailer  when not in use a framework of poles with a   folding canvas covered everything when the boat  was removed the interior is accessed via a door   on the side offering just enough room to sleep as  well as storage space at each end the rear of the   trailer houses the cooking area while also serving  as a work area using the fold down compartment   door like most it only offered the basics  but the diverse nature of the design coupled   with the low weight of just under 1200 pounds  made this one a Top Choice in my book foreign manufactured from 1973 to 1978 the GMC motorhome  was made in Pontiac Michigan at the GM truck and   Coach Division and was the only complete motorhome  built by a major auto manufacturer at the time the GMC motorhome built for Comfort while  traveling was considered radical for its time   with a fully integrated body front wheel drive and  a low profile these were not just a camper the GMC   motorhome had a length of 23 and 26 feet had a  gross weight of 10 500 pounds to 12 500 pounds   these motorhomes used an Oldsmobile 455  cubic inch 7.5 liter V8 engine from the   tornado with later models using the  403 cubic inch 6.6 liter V8 engine   while the GM designed turbo hydramatic 425  automatic transmission was used in both   these motorhomes were used in the movie Stripes  as the em-50 urban assault vehicle and Coca-Cola   had a customized GMC motorhome called the  gadabout made for a travel Stakes giveaway the Sham Rockaway is a homemade RV in which  two 1962 Buicks gave their life to create   it's built on the base of both of the cars  with one of the cars chopped in half and the   two pieces attached to the respective ends  of the other car while the top is supported   by metal beams to give it the yacht-like  shape there isn't much about this vehicle   on the internet let alone any photos of the  Interior so it remains a bit of a mystery Chinook is one of the oldest U.S brand names of  the RV industry and was first produced in 1938 by   cyan Rose mare in Orange County California Chinook  produced Class A Class B and Class C motorhomes   ranging in lengths from 17 to 27 feet and designed  as sensible compact vehicles capable of being used   to go on camping trips in the early 1950s and  60s the first mass-produced motorhomes started   appearing on the road with some of the old models  looking like a cross between a motorhome and a   truck camper Fabricators ordered trucks without  the bed and added their creations and these classy   motorhomes were constructed on a truck chassis  which is a practice that still holds true today   many different Chinook Vehicles were produced  in the 70s and a few choices include the Toyota   Chinook Omega the Toyota Hilux Chinook  and the 1973 Chinook Chevy Trail wagon unveiled in 1937 the Ford House car features  a distinctive boxed shaped trailer mounted on   top of a 37 Ford pickup frame and cowling the  rear framing is all wood painted a distinctive   dark green with a metal skin wrapped around  it the roof is made from a heavy waterproof   canvas top which can expand to give the house  car more height the door and window frames are   made of thick solid oak and Lead guests into an  all-wood interior inside there is a single bed   with storage underneath as well as cabinets and a  collapsible table a wood headliner and curtains on   all the windows really complete the feeling of  a warm cozy camper during the 1930s on average   only six house cars were manufactured  per year at the Ford plant in Minnesota before I get started on this one I want to point  out that not all of these photos are indicative   of what the vehicle looked like new some are  from a model that has been stripped down and   needs restoration but the gist of what it had to  offer should be clear built by uxton coachcraft   limited this entry combined an 850 CC mini a  camper and a rowboat once you were parked the   camper could be extended toward the rear via a  hand crank this increased the length to almost   15 feet providing enough room to accommodate  four people the interior housed a dual burner   cooker a sink and a fold-up table the roof of  the van had a storage box on top of it with a   small row boat that could be attached to it upside  down as of 2007 only one model is known to exist   be sure and let us know after the video which  of these crazy vehicles you'd prefer to rest   your head in heck you can even tell us about your  craziest camping trip industrial designer Brooke   Stevens created about 3 000 designs including the  iconic front fender design for the Harley-Davidson   motorcycles the Oscar Meyer Wienermobile and  the 1941 Western Flyer Recreation vehicle one of   only three that were ever produced in 2011 howdy  Ledbetter discovered a good front half and a good   back half of the flyer and then took seven months  to piece it back together adding a 1941 Buick   headlamp above the windshield and lengthening  the nose with a 1941 Ford Coe Grille modern   enhancements on this one include a Ford 460 cubic  inch engine a new super duty 40-foot motorhome   chassis with additional sway bars a new heavy  duty Ford automatic transmission with overdrive   and disc brakes this was sold on eBay Motors in  2016 for over seventy thousand dollars foreign Tron was a texas-based boat builder and in 1967  Bob Hammond and Hugh Hoff set out to bring a   motorhome into their lineup which already included  snowmobiles and houseboats at the December and   National recreational vehicles show the Glastron  21 foot fiberglass coach was introduced and while   it turned out to be popular with the public  it was only in production for three years   with only 200 produced these came on a Dodge M  300 chassis with a 318 cubic inch 212 horsepower   v8 engine and included a 50 gallon fuel  tank 3-speed automatic transmission power   steering power brakes and a 90 AMP battery this  motorhome has an all-fiberglass body and comes   with three double beds a bathroom a shower  a full length double wardrobe has a length   of 20 Feet 3 inches height of 19 feet 6 inches  a width of seven feet ten inches and weighs 8   000 pounds the 1954 heel Ranger is considered  to be the first modern pop-up camping trailer   the roof can be raised by operating a hand  crank that's connected to a pulley system   once cranked to its full height of just over  six feet the trailer is completed by inserting   canvas walls campers can then make use of the two  single beds inside as well as the Ample Storage   Space it was patented and manufactured in 1954  by heel Engineering in Anaheim California using   fiberglass and polyester resin there are only 200  Ranger trailers ever produced before the name was   changed to the sport Ranger selling for the high  price of fifteen hundred dollars the equivalent   of Thirteen thousand today it's no surprise  that the ranger had limited commercial success founded in the 1930s the Airstream trailer company  initially sold plans kits and partially completed   trailers customers would only purchase the  silver aluminum shell which they had to   put together themselves one of the available  designs was the Airstream torpedo this model   was purchased by medical student Dr Holman in  1935 for a mere five dollars the equivalent of   under eighty dollars today and it's recognized as  being the oldest existing Airstream in the world   it only took him three weeks to install the shell  but two and a half years to complete the interior   by day it features a sofa flanked by two  cabinets and a small kitchenette in the   front by Night the sofa folds out into a  double bed and extensions open from the   cabinets allowing two single beds to be placed  over the cabinets and a portion of the double bed the creator of this one said he always wanted  to build his own rolling home so with a bit   of Ingenuity he created the hippie Shack housed  on an old Toyota and built from recycled bamboo   Redwood and foam insulation it's now used  as a mobile ski chalet the side entrance   opens to a 98 square foot interior housing  an L-shaped seating area which doubles as   a bed a small stove and oven an ice box and  sink there's also a wood burning stove for   heating and a skylight that opens to help  cool it down the whole thing weighs around   1 350 pounds with an estimated building cost  between one thousand and two thousand dollars   if you're this far into it then you might  want to give that subscribe button a push   and click that Bell icon because we've  got even more great videos coming your way designed by Harman Industries the shadow had one  of the most Innovative designs of its time its   unique fifth wheel inspired design allowed even  small compact cars to pull the trailer through   a hitch mounted to the tokar's roof the hitch  was made from a removable steel plate bolted   to brackets along the roof gutters to take  advantage of the Roll resistance built into   modern roofs to firmly anchor it in addition  by placing the hitch on the roof of the car   as opposed to the rear you could turn the tow Car  a full 360 Degrees while still hit to the trailer   Harman Industries sold the shell for Seventeen  hundred dollars and the fully equipped model   for sixty five hundred dollars but despite its  innovative design the harman Shadow never quite   caught on the public perception that it required  drilling a hole in the roof of their cars and   could cause damage to the rear end of the vehicle  meant it was overshadowed by the competition [Music]   the crew at flight Camp are top-notch Visionaries  as can be seen from this project and the many   others on their website the front entrance  opens to the lounge area which has a couch   sitting opposite and shelves along the front  wall that hold a stowaway fold-up coffee table   moving back you'll find the kitchen which utilizes  both sides of the trailer having a large stainless   steel sink on one side with a matching triple  burner stove oven and refrigerator on the other   taking up the rear is an enclosed wet  bath with a stainless steel lining in a   bedroom with an east to west set up  facing another door to the outside [Music] in the early 1970s Airstream wanted to offer a  medium-priced trailer and Chuck Manchester the   president of