The most iconic RV from every decade
Nick Baker / Unplash
The INSIDER Summary:
- The first RVs were invented around 1915, though they were essentially cars with a bed attached.
- The Fleetwood Bounder was popular in the 1980s, although you might also recognize it from "Breaking Bad."
- Today, RVs have literally become homes on wheels, like Marchi Mobile's eleMMent Palazzo Superior, which costs nearly $3 million.
Recreational vehicles (RVs) are synonymous with road trips and summer. Whether you're taking a cross country drive in a giant motorhome with all the amenities of a real house, or camping out in a renovated van, these vehicles epitomize freedom and travel — and they're getting more and more popular.
Beginning with the first RV-type vehicles in the 1910s, which included small cabins built onto the back of regular cars, RVs eventually evolved into homes, and even mansions, on wheels.
Airstream trailers, for example, were first released in the late 1920s and became wildly popular in the following decades. Then, motorized RVs (rather than attachable trailers) like the Dodge Travco exploded onto the scene and into the mainstream in the 1960s.
Today, RVs — be they trailers or converted vans — have seen a resurgence in popularity based on nostalgia. You can even stay in a renovated Airstream trailer via Airbnb.
Keep reading for a look into how RVs have changed over the years.
1910s: Modified Model-T Ford Roadster
One of the first RVs in the US was made from a Model-T Ford Roadster in 1915. The vehicle, which is now on display at the RV and Motor Vehicle Hall of Fame in Elkhart, Indiana, consists of a "telescope apartment" with a bed built on to the back of the regular car.
While it was small, this space was perfect for drivers making long trips who wanted a convenient place to sleep.
According the Gainesville Sun, to first RVing enthusiast club was founded in Florida in 1919, called the Tin Can Tourists.
1930s and 40s: Airstream trailer
Wally Byam built the world's first Airstream trailer in 1929. Early models of the trailer included amenities like small stoves and ice boxes, and were the first self-contained trailers designed for long road trips.
By the late 1940s, Byam was taking his trailers all over the world to complete road tests and improve the product. The functionality of the Airstream trailer laid the groundwork for the motorized RVs that became popular by the late 1950s.
Today, Airstream's signature "silver bullet" design is synonymous with road tripping with a vintage style.
1950s: Shasta trailer
Shasta trailers, popular in the 1950s, had a "canned ham" shape, according to the RV and Motorhome Hall of Fame.
This trailer was a compact yet functional option before motorized RVs went mainstream. They also offered a cheap and easy way to vacation after WWII.
See the rest of the story at Business Insider
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