AIRSTREAM: America's World Traveler

Images courtesy of Airstream, Inc.

People who travel via Airstream get to see more of the world than folks who fly or take the train. Here we see one traveler looking at beautiful Sveti Stefan, an island connected by causeway to the mainland in Montenegro about four miles southeast of Budva.

The always-popular Ford Country Squire station wagon was another ideal tow vehicle in the 1960’s and 1970’s. This 1967 model is towing anAirstream in beautiful Hawaii!

For those with less time on their hands a quick trip to Florida was always a easy choice to make. Imagine parking your trailer right on the beach,with sand and palm trees all around you. The white sports car barely visible to the right is an early 1960’s Fiat.

Always a popular tourist destination, Taos, New Mexico gives visitors a look at an ancient civilization, with local Native Americans on hand to introduce newcomers to the Pueblo Indian culture. This photo was taken during the mid-1970’s.

The most luxurious Airstream, the Limited, even came with folding chairs bearing the Limited name.  

Here’s the exterior view of the Airstream Funeral Coach, circa 1982. It was a decent idea, having one vehicle that could take the place of several.The flowers went into the rear hatch area, as shown, while the casket went into the side carrier space. Mourners rode inside the spacious passenger compartment, which was nicely trimmed and featured individual seats plus a couch at the rear.  

AIRSTREAM: America's World Traveler

by Patrick Foster

Airstream is America's best and oldest manufacturer of travel trailers, and those retro silver coaches are iconic on America's highways. Representative of the age-old desire to explore, these trailers are unmistakable in design with distinctive aerodynamic rounded lines and an aluminum outer skin.

Airstream: America's World Traveler celebrates the eight decades since the first Airstream graced America's highways.Airstream chronicles the fascinating history of Airstream trailers through a detailed history, stories, and beautiful photography. Although its roots stretch back to 1926, the first Airstream-brand trailers were introduced in 1931, just as America was emerging from the dark days of the Great Depression. Of the 400 travel-trailer manufacturers of that era, only Airstream survived. Dubbed the "Airstream Clipper"after the first trans-Atlantic seaplane, the 1931 Airstream featured a unique lightweight aluminum body that cut down on wind resistance, improved fuel efficiency, and made for easier towing. It slept four, carried its own water supply, was fitted with electric lights, and cost $1,200. The Airstream provided travelers with away to see the world at their leisure and in solid comfort. It was the perfect vehicle fora country emerging from a long struggle.In the eight decades since that first Airstream, the company has produced some of the finest trailers in the world and gained a worldwide reputation as the Rolls-Royce of travel trailers. The Airstream story is one of travel, adventure, and memories that last a lifetime.

Airstream: America's World Traveler

By Patrick Foster

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