Airstream hasn't been dubbed 'the Rolls-Royce of trailers' for nothing. First choice for rich glampers and A-list movie stars alike, the venerable Ohio-based firm makes some of the world's coolest and most luxurious RVs. Since its inception in the 1930s, there have been myriad styles of Airstream and today, you can rent some of the coolest designs overnight for a retro experience with a touch of modern luxury.
Read on to explore the story behind the brand, the best vintage models to hire or buy and the Airstreams you can sleep in today...
A year later, Byam published a DIY guide to building a trailer, which sold like hotcakes. Requests for him to construct RVs came flooding in and he opened a small factory in Culver City, California, USA. The Airstream we know today was born out of this operation in 1931 when there were just 50 trailer manufacturers around. In the following five years, this exploded to 400 businesses building trailers to meet the demand, but when the Great Depression and the Second World War hit, the vast majority closed down. Airstream is the only one that remains today.
The fledgling firm completed its first factory-produced model, the Torpedo, in 1932, and launched two larger models soon after, the Silver Cloud (pictured) and the Airlite. A couple of years later, Wally Byam adopted the name Airstream, a perfect moniker for the company's teardrop-shaped trailers that cruised down the road "like a stream of air".
During the 1930s, William Hawley Bowlus, an engineer who worked on the famous Spirit of St Louis aeroplane, created the Road Chief – an aerodynamic Streamline Moderne-style trailer in gleaming aluminium.
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Bowlus' aircraft-inspired RVs failed to sell so in 1936 Byam stepped in and bought up Bowlus' inventory. Byam reconfigured the Road Chief, creating the iconic Airstream Clipper, and put his marketing and advertising skills to good use. Sales of the Clipper went through the roof, despite the trailer's hefty £982 ($1,228) price tag – that's equivalent to around £20,477 ($25,600) today. The interior of the 1936 model was designed to be cosy and comfortable, with leather seating, solid wood cabinets and a cocoon-like ceiling.
Once the war had ended, Byam re-established Airstream. Applying the aeroplane design skills he learned during the war, Byam created the Curtis Wright Clipper in 1948. The upgraded Clipper was an overnight success, selling in the thousands. In 1950, Byam created the Flying Cloud, which is still produced today.
Byam died in 1962, leaving behind his super-successful trailer company that had become known the world over. Art Costello, one of Byam's right-hand men took over the reins. As America's most luxurious trailers, Airstreams featured the latest modern conveniences, from air conditioning to refrigerators, but they underwent a major redesign in 1969 to give them the smooth, bullet-like edges we know today. That same year, the company was chosen to design and build a mobile quarantine pod for the returning Apollo 11 astronauts, such was its renown.
The hippie counter-culture of the late 1960s and early 1970s popularised RV-ing and house-trucking, and from this point, Airstream began to attract a younger, cooler clientele who became known for customising their vehicles. By the late 1980s, the Airstream trailer had become an American icon, making Money magazine's "99 things that, yes, Americans make best" list in 1987.
At the other end of the spectrum, the company's Globetrotter model comes as a 30-foot (9m) trailer with an extensive kitchen, lounge seat dining area, USB outlets, climate control and rear-view cameras. For an even bigger trailer, the Classic comes in 33 feet (10m) and comfortably sleeps up to five people.
In February 2022, the company announced the research and development of its brand new concept: the eStream, a fully electric and innovative new RV model that's designed to be better for the environment, with cutting-edge technology using a battery-powered drivetrain. It will have a rear-bed and a convertible dining area and the total floor plan is set to be 22 feet long (6.7m).
New to the UK's Airstream glamping scene in 2022 is this supremely cosy, compact Silverbird Airstream in Leicestershire. Not only is it a cute little bolthole for a romantic weekend away, but it's situated on the lovely Brook Meadow campsite, which has been nominated for a Visit England Excellence Award.
