The motorhome has been around for quite some time. From its humble beginnings as a 1930’s ‘house-car’ (complete with a fold down bed and picnic basket) to the luxurious conversion vans that can be run with the touch of your iPhone, it’s safe to say the motorhome is here to stay.
Here are some memorable events in the evolution of the motorhome, as well as some pop culture moments that make the motorhome engrained into our nation’s history:
1910: Pierce-Arrow manufactures what is now considered the country’s first ever motorhome. The Touring-Landau is unveiled at Madison Square Garden in New York. The van features a backseat that unfolds into a bed, a sink behind the chauffer and a ‘chamber-pot’.
1937: Hollywood Filmmaker Roy Hunt builds stylish and spacious “house cars.”
1947: The pickup truck camper is first introduced. Walter King manufactures the ‘cab-over’ design, which becomes the first mass-produced pickup camper.
1958: Frank Motorhomes becomes the first company to create and assemble line-built RVs. These motorhomes are built on Dodge Chassis.
1960: John Steinbeck writes Travels with Charley. The book is based on his cross-country voyage with his poodle in a GMC pickup with a cabin built on the back.
1967: “On the Road” is a documentary which chronicles CBS News correspondents’ cross-country travels. For the next 25 years, Charles Kuralt rides around in various RVs sharing his stories.
1967: Winnebago produces RVs that range in length from 16-27 feet long. They sell for about $5,000 each.
1970: The Mattel Malibu Barbie Country Camper is introduced as a child’s toy.
2006: “RV” starring Robin Williams, a movie about the joys and chaos of camping in an RV, is released.
2008: “Breaking Bad,” starring Bryan Cranston, is a hit television success. Cranston plays a chemistry teacher turned meth-cook who makes his drugs in an RV.
Who knew the camper van was such a big part of American pop culture? The beloved travel van has had numerous standout moments in history, and it’s pretty safe to say that it is here to stay!
Are you looking for a motorhome of your own? Class B, conversion van, RV or other travel vehicle? Classic Vans, located in the San Francisco Bay Area, is the country’s leading road trip experts. Contact one of our knowledgeable staff members to help get you in the vehicle of your dreams.