Vintage Airstream Trailer Pictures

When you mention "vintage trailers", most everyone immediately thinks of the wonderfully retro streamlined capsule shape of a classic Airstream trailer. The aerodynamic shape first appeared in the Bowlus trailers manufactured by William Hawley Bowlus in California in the 1930's. These early trailers were based on contemporary aircraft engineering and designs and were sheathed with overlapping panels of "duralumin". Unfortunately, because of the high cost of these innovative travel trailers, less than 150 were sold and by the late 30's the company was out of business. But the true "father" of the classic Airstream is Wally Byam. Byam began making "simple" canned-ham style trailers in the 20's and then sold Bowlus trailers in the 30's. When Bowlus ceased production in 1936, Byam purchased tooling from the factory and with the help of a group of former Bowlus workers, he began producing new trailers under his "Airstream" logo. Wally Byam made many changes to the Bowlus design, most notably re-positioning the door from the end of the trailer to the side. Unfortunately, a reduced demand for travel trailers the next year put Byam out of business so he went to work for "Curtiss-Wright" building aircraft for the war effort. At the war's end, Byam convinced management to use their idled facilities and workers to begin producing "Curtis Wright" trailers in 1946, that were similar to Byam's old Airstream designs. In 1948 Byam left Curtiss-Wright and formed his own company, making Airstream trailers of his own design out of plants in Van Nuys Calif., and later in Jackson Center Ohio. Wally Byam passed away in 1962, but his classic and sturdy aerodynamic designs endure in the current generation of Airstream Travel Trailers that are still being manufactured and sold today. (Check out photos of great Vintage Airstream Interiors here).

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1936 Airstream Clipper, Rear	1936 Airstream Clipper, Front	1936 Airstream Clipper Ceiling	1936 Airstream Clipper Trailer
1936 Airstream Clipper, Front View	1936 Airstream Clipper, Rear View	1936 Airstream Clipper, Vintage Airstream Decal	1936 Airstream Clipper Trailer, Front End
1951 Airstream Cruisette	1952 Airstream Cruiser	1952 Airstream Cruiser	1952 Airstream Cruiser
1952 Airstream Cruiser	1952 Airstream Cruiser	1953 Airstream Flying Cloud	1956 Airstream Caravanner
1957 Airstream Flying Cloud	1957 Airstream Flying Cloud	1960 Airstream Caravel	1960 Airstream Tradewind
1961 Airstream Globetrotter	1961 Airstream Globetrotter	1961 Airstream Globetrotter	1961 Airstream Globetrotter
1961 Airstream Globetrotter	1963 Airstream Bambi	1963 Airstream Bambi	1963 Airstream Bambi
1963 Airstream Bambi	1963 Airstream Bambi	1963 Airstream Flying Cloud	1963 Airstream Flying Cloud
1963 Airstream Flying Cloud, Couch Sitting Area	1963 Airstream Flying Cloud, Kitchen and Bedroom	1963 Airstream Safari, Beautiful Polished Skin	1964 Airstream Safari, an American Classic
1964 Airstream Globetrotter	1964 Airstream Globetrotter	1965 Airstream Caravel	1965 Airstream Caravel
1965 Airstream Safari International	1965 Airstream Safari International	1966 Airstream Caravel, In Original Condition	1967 Airstream Caravel, With Flamingos!
1967 Airstream Caravel	1967 Airstream Caravel	1967 Airstream Caravel	1967 Airstream Caravel
1968 Airstream Caravel	1968 Airstream Caravel	1968 Airstream Caravel	1968 Airstream Caravel
1968 Airstream Tradewind	1968 Airstream Tradewind	1969 Airstream Caravel	1969 Airstream Caravel
1969 Airstream Caravel, Close-up Shot of Skin	Great Airstream, Camper Conversion	Airstream Trailer, Converted to Truck Camper	Airstream Trailer Camper, Interior Sleeping Area
Airstream Camper Conversion, Showing Bathroom	Airstream Camper, Looking Toward Truck Cab	Early Airstream Trailer, With Unique Roof Panel

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