- [Glen] From Volkswagen Westfalia,
to Romani Gypsy trailers,
there are plenty of old retro trailers
that are both eye catching and fun to own.
This is Glen, and today we are bringing you
10 retro caravans and campers for you to enjoy.
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- [Announcer] Number 10.
- [Glen] The second generation of the VW, the Type Two
was introduced late in 1967 and built in Germany until 1979.
Models before 1971, called the T Two A or Early Bay.
While models after 1972 are called the T Two B or Late Bay.
In the Late Bay models, the Type four 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 four engine.
The Volkswagen Westfalia camper is also known as a Westy,
and was a conversion of the Volkswagen Type Two
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.
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- [Announcer] Number nine.
- [Glen] Glastron 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 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 M300 chassis
with a 318 cubic inch, 212 horse power V eight engine,
and included a 50 gallon fuel tank,
three-speed automatic transmission, power steering,
power breaks, 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 three inches,
height of 19 feet six inches,
a width of seven feet 10 inches, and weighs 8,000 pounds.
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- [Announcer] Number eight.
- [Glen] Romani Gypsy trailers.
Vickers, Bloomdales, or Markhams
and the Westmorland Star 60's and 70's.
A couple of the more luxurious Romani Gypsy trailers
that were available in the 70's were the Westmorland Star,
or Markhams as they are often called.
Westmorland Star caravans known almost universally
as West Morning star, started in 1961
with Alan Dent and Ted Seers who previously worked
at other companies building for travelers,
vicars, 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 out-shown by the flashier Westmorland Star trailers.
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- [Announcer] Number seven.
- [Glen] 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 V eight 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 tonnes,
and utilized a live dual-rear wheel axle
and an I-beam front axle suspended
on semi-eliptical leaf springs.
Later, Travco produced an intermediate sized motorhome;
the L'esprit, 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.
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- [Announcer] Number six.
- [Glen] 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 established 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 Argosys 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.
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- [Announcer] Number five.
- [Glen] Chinook is one of the oldest US brand names
of the RV industry, and was first produced in 1938
by Sy and Rose Mair 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 Class C 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.
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- [Announcer] Number four.
- [Glen] The Karmann Ghia has its roots
in the VW Type Two combi, and has become a cult classic
with only 450 manufactured.
And these were made from 1955 until the late 70s.
A combination passenger and cargo van,
the Karmann Ghia has removable rear seats and side windows,
and a top speed of around 50 miles per hour.
Basics of this caravan include a spacious seating area
with a center table for dining, a bed above the cab,
a bathroom, and a full kitchen.
It's built with a super efficient layout and has extras
like a split entrance door, roof storage space, fly screens,
and a kitchen bench extension.
This caravan is just the thing you need to set up
at the lake under an awning extension,
and some chairs, and a warm fire.
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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'd like to own.
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- [Announcer] Number three.
- [Glen] 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,
or seven and 7.9 meters,
had a gross weight of 10,500 pounds to 12,500 pounds,
or 4800 to 5700 kilograms.
These motorhomes used an Oldsmobile 455 cubic inch,
7.5 liter V eight engine from the Tornado.
With later models using the 403 cubic inch,
6.6 liter V eight engine.
While the GM designed Turbo-Hydramatic 425,
automatic transmission was used in both.
These motorhomes were used in the movie Stripes
as the EM50 Urban Assault Vehicle,
and Coca-Cola had a customized GMC motorhome
called The GadAbout, made for a travel stakes giveaway.
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- [Announcer] Number two.
- [Glen] A British manufacturer of commercial vehicles
from 1905 until 1979, Commer, produced vehicles
that include light vans, car-derived vans,
military vehicles and buses,
and medium to heavy-duty commercial trucks.
Early Commer vans and lorries were noted
for the distinct noise made by the Roots TS three engine,
which was a two-stroke diesel, three cylinder,
horizontally opposed piston engine
which came to be known as the Commer Knocker.
The Commer FC introduced in 1960 had different body styles
including a 1500CC or 92 cubic inch van,
and was renamed the PB in 1967, and the Space Van in 1974
after interior and engine upgrades were made,
following the purchase of Roots 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.
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- [Announcer] Number one.
- [Glen] A sleek, revolutionary camper
with a polyester body; the Hanomag-Henschel F20L Orion
was a camper produced in the 70s,
and manufactured by Hanomag-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.
- Hey guys, this is Cassie.
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