Crusty Trucker Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 Since there is so much interest today in campers (glampers), motor homes and house cars, I was wondering what the earliest domestic factory built camper might have been. There is a 1914 Model T Ford in England which claims to be the oldest motor home, but it is a one-off, custom-built unit. Factory built travel trailers dated from 1910, but required a tow vehicle. There was a later year Model T, claimed to be restored to original, in the old Harrah's collection in the 1960's, but, to my knowledge, not one of multiple factory cars. Ford Motor Co. reportedly built a limited number of chassis mount motor homes From 1928 to the late '30's, but very few still exist. There have been hundreds, if not thousands, of home-built and even professionally built individual campers over the decades, but not on a production line. What do you know about early factory built camper vehicles? 1914 (one-off) 1929 Ford (reportedly factory) 1937 Ford (reportedly factory) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 I know this one has to be rare if it's still out there in hiding. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 Although not designed for the RV lifestyle originally, I'd venture to say that if anyone found this Expando version of Dodge Brothers truck they would be tempted to claim it as an RV if they didn't know any better. 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 After the war, there was the Dodge Travco motorhome, which I believe came out as a 1964 model in later 1963. And of course, GMC's rather upscale series of motorhomes in the 1970's; the Palm Beach, Eleganza, and Kingsley. Craig 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
keiser31 Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 3 hours ago, 8E45E said: After the war, there was the Dodge Travco motorhome, which I believe came out as a 1964 model in later 1963. And of course, GMC's rather upscale series of motorhomes in the 1970's; the Palm Beach, Eleganza, and Kingsley. Craig My cousin was one of the inventors of the Travco. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Terry Harper Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 (edited) It was factory built but was indeed a "one-off. "Motor Home" built by the The Lombard Traction Engine Company, For H.H. Linn, 1911. Powered by a Brennan engine mounted under the floor. Edited December 20, 2022 by Terry Harper (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 The 1931 Model A Ford Travelers Wagon was an offshoot of the Special Delivery which was an offshoot of the Station Wagon. It had a fold-down bed, a storage chest, a water tank under the roof, and a fold-down wash basin. Unlike the Station Wagon, all the doors had locks and the front ones had roll-up windows. The other windows were screened with roll-up curtains. Less than a dozen were made and there are a few replicas but no known surviving originals. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
29 Chandler Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 This does not quite count for factory built, but it's close. My best guess is that it was built 1915-1916. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrhd29nz Posted December 20, 2022 Share Posted December 20, 2022 Years ago in our old BC Museum of Transportation in Cloverdale . Out back in the one of the many sheds there was a very very large early 20’s Pierce Arrow caravan / motor home. It’s was a light blue. I have photograph’s of it but they are buried somewhere. maybe 1912STAVER will remember it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted December 21, 2022 Share Posted December 21, 2022 I think one of our esteemed members may have a PA travel trailer. A couple of years ago the Curtis museum in NY had a neat travel trailer hooked up to a modified coupe, It may have been a PA as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EmTee Posted December 21, 2022 Share Posted December 21, 2022 Pictures taken at the Northeast Classic Car Museum (https://classiccarmuseum.org/). 4 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Trulyvintage Posted December 21, 2022 Share Posted December 21, 2022 Transporting To Travel Traveling To Tell Stories From The Road Visit The Volo Museum outside Of Chicago, Illinois ... One of the many videos I took this past year .... @ 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted December 21, 2022 Share Posted December 21, 2022 I think these are all home-built but they're mostly based on antique vehicles - some interesting photos including a section of period ones. HouseTruck Photos Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 22, 2022 Share Posted December 22, 2022 (edited) One of the most popular ones that I believe still exists today. Labeled Graham Brothers, sold by Dodge Brothers division during the transition years. Note the original news release prior to any newspaper publicating. "Authorized for Publication" Edited December 22, 2022 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 (edited) Here is a video of the log trailer Another link. https://barnfinds.com/11500000-1900-year-old-redwood-log-house/ Edited December 23, 2022 by Larry Schramm (see edit history) 1 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 (edited) Curtiss Aerocars were a unique design Edited December 23, 2022 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 14 hours ago, Larry Schramm said: Here is a video of the log trailer Another link. https://barnfinds.com/11500000-1900-year-old-redwood-log-house/ Only $11 mill? Ha... looks like it ended up in some greedy hands in Florida Antique Redwood Log House 1900 Years Old 3 Room House Mobile Historical Asset | eBay Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOHN GRUNDER Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 L have a 1923 ford t with a 1925 zagelmeyer auto camper body insalled in 1925 on the car chassic . owned it since 1961 . only oneknown. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 23, 2022 Share Posted December 23, 2022 3 minutes ago, JOHN GRUNDER said: L have a 1923 ford t with a 1925 zagelmeyer auto camper body insalled in 1925 on the car chassic . owned it since 1961 . only oneknown. Pictures?? 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 24, 2022 Share Posted December 24, 2022 (edited) 12 hours ago, JOHN GRUNDER said: L have a 1923 ford t with a 1925 zagelmeyer auto camper body insalled in 1925 on the car chassic . owned it since 1961 . only oneknown. Is this it? Neat rig. Kit Foster's CarPort » Blog Archive » Happy Kamper Edited December 24, 2022 by 30DodgePanel (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CHuDWah Posted December 26, 2022 Share Posted December 26, 2022 It even has slide-outs, err...drop-downs! 😁 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JOHN GRUNDER Posted December 26, 2022 Share Posted December 26, 2022 The picture it it KIT FOSTER did a story . Last showed at sept meet a LIME ROCK 2 yr ago 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Paul Dobbin Posted December 27, 2022 Share Posted December 27, 2022 (edited) While not the first, it was a great idea, Edited December 27, 2022 by Paul Dobbin (see edit history) 3 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 Here's a very early example of one that was built for T. Coleman of duPont. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dandy Dave Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 59 minutes ago, 30DodgePanel said: Here's a very early example of one that was built for T. Coleman of duPont. That's a Stoddard-Dayton. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 5 hours ago, 30DodgePanel said: Anyone have the factory tent that was an option for the VW Westphalia? How about the Vega 'hutchback' tent? GM also offered the tent option on Nova/Ventura hatchbacks, and the Aztek later on. Craig Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TAKerry Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 I know a fellow that has a field full of Westphalias. I was at a car show a couple of years ago and a guy had a nova with the tent. I knew about the hatch backs but did not know there was a tent option. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 4 hours ago, TAKerry said: I knew about the hatch backs but did not know there was a tent option. https://www.xr793.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/1974-Chevrolet-Nova-V2.pdf Craig 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Schramm Posted December 29, 2022 Share Posted December 29, 2022 9 hours ago, 8E45E said: Anyone have the factory tent that was an option for the VW Westphalia? How about the Vega 'hutchback' tent? GM also offered the tent option on Nova/Ventura hatchbacks, and the Aztek later on. Craig I have one of the factory tents for our Westfalia VW camper. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwilli43 Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 The Crawford Auto Aviation museum in Cleveland has an incredible 1926 RV. Based on a 1926 Jordan sedan, it was sent to Wiedman Body Company in Tonawanda New York. The RV model is the Sport Camp Body. The engine and driveline is original Jordan (Continental Motors). The suspension was modified by Wiedmen for the additional weight. John 5 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Crusty Trucker Posted December 30, 2022 Author Share Posted December 30, 2022 I apologize for briefly hijacking this thread...but... 1 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
8E45E Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 9 hours ago, Crusty Trucker said: I apologize for briefly hijacking this thread...but... Boy! I'll say the poor thing got HIGH-jacked!! Craig 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SC38dls Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 12 hours ago, Crusty Trucker said: I apologize for briefly hijacking this thread...but... New better built truck, old camper. dave s Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 15 hours ago, jwilli43 said: The Crawford Auto Aviation museum in Cleveland has an incredible 1926 RV. Based on a 1926 Jordan sedan, it was sent to Wiedman Body Company in Tonawanda New York. The RV model is the Sport Camp Body. The engine and driveline is original Jordan (Continental Motors). The suspension was modified by Wiedmen for the additional weight. John Thanks for posting these photos and the information about the rig. Isn't it amazing that somehow this survived all these years... Do you have a back story of where it was found or stored all them years? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 Durant Model 612 Tourist Camper version, 1931: interior with seats folded down - Digital Collections - Free Library 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
30DodgePanel Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 Cruiser Motor Car Co. Special Camping Roadster 1917/18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
paulrhd29nz Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 Here’s an Aerocar behind a 29 Hudson. the tung weight must have been a spring breaker. I’ll bet the steering was nice and light. 2 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jwilli43 Posted December 30, 2022 Share Posted December 30, 2022 Below is the sign that Crawford has displayed next to the Jordan RV. I believe the car was originally driven from New York to Arizona. It stayed there until it was donated to the museum. 1 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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