Your Airstream Can’t Compete with This 1950s Vickers Travel Trailer

      Via Car and Classic

      The latest in car news and reviews, without any fluff

      Sign up for our free daily newsletter to receive the most important stories directly to your inbox every weekday.

      Today's camper trailers are quite impressive, with the largest models featuring triple axles and some even boasting a back porch. A few offer more space than a standard New York studio apartment. However, despite the modern rolling homes having the advantage of size, it's hard to believe any can rival the flamboyance of the 1950s Vickers Morecambe Caravan currently up for auction.

      The eye-catching design of this trailer makes more sense when you discover that its creator, Harry Vickers, was a trapeze artist who later promoted himself as the world's strongest man. After World War II, he ventured into chrome work and eventually started building caravans and trailers in the UK, where this one is located. (This information comes from the listing on Car and Classic, as I had not heard of Harry Vickers or this trailer until now.)

      It's not surprising that this is one of only a handful ever constructed. The auction house notes that it is in impressively original condition. If you appreciate the reflective exterior, you'll surely admire the mirror-finish interior, complete with intricate etched glasswork. It seems like every detail was carefully shaped and crafted to complement the RV’s extravagant theme, including the countertop trim and built-in fireplace.

      Everyone, join me in exclaiming: “Oohh, aquamarine!” Via Car and Classic

      I am consistently amazed by what coachbuilders accomplished with these trailers in the mid-20th century. They faced considerable constraints, as the floor plans were fixed without expandable slides. To clarify, today’s top-tier trailers can expand at the touch of a button when parked, and those slides can be retracted when it’s time to hit the road. Older models lacked this feature, so they had to create functional living spaces equipped with all the amenities while still allowing ample room to navigate.

      In this respect, the Vickers-built trailer resembles a luxury home more than any contemporary model currently available. It has been used as a vacation rental at a circus-themed property (an intriguing concept in itself). The listing mentions that it has been stationary for quite some time and will likely need some chassis work before being towed away. There’s also no information about the trailer's length or weight in the listing. My assumption is that it weighs quite a bit.

      My Nanna would love the glasswork on this piece. Via Car and Classic

      I don't foresee anyone in the United States opting to ship this across the Atlantic, but if you're in the UK or have a residence there, perhaps it's of interest to you. My motivation for writing about it isn't because it's for sale; I just wanted to bring attention to its existence. In an era where everyone is comparing the towing capacities of their dual pickup trucks, this would spark an entirely different conversation.

      That said, if you are interested in purchasing, the auction concludes on October 7. As of this writing, the highest bid is only £7,500 (approximately $10,100 USD), but the reserve has yet to be met.

      Have a tip or question for the author? Reach out directly: [email protected]