Airstream saw the solution as  a separate line of trailers sharing some of   airstream's time-tested features with a couple of  differences Airstream then purchased a new plant   in Versailles Ohio down the road from airstream's  Jackson Center plant and establish separate   management and production teams the new Argosy  trailers were produced from 1973 to 1979 with   many Airstream dealerships advertising The Argosy  as almost an Airstream while servicing and selling   them with domed end caps and panoramic windows  The Argosy and Airstream shared an aerodynamic   structural design and featured the same axles  the argosis though were made of lower grade   aluminum with cost-effective steel forming the  front and rear Dome segments to help save money   instead of the iconic shiny shell Argosy  trailers sported a flashy paint job and   one of the best things about owning one  is the ability to paint it in your style known for building tiny houses Wind River tiny  homes does the occasional Airstream restoration   the use of non-traditional materials includes  Links of shellac barn wood running the center   of the ceiling with white paneling and  corrugated sheet metal along each side   down below the flooring is composed of chipboard  covered with a sealant making it just as gaudy as   it is eye-catching the almost standard floor plan  includes bench seating in the front that doubles   as the bed moving back brings you to the kitchen  which has all stainless steel appliances including   a corrugated metal door on the refrigerator behind  this is another bench with a countertop workspace   sitting opposite taking up the rear of the trailer  is the bathroom which features walls of hardwood   a large porcelain sink and a stand-up shower  that uses a galvanized stock tank as its base the Cardinal Trailer company was established by  Adams Manufacturing in 1951 starting a production   run that ended in 1977. in that time the company  offered trailers from 13 feet to 16 feet long   as well as a 10 foot long truck camper standard  inclusions were kitchenettes with a stove and or   oven a sink and an under-the-counter refrigerator  a full-size bed was at one end of the trailer   while the other end had a dinette with more gaudy  looking curtains than should be allowed by law foreign this 1982 Borough the owners spent about six  months getting it to the point where they were   comfortable using it for local camping trips the  major changes to this one that I'm personally   a fan of involve changing the rear bed that  converted to a dinette to a permanent bed was a   custom mattress the original couch which converted  to bunk beds was removed and replaced with a small   dinette additionally new strip flooring was  installed over a layer of plywood new carpet   replaced the old along the raised ceiling as  well as new windows with velcro attached covers   the kitchenette was spared with only minor  changes that included changing the mini fridge   to a dry storage box and covering its door with  an awesome map of the Lake Tahoe area [Music] this one started out in 1945 as aljoa but  had to drop the letter A from the end due   to Alcoa Aluminum feeling it was too close  to their brand name this like many other   trailers of the time mimic the canned ham  design which made it easier to construct as   well as allowing for a more efficient layout  of the Interior the company produced several   models as well as switching to a more modern  squared off exterior in the mid-1960s each   layout included a dinette sleeper with a fold  down table a small kitchenette with a stove   refrigerator and sink as well as the option of  a bed in place of a second dinette these period   trailers are a popular choice among enthusiasts  hailing from the Golden Era of the 50s and 60s the second generation of the VW the type  2 was introduced late in 1967 and built   in Germany until 1979. models before 1971 called  the t2a or early Bay while models after 1972 are   called the t2b or late Bay in the late Bay  models the Type 4 engine was an option and   was standard in models destined for the US  and Canada an automatic transmission became   available for the first time in the 1973  model year and only with the Type 4 engine   the Volkswagen Westfalia camper is also known as  a Westie and was a conversion of the Volkswagen   Type 2 and offered large families friends  or traveling groups plenty of room while   providing comfort and style the camper van  consequently became the darling of hippies   who not only drove for ecological reasons to  beaches or festivals but also because it was   cheaper and much more fun most VW fans see the  Westfalia camper as the ultimate conversion if you like this mix of old  school and Modern Day designs   let me know by giving me a thumbs  up and a comment after this video what began in 1946 is a short-lived  Teardrop trailer manufacturer reopened   in 1948 with a broader range of trailers  that fell into the canned ham category   by the late 50s the company had moved toward a  more standard squared off design reminiscent of   The Changing Times including models a