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Vintage Campers and RVs

Prioritize Purpose over Pleasure: Means Before Recreation

During the Great Depression, camping served as a way of life for those who couldn't afford homes and needed to travel for work. Henry Ford popularized camping as a recreation to promote his Kingsford briquettes, using scrap wood from the Model T production.

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The History of Henry Ford's House Car

During the Great Depression, many people needed to travel to different cities while looking for work. A lot of these people couldn't afford to live in homes, and the introduction of the Model House Car offered a solution.

At our museum, you'll find one of the only two 1928 Ford Model A House Cars known in existence. It features a canvas top that rolls up to provide extra height for headroom. When you take a close look at the authentically restored interior, you'll see original hardware and fixtures along with sleeping quarters, a kitchen with cabinets, and a wood-burning stove.

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Rare Covered Wagon Travel Trailers

From the early 1930s to the mid-1940s, trailers with covered wagons were another option for living on the road. The Covered Wagon Company offered the first factory-produced option available on the market. Only six of these models are known to exist today, and our exhibit features two of them.

Our 1932 Covered Wagon trailer was family-owned and parked in a barn before World War II in 1939. It has been entirely untouched since, complete with floors and features such as curtains and beds. It includes an optional wood-burning, flat-belly stove.

A more luxurious option, our 1934 Covered Wagon trailer includes custom-ordered items like a full kitchen with a wood-burning stove and a functional toilet. The family riding in this camper could talk to a driver they hired over an intercom using a phone. Most of what you'll see on display is original and unrestored.

Special Campers, Yachts and Buses

When touring our exhibit, you'll come across some rare models:

  • 1936 Masterbilt Scout: The largest and most luxurious camper created by Masterbilt was only in production for three years, and the Scout in our collection is one of only three known to exist today. You may recognize it as a restoration by Flyte Camp from the TV show “Flippin' RVs.”
  • 1949 Airfloat Land Yacht: The porthole windows of this camper give the interior a yacht-like appearance. The inside features a spacious, comfortable setup with a bed. The dining table converts into a second bed.
  • 1949 Spartan House Bus: The factory-built, custom-ordered Spartan House Bus transports you to the 1950s. It was parked in the 1960s and left untouched as a time capsule until we bought it in 2017. You can walk through the interior to see all the original features, including utensils left by the family who owned them.
  • 1961 Trailorboat: The Trailorboat Camper in our exhibit is rare — only 157 were built. The removable roof doubles as a boat that's perfect for fishing adventures.
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Visit the Volo Museum

In addition to vintage RVs and campers, we have a lot of road trip memorabilia on display at the Volo Museum. It's easy to imagine the lifestyles of the people who once owned these collectibles when you see the antique canned goods, kitchen items, radios, games and fishing gear that are still in place.

To check out the campers and RVs in person, plan your trip today!

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Vintage at Volo Auto Museum