Vintage Campers, Trailers & Teardrops

by Foster, Patrick R.

• ISBN13: 9780760366813
• ISBN10: 0760366810
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2021-03-23
• Publisher: Motorbooks

Summary

Renowned automotive writer Pat Foster celebrates the simple joy of hitting the highway in a vintage camper, trailer, RV, or van in this illustrated examination of their hardware and cultural histories.

The look, the feel, and the sheer style of vintage campers and trailers are impossible to duplicate in sterile modern units. It’s little wonder more and more of us, from all walks and ages, are ditching the increasingly hectic modern life and rediscovering the simple freedom of small, uncluttered spaces and the wide-open road.

In Vintage Campers, Trailers & Teardrops, Foster breaks down the subject by camper categories, illustrating his knowledgeable text with evocative modern photography of restored and original-condition campers, as well as period photos and advertising art. Sidebars examine topics like:

• Clever designs that make small living possible
• The evolution of campers and gear over the ages
• Tips for trailer living
• First-person anecdotes from enthusiasts
• And much more

Along the way, Foster covers all of the most popular camper and van brands, such as Winnebago, Airstream, Shasta, Spartan, Scamp, Volkswagen, and more.

Whether lived on the road, your driveway, or your armchair—your minimalist adventure starts here.

Author Biography

One of America’s best-known automotive writers, Patrick R. Foster has spent over 30 years studying the automotive industry. The leading authority on AMC and its predecessors, Pat has written several books on that subject along with many others, including Jeep, Studebaker, Hudson, Kaiser-Frazer, and Metropolitan. His popular columns appear in Hemmings Classic Car and Old Cars Weekly, and he has won awards for his books and articles from the AACA (Antique Automobile Club of America) and SAH (Society of Automotive Historians). In 2011, he was honored with the Lee Iacocca Award—one of the most coveted awards in automotive writing. His website is The Olde Milford Press (oldemilfordpress.com).

Table of Contents

CHAPTER ONE – VINTAGE CAMPING
WHY IS THIS HOBBY GROWING SO QUICKLY? BECAUSE IT’S A TREMENDOUS AMOUNT OF FUN!
CHAPTER TWO – TIN CANS, CANNED HAMS, WOODEN TEARDROPS, AND CAMPER TRAILERS
PERHAPS THE MOST SOUGHT-AFTER VINTAGE CAMPERS.
CHAPTER THREE – FROM COVERED WAGONS TO . . . COVERED WAGONS
THE HISTORY OF CAMPERS AND ONE OF THE MOST ICONIC BRANDS.
CHAPTER FOUR – PICKUP SHELLS AND SLIDE-IN CAMPERS
THE SUBHOBBY OF CAMPER SHELLS. HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW.
CHAPTER FIVE – VINTAGE EUROPEAN CAMPING AND THE VW PHENOMENON
BRITS AND GERMANS ARE ESPECIALLY BIG FANS OF “CARAVANNING.”
CHAPTER SIX – THE VINTAGE CAMPER LIFE
IT’S A WAY OF LIFE FOR SOME. HERE’S HOW TO ENJOY THIS HOBBY TO THE FULLEST.
CHAPTER SEVEN – SILVER BULLETS: THE AIRSTREAM STORY
AN ENTIRE CHAPTER ON AIRSTREAM? EVERYBODY LOVES AIRSTREAMS!
CHAPTER EIGHT – POP-UP TRAILERS
THE BEGINNER’S SEGMENT OF THE MARKET. HERE ARE THE POPULAR BRANDS.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
IMAGE CREDITS
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
INDEX