few years  later that offered an upper level sleeping space   multiple layouts offered the standard features  having either a dinette with a folding table and   or a full-length couch the kitchenette included  a stove with an oven sink and refrigerator in 2017 Timeless travel trailers collaborated with  austin-based Deep Eddy vodka on Restorations of   three 1946 and 47 Spartan Manor trailers  intended for use in a series of national   marketing campaigns each of the 25-foot trailers  were custom designed as mobile bars and lounges   which required them to be outfitted with a  reinforced chassis to accommodate the added   weight the side lowers down to create a stage  or deck area with a section of the roof that   opens Gull Wing style above that inside is a  large wraparound Lounge area at one end with   a semi-circular bar at the other a centrally  located product display case sits opposite   dual flat screens that can be watched from both  inside and outside the Retro Decor on this one   is nothing short of amazing complemented by the  Branded wrap on the polished aluminum exterior it might seem a bit cliche to start this list  with an Airstream but the manufacturer has been   a Pioneer in the industry since the first factory  opened in 1931. the bubble was one of many models   they've produced through the years having a  four-year run that started in 1955. the 16   foot long aluminum-clad trailer had everything  needed for a leisurely trip starting with the   full-size bed in the rear moving forward brings  you to a small dinette on one side having a sink   and triple burner stove while opposite that is  a closet and heater the front of the trailer   houses an enclosed flush toilet to the immediate  ride of the entrance across from the entrance is   the dinette with a small refrigerator directly  beside it that doubles this extra counter space [Music] launched in 1913 the Earl travel trailer is  believed to be the world's oldest non-tent travel   trailer it was built for a Caltech professor in  Los Angeles and pulled by a Ford Model T Runabout   and as a dark wood exterior and an interior  that is surprisingly roomy containing a   four-person dining table that could be  converted into a double bed when needed   an original is currently on display  at the RV and motorhome Hall of Fame   Museum in Indiana but if you are a  true fan then you'll be glad to know   that a replica model went on sale last  year priced at twelve thousand dollars this one came from the minds of a Florida couple  who decided they were going to take some time   off to travel it's built on the chassis of a  1994 Ford f-700 Crew Cab with the box from an   ambulance along with the fuselage of a Cessna  310 and it's an Eclectic mix to say the least   inside you'll find a full kitchen with the  refrigerator sink and oven next to that is an   L-shaped bench with a swinging table the bedroom  is housed in the airplane above the cab area   all the energy needs are provided by four 145  watt solar panels and a battery array after   it was all done the owner estimated having spent  about sixty thousand dollars building the vehicle another one from the mines at Timeless  travel is this 1964 Airstream Safari   the interior is almost entirely covered in  new and reclaimed Hardwoods as well as the   use of copper sheeting in the end cap of  the lounge area running the length of one   side is a countertop that pulls out for use as a  desk space while opposite that is a kitchenette   that includes a glass sink dual burner cooktop  microwave and a refrigerator a sliding door with   etched glass closes off the bathroom which has  a petrified wood sink and a stand-up shower vagabonds started its humble beginnings as a  buggy manufacturer before culminating into a   maker of travel trailers and large mobile homes  multiple models were made throughout the lifetime   of the trailer running 8 or 10 feet wide and  ranging in length from 35 to 54 feet there were   several floor plans to choose from offering one  or two bedrooms each one had some form of living   room and different bathroom configurations  along with the standard kitchen which had   a stove and oven sink and refrigerator  and finished Birch paneling throughout true to its name the 1939 Lindbergh travel  trailer was used by none other than the famous   Aviator Charles Lindbergh himself when he wasn't  off breaking records he enjoyed keeping his feet   firmly on the ground to enjoy some camping his  reflective aluminum-skinned trailer boasts two   axles one at each end this allowed it to be  unhitched from the tow vehicle without the   need for a support Jack for the tongue the oak  interior features bunk beds a fold-out table and   a U-shaped kitchen this trailer might not be the  most luxurious on the list but because of their   namesake they sell for around 150 to 200 thousand  dollars foreign manufacturer of commercial   vehicles from 1905 until 1979 calmer produced  vehicles that include light Vans car derived   vans military vehicles and buses and medium to  heavy-duty commercial trucks early cummer Vans and   lorries were noted for the distinct noise made by  The Roots TS3 engine which was a two-stroke diesel   three-cylinder horizontally opposed piston engine  which came to be known as the calmer knocker   the comer FC introduced in 1960 had different  body styles including a 1500 Cc or 92 cubic inch   van and was renamed the PB in 1967 and the space  fan in 1974 after interior and engine upgrades   were made following the purchase of routes by  Chrysler Europe there is a rear seating area   with either two forward-facing seats or two  bench seats and the front has a three bench   seat that converts into a front bed or in some  models they have an over-the-cab sleeping area this fine example of a 1958 DeVille was  restored by a gentleman who goes by the   handle of mobile tech a small dinette with  bench seating sits at one end looking like   it came straight out of a 50s era Malt Shop the  opposite end holds a queen-size bed with storage   underneath in between is a kitchenette having  a sink with a hand pump and an electric faucet   as well as an under-the-counter fridge  and a triple burner cooktop with an oven foreign the first Apaches were built in a garage in 1957  by vessely manufacturing fast forward to 1959 and   they had become the world's largest producer of  camping trailers by 1963 the company offered four   different models with every year after that  leading to upgrades of existing models or   a new one added into the lineup the standard  pop-up utilized a telescopically raised roof   with hard sides that lifted up and out to form the  walls and areas for the beds the smaller trailers   included a kitchenette and dinette while larger  models offered a couch as well [Music] foreign if you've worked on a project or  know someone who has let us know   in the comments we're always up for  a good story if you've still got the   craving for more campers be sure to  check out our playlists we've got a   ton of great stuff to watch that's sure to  keep you occupied till our next camper video this one from canadian-based Sitka concept  was built by the owners for use as a permanent   living space for their family the entrance  opens up to a surprisingly spacious dining   area and kitchen with a triple burner cooktop  and stove sink and refrigerator as well as a   wood burning stove and what would be considered  the corner of the room moving back you find a   narrow hallway flanked on both sides by bunk  beds at the end of the hall is the bathroom   while the main bedroom is on the other side of  that in the rear of the trailer foreign [Music] although necessity is the mother of  invention there are those who like   to think outside the box and create  something different than expected   shunning the societal Norms ingrained  in all of us from the moment we're born   originally built by the palace company in  Flint Michigan the 1948 Palace Royal Sports the   company's trademark round Port windows and steel  body the Birchwood interior gives the living space   a homey feel and features a spacious Lounge area  kitchen and bedroom with more than enough space   and character to go around this trailer puts  some of the more recent motorhomes to shame foreign this restoration wasn't a fully unfamiliar thing  in regard to choosing to live in a small space   the owner a lovely down-to-earth Lady by the name  of Jenna had already built and roamed around in   her own tiny house blogging about her travels on  her website which I will gladly provide a link to   in the video description she ended up stumbling  across a 1972 Hunter compact Junior which seemed   to fit the criteria all told the trailer offered  60 square feet of usable space the original   stove and sink were kept in with a Fresh coat of  paint on the Cabinetry new custom-made cushions   were added to the dinette which doubles as a  full-size bed Pistons were added to help raise   the pop-top roof adding a few extra inches to  the Headroom while down below the flooring was   replaced with a vinyl resembling hardwood the  exterior was given a new look via a Fresh coat   of vivid yellow paint with red stripes accenting  the sides although it's complete for the most part   there are details still being added with the most  recent being awnings above the windows and door foreign was initially built as a 16 foot long trailer  but had to be scaled back due to balance issues   this led to a redesign that became a 10 foot  long teardrop the next step in the evolution   was a 13 foot and 15 foot travel trailer that  included a sink stove refrigerator and small   dinette with room to sleep four people along  the way they even made a version that included   all of the above amenities as well as a  wet bath and an overhead bunk in the rear   foreign [Music] they say that good things come  in small packages and that's certainly true with   the Wawa Caravan weighing in at only 662 pounds  it doesn't need a powerful car to tow it around   the whole thing is made of wood except for the  rear window and Chassis the interior contains   a small kitchen with a sink and gas cooker with  standing room that can be increased via the pop-up   roof unfortunately a twin bed is the limit for the  sleeping arrangements and while this may be one of   the smaller Caravans it does boast a custom-made  tent that attaches to the side and gives some much   needed leg room restored especially for the 2017  SEMA show this 1950 westcraft Coronado trailer   literally shines the new aluminum exterior has  been professionally painted with complementing   champagne and chocolate colors to maintain the  Vintage feel the interior has been fitted with   new wiring and plumbing and the wood finish gives  off a warm cozy feel to the roomy living space   with a double bed at one end and a relaxing  living room at the other what's not to love thank you foreign [Music]   due to the design of this one it's commonly  mistaken as a product of the Airstream   Corporation the Avion C10 first saw production  in 1965 almost a decade after the company had   been in the travel trailer business it was  the first of the truck bed models with the   larger C11 coming out a few years later each  one was surprisingly spacious for a truck   camper having an enclosed wet bath directly  to the right of the entrance moving forward   you'll find a kitchenette with a stove and oven  a refrigerator and a sink the cab over provided   space for a full-size bed while the dinette  which offered the choice of either a side or   Center placement could convert to an extra  bed as well contrasting the shiny look of   Airstream trailers the Avion used an unpolished  anodized aluminum for increased durability the 1969 CJ5 Jeep camper was the result  of Kaiser Jeep's decision to Branch out   into recreational vehicles as part of their great  Jeep Escape campaign three RVs were introduced or   perhaps it's more accurate to say that it came as  a factory option as the camper was mounted on the   bed of the vehicle complete with its own axle and  brakes able to sleep four people by converting the   table into a bed the camper also boasted a full  kitchen and dining area as well as a bathroom the six-wheeled Spartan Starcraft camper was  sold as a conversion for the Ford Cortina Mark   III to Mark V by Spartan cars founded by Jim  McIntyre Spartan cars manufactured kit cars   in the United Kingdom from 1955 to 1973. a large  body shell including an overhanging section above   the driver and passenger seats was mounted  on a new steel chassis that was taken from   the cortina's mechanical components the center  section of the Cortina was retained including   windscreen instruments and wiring while the top  area was newly restyled there's plenty of storage   a built-in sink heater and a small bathroom  the overhead cab area measures five feet by   five feet five inches the length from the rear of  the front seats to the rear window is nine feet   and the rear section was still being produced  in the early 90s for use with the Ford Sierra [Music] truck bed campers with a roof that raises  are fairly common in the industry so this   one shouldn't stand out too much so if you're  wondering why I included it I like the way the   whole thing is set up and I absolutely love  the way the side door is beveled to allow   access to the camper even when it's lowered  in fact that door is unique enough to carry   this whole thing really though it should  have been on a list of my favorites instead   so feel free to comment below and tell my  boss I cheated a bit on this one foreign 1976 and 1977 the Blazer  Chalet camper saw less than 2   000 units produced it was mounted on the  back of a Chevy Blazer with the roof of   the cab cut away to allow direct access  to the living quarters features included   a dinette area and kitchen a two-burner  log stove and room to sleep two people in 1958 industry Pioneer Ray Frank  built a unique motorized RV from the   ground up bringing to the industry the term  motorhome as the new moniker over the house   car created from an all-fiberglass body  it was available in 21 and 27 foot models   each one offered a lounge area with a couch and  dual recliners a kitchenette having a double   basin sink microwave and refrigerator along with  a four burner stove and oven a large wet bath with   an L-shaped counter and a separate bedroom in  the rear although it wasn't officially a travco   until 1967 it had been around under the Dodge  Motorhome name for almost a decade unfortunately   due to Rising costs and competition it  was officially discontinued in 1979. hopefully this list took you back to  a simpler time or perhaps it gave you   some insight into the history of the  camper that you might not have known   before while today's campers RVs and  motorhomes may look shinier and sleeker   they don't seem to have quite the same  character as some of their predecessors manufactured by Eccles a Pioneer and leader in  Industry standards since they first started in   1919. the Caravan measures almost 16 and a half  feet long and six and a half feet wide having a   dry weight around 3 800 pounds a raised Lantern  roof provides added Headroom while also providing   extra ventilation via a series of hinged Windows  along the top a bed at one end can extend from a   one to a two person sleeper if needed while the  other end of the trailer has a sitting area that   lays flat to serve as a second bed in between is  a full-length wardrobe on one side with a coal   burning stove and oven combo opposite that no  expense was spared as you can see through the   extensive use of Hardwoods decorative Glass Nickel  and Chrome plated hardware and the steel exterior foreign like many before glider offered multiple models  and layouts smaller models had the basic setup   while larger models had that and more in  the form of a living room at one end with   a full-size kitchen offering a four burner stove  and oven a twin Bowl sink and a six cubic foot   refrigerator moving back brings you to an enclosed  wet bath with a full-size bed opposite that taking   up the rear of the trailer or further sleeping  accommodations in the form of a set of bunk beds foreign strikes a chord in most of us especially when it  comes to campers as we get to see the ideas that   led to the designs we see today the days of old  were rampant within anything goes mindset so you   can't help but look at them with admiration  while shaking your head at the same time   this next entry was launched in 1947 and went  on to become the best-selling vehicle of its   type in France with rear-wheel drive and  an extremely reliable engine it was a firm   choice for many Traders the designer converted  the van into a motorhome and reconfigured the   Bodywork and layout equipping it with a  kitchenette a double bed and a bathroom   topping it off was a four-speed gearbox capable  of producing a top speed of 50 miles per hour starting production in 1956 Netherlands  based auton Caravans offered six models   with the zwerver being the one shown here  oddins all had a design incorporating a   wood framework with a Masonite outer shell and  a lifting roof the interior offered the basics   having a dinette with an adjustable table  that converted to a bed opposite this was   a small KitchenAid with removable covers that  also served as extra counter space the Caravan   even has a weight for it Dutch door which is  the coolest door ever in my humble opinion say it with me one more time canned ham   the company started out in 1948 providing mobile  home trailers to the Armed Forces after World   War II ended they sold their products under the  Cozy Cruiser brand before switching to Shasta in   1952 offering models ranging from 14 feet to  35 feet they were easily recognizable due to   the distinctive wings that were added in the late  50s by 1966 all of their trailers had switched to   the more modern squared off design regardless  of size most of the trailers offered the same   amenities having a stove and oven stainless steel  sink refrigerator and microwave a full-size bed   was standard fare as well as a dinette and  or bench seating the company even produced   a cab over style model that offered a second  full-size bunk bed above the other one foreign [Music] 1970 Oldsmobile Toronado GT motorhome is a pretty  cool car camper with a V8 powered engine that has   68 000 miles with an engine replacement 4000  miles earlier that will get you 15 miles to   the gallon coming with a bathroom a shower  a wardrobe and skylights giving you natural   light during the day or looking up at the stars  at night this has a curtain below the bed giving   you access to the driving area and on the inside  this camper can sleep up to three adults or two   adults with two kids and was recently on sale  on Ebay motors for fifteen thousand dollars [Music] first introduced in 1963 the Scout camper  by International Harvester was built upon   the existing Scout a small two-door SUV  similar to a Jeep the camper was offered   in three configurations that saw the sides  fold down like wings to serve as the beds   a foam mattress was included with a framework  of Steel poles and a canvas cover to provide   protection from the elements the interior  could be outfitted as needed with features   such as a small ice box a sink a stove  with an oven and a hideaway toilet a   small dinette was directly behind the  cab utilizing bench seating in a fold   down table it was released in the two color  schemes you see here unfortunately less than   100 units were produced due to a lack of  orders and problems with the build quality this hand-built Caravan was originally patented  in 1952 and saw a healthy production run that   lasted 20 years much like the previously  mentioned Wawa Caravan this one was built   with economy in mind and the ability to  be towed with less powerful Vehicles the   spring-loaded opening mechanisms allow almost  any person to set it up single-handed the   interior houses a double bed kitchen  and dining table that converts to an   extra bed although it looks small it offers  over six feet of Headroom when opened foreign first manufactured in 1946 during the post-war  Boom the Higgins camp trailer wasn't meant to   be fancy but it was convenient and reliable which  goes a long way for the camper who makes regular   outdoor excursions the simple design consisted  of an aluminum body that had panels folding out   to each side a series of still poles were attached  to this creating a framework that was covered with   a canvas forming the tent which could sleep up  to four people using the included air mattresses   when not in use the Higgins could be stored away  upright in a standard garage production on this   one was a short run ending in late 1947 with  the last unit selling in 1948 foreign [Music]   was incorporated in Iowa in February of 1958  and adopted its present name in February of   1961. Winnebago meaning people of the dirty water  and model names such as the Brave and The Warrior   were influenced by Native American culture the  first Winnebago was made in 1966 sold for half   the price of competing models and that RV with the  serial number of zero zero one was still running   well into this century different lengths were  available from 17 to 27 feet and the v-shaped   body work with the iconic flying W emblem on  the side are recognized all over the world   John K Hansen who started the company remained  actively involved in the company until his death   in 1996 at the age of 88. with many types and  models Winnebago is still around today [Music] the low profile look of this one hides the  true nature of what it has to offer as what   appears to be a standard camper shell opens  to each side with triangle-shaped panels at   each end all told it only takes about one  minute to completely set up it manages   to house everything needed for travel except  bathroom facilities the design allows for it   to be parked in places other truck bed campers  can't as well as having an extremely low wind   resistance while driving unfortunately this one  never went beyond the Prototype stages as the   estimated cost to production was too high  to compete with other campers of the time based out of Austin Texas at the time  Glastron was a boat manufacturer that   decided to get into the RV Market starting  with this 21-foot model in 1968. the body   consisted of an insulated monocoque fiberglass  shell attached to a safety cage built from two   inch steel pipe which was then welded directly  to the chassis powered by a 212 horsepower v8   engine it ended up around 21 feet long eight  feet wide and 10 feet tall the interior offered   all the amenities of home having a kitchen  and dining area in the front half with a wet   bath and a sleeping area in the rear that  could accommodate up to six people foreign ly campers have changed through the years  but despite the obvious modernization of   their outward appearances it's quite  surprising that the features that are   available today aren't vastly different  than they were 40 to 50 years ago   so did any of these bring back memories feel  free to let us know about your way back in the   day camping stories in the comments and which of  these you were taking the trip in as a side note   finding verifiable information on Vintage stuff  is somewhat daunting so if there's something on   here that you think is incorrect feel free to  hit me up in the comments and let me know if   this gave you the camping bug feel free to check  out our other camper videos and our playlists first coming to the scene during the travel  trailer boom in the 1930s michigan-based cozy   produced The Cozy coach in three models of varying  lengths the shape of the trailer was sometimes   referred to as a bread box style a look not all  too uncommon for the time the interior layout   included a parlor area in the front with sofas  that converted to a full-size bed the back of the   trailer housed the kitchen and dinette which could  convert to an extra bed if needed the one you see   here uses Masonite for the exterior as there  were wartime restrictions on the use of Steel foreign [Music] built in 1963 by Torsten Johansen  the Saab 92 H Caravan camper with topple a camper   shell on a Saab 92 base and a two-cylinder  two-stroke engine even with lightweight wooden   construction the additional weight over the drive  axle meant that the 92h could barely put out 28   horsepower Torsten later made a similar RV this  time using the running gear of a Saab 95 with an   upgraded V4 engine that put out 55 horsepower and  was later upgraded again to a 65 horsepower engine   the 92h was later converted into a stationary  hunting cabin before being rescued by Kloss   Johansson who picked up the 95 HK at  auction and has now restored both to   a beautiful new condition vintage classic or  just plain old school whatever you call them   they're the campers that paved the way  for everything you see today it's been   said that there is a fine line between genius  and Madness and some of these creations deaf

Channel: MINDS EYE DESIGN

Views: 1,591,260

Keywords: Classic Campers, Minds Eye Design, Vintage Campers, classic camper restoration, classic camper van, diy camper, old campers, rv renovation travel trailer, vintage rv, vintage rv restoration, vintage travel trailer videos, truck camper, vintage motorhome, retro camper, camper restoration, restored campers

Id: cojaWgcf-7A

Length: 86min 5sec (5165 seconds)

Published: Sat Jan 07 2023