- [Reacher] Vintage, classic, or just plain old school,
whatever you call them, they're the campers
that paved the way for everything you see today.
In my last camper video,
I took a look at some up and coming models,
but for this one, we're going in the opposite direction.
I'm Reacher, and here are 15 vintage
and classic campers from the old school days.
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- Thank you for watching Mind's Eye Design.
- [Woman] Number 15.
- [Reacher] 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 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 right of the entrance.
Across from the entrance is the dinette
with a small refrigerator directly beside it
that doubles as extra counter space.
- [Woman] Number 14.
- [Reacher] Vagabond 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 eight 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.
- [Woman] Number 13.
- [Reacher] 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 kitchenette 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.
- [Woman] Number 12.
- [Reacher] 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 slash 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.
- [Woman] Number 11.
- [Reacher] What began in 1946 as 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.
Are you feeling nostalgic yet?
If so, feel free to give me a thumbs up
and let me know in the comments
which one of these are your favorite.
- [Woman] Number 10.
- [Reacher] The Scotty 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.
- [Woman] Number nine.
- [Reacher] 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.
- [Woman] Number eight.
- [Reacher] The first Apaches were built in a garage
in 1957 by Vesely 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.
- [Woman] Number seven.
- [Reacher] Due to the design of this one,
it's commonly mistaken as a product
of the Airstream Corporation.
The Avion C-10 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 C-11 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.
- [Woman] Number six.
- [Reacher] 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 motor homes, including a full kitchenette
and dinette, a bathroom with a stand up shower,
and a private bedroom in the back.
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- [Woman] Number five.
- [Reacher] In 1958, industry pioneer Ray Frank
built a unique motorized RV from the ground up,
bringing to the industry the term motor home
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 Motor Home name
for almost a decade.
Unfortunately, due to rising costs and competition,
it was officially discontinued in 1979.
- [Woman] Number four.
- [Reacher] 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.
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- [Woman] Number three.
- [Reacher] Introduced in 1976, the GMC Birchaven
was a 23 foot long motor home 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.
Depending 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.
- [Woman] Number two.
- [Reacher] Like many before,
Glider offered multiple models and layouts.
Smaller models had the basic setup,
while larger models had that 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
are further sleeping accommodations
in the form of a set of bunk beds.
- [Woman] Number one.
- [Reacher] 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 3800 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.
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 a 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 in our playlists.
Once again, I'm Reacher, and we'll see you on the next one.
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