Antique Auto Trailer

Airstream Trailers

The Airstream is a classic automobile trailer that is still manufactured. Their functional, aluminum body is an extremely well-known design. The 1920s era of vintage cars, where automobiles became pervasive in society, saw the beginning of many trailer manufacturers. The Airstream Trailer Company was the only trailer business that did not fail during the depression. Their founder, Wally Byam, used airplane technology for the design and construction, calling his first trailer the Clipper. As the official company's site explains, he couldn’t manufacture the Clipper fast enough to meet the demand after the 1929 Wall Street Crash.

• Airstream, Inc. - You can take virtual tours of their current Bambi, International, Safari and Classic trailers at the official Airstream website.

• Wally Byam Caravan Club International - The founder was famous for traveling all over the world in Airstream trailers. In addition to Canadian, Central American and European destinations, his Capetown to Cairo trip was famous. In 1955, Airstream enthusiasts formed the Wally Byam Caravan Club International.

• The Vintage Airstream Club - The Vintage Airstream Club has unusual photographs of Airstream trailers. Wally Byam and his wife can be seen deep in the African jungle, a Flying Cloud from the 1950s travels a Mexican desert, John F. Kennedy steps out of an Airstream trailer at the White Sands Missile Range, and a caravan of Airstreams are parked at the foot of the Great Pyramid of Giza.

• Vintage Airstream - Vintage Airstream dimensions, interior and exterior photographs, as well as other important restoration information is available here.

Spartan Trailers

Another famous antique auto trailer is the Spartan. In 1930s, the Spartan Aircraft Company in Tulsa, Oklahoma was purchased by the Getty Corporation. After World War II, there were already many airplane companies, and because automobiles were widespread J. Paul Getty used his company’s aircraft technology to manufacture the Spartan trailer much like Wally Byam several years before. Manor, Sparcraft, Sparlane, Crescendo and Carousel are a few Spartan trailer models.

• Spartan Aircraft Trailercoaches - A great deal about Spartan antique trailers can be found at this site including vintage Spartan advertisements and year by year breakdowns of trailer models with production details and photographs.

Antique Auto Trailer Parks

Unique to antique trailers is the vintage trailer park.

• Funky Junk Farms Historical Trailer Park - The Monterey Trailer Park from the 1930s has been declared an historic monument by the Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Commission. Under the name Funky Junk Farms, they supply vintage trailers and other vehicles to Hollywood movie productions.

• Belrepayre Airstream & Retro Trailer Park - In the foothills of the Pyrenees mountains in France you can have a drink at this retro trailer park’s Apollo Lounge.

• Tin Can Tourists - Although not a vintage trailer park, the members of this organization take their classic automobile trailers on caravans.

RV/MH Heritage Foundation

• RV/MH Heritage Foundation - The Recreational Vehicle and Motor Home Heritage Foundation is in Elkhart, Indiana, the RV Capital of the World. According to their website, Elkhart is the home to almost 40 RV companies. This foundation, which was founded in 1972, houses a hall of fame, museum and library, and will soon be the permanent home of David Woodworth’s traveling historical RV collection.

Douglas Keister’s Trailer Photographs

There are dozens of books in print with beautiful photographs of trailers. Some are old photographs of trailers while others are new pictures of vintage vehicles. One current photographer is Douglas Keister.

• Keister Photography

Three of his books about trailers are:

• Silver Palaces
• Ready to Roll: A Celebration of the Classic American Travel Trailer co-authored by Arrol Gellner
• Mobile Mansions: Taking Home Sweet Home on the Road