Brand new to the Isle of Skye is this perfectly placed Airstream trailer, overlooking Fiscavig Bay. Equipped with a record player for long afternoons on the decking, it's a wildlife lover's dream. From the nearby beach you could spot minke whales while the comfy chairs on a private deck are great for sipping Scotch whisky and looking out for white-tailed eagles.
The Vintages is retro camping heaven, with 10 mid-century trailers and five brand new ones gracing its parking spots. Come here to be transported back to the 1950s, take a lounger by the pool, hire a bike to cycle around local vineyards or simply soak and relax in the luxurious bathtub in the trailer. Some have private decking, while all come with soft white robes to spend your days in. This is Americana at its finest.
La Vue is beautifully furnished, with a pine double bed, farmhouse-style kitchenette and a pretty back deck, but the best part about this Airstream in Kent is the view. Sitting on the cliffs near Folkestone, it has spectacular ocean views and on a clear day you can see all the way to France. Bring your supplies, set up the barbecue and soak up those vistas.
A slice of Americana located on the All American Road – Scenic Byway 12 – Yonder Escalante has 10 vintage Airstreams for snoozing in. You won't want to sleep in too late, though, as there's lots to do around here. Hike through the slot canyons of Upper Calf Creek, go horseback riding in alpine forests or try canoeing at Wilde Hollow Reservoir within the Escalante Petrified Forest.
Surprisingly well-equipped, the swish interiors of the Airstreams at Autocamp rock a minimal mid-20th-century feel. With an emphasis on luxury, the trailers feature queen-sized beds, walk-in showers and guests receive complimentary Ursa Major beauty products.
This restored 1974 Airstream, located in the surfers' paradise of Carpinteria in the Golden State, is all you need to make your California dreams come true. The 33-foot (10m) vehicle boasts a fully equipped kitchen, a well-stocked breakfast nook and a lounge area with a smart TV. At one end of the Airstream you'll find a double memory foam bed, while at the other, there's a stylish seating area where you can kick back beneath that spectacular metal roof. Outside, a shady wooden deck with a gas fire pit is the perfect place for dining alfresco.
If you’re seeking the ultimate desert retreat, look no further than this fabulous refurbished 27-foot (8m) Airstream, situated near Joshua Tree National Park. With its incredibly sleek interior, this Airstream is more reminiscent of a five-star hotel than a tiny home on wheels. In addition to a queen-size bed at the rear and a couch which converts easily into a secondary single bed, the Airstream offers a refrigerator with a freezer, a gas hob, oven, microwave, Nespresso coffee machine, toilet and shower, as well as all the amenities you need for a relaxing stay.
Big Bertha, as this 1973 Airstream has affectionately been dubbed, truly lives up to her name with a sleeping capacity of up to six people. Situated in the northern English countryside overlooking Croglin Beck, the Airstream Airbnb has been sleekly renovated to afford all the comforts of a true glamping experience. The Airstream includes a fully equipped kitchen, bathroom, bedroom and dining area, which also converts seamlessly into another bed if required. The interiors are finished to a high standard, with cosy soft furnishings which complement the light wood panelling that runs throughout the space.
Nestled in the French countryside, this authentic 1969 Airstream is located on the outskirts of the Avaugour forest and the Meur wood. Inside, the vintage Airstream has been kitted out to the very highest standard of modern luxury. The compact kitchen comes fully equipped with a hob, oven, microwave and sink, as well as a fun splashback and blue cupboards reminiscent of the vehicle’s 1960s origins. Remarkably, the tiny Airstream can sleep up to four, with a cosy alcove bed and a couch that folds out into another bed.
This sleek black Airstream, located within Terlingua Ranch in Texas, has been dramatically remodelled for optimal comfort and style. Black Moon, as the Airstream has been dubbed, is an Argosy travel trailer dating from the late 1960s, which has been reconfigured to include a stylish, minimalistic interior with a queen-size bed and convertible sofa. The Airbnb listing states that there's no wifi at the site, meaning that this unique retreat offers the perfect opportunity to disconnect, soak up the natural surroundings and embrace a slower pace of life off the grid.
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