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Nomadic Homes
9/27/2006
Onboard With RVs
Another legacy of the Burning Man trip is my newfound appreciation for RVs. One good cross-country trip and I'm a believer. I'm not sure I can afford the money and time that an RV would require but owning one is now definitely on my lifetime to-do list. I could see Will and I hitting Pennsic, Burning Man, and all sort of interesting places in one of these things. There were all manner of RVs at Burning Man giving me a good sampling of what's out there. Two models really caught my eye: Airstream Trailers and 1970s GMC Motorhomes.
Airstream Trailers
When we stopped at Winnemucca we ran into another couple parked there with one of the new CCD Airstreams. To say that I was impressed with the interior would be an understatement. I've always liked the streamlined bullet shape of these trailers, but every interior I'd ever seen looked tacky and cheap. Not so with the new models. They offer fantastically cool spaces -- even by normal home standards. Apparently Airstream has hired a renowned Californian designer to revamp their interiors and the results are drool-worthy indeed:
Having now done some research on the net I've discovered that there are some real gems in the vintage Airstream market -- particularly within the 1930 to 1960 period. The early Clipper design certainly possesses one of the most appealing exteriors ever. Its almost nautical form brings to mind a vessel forged by Captain Nemo:
picture from vintageairstream.com
Airstream Links
- Airstream
- Vintage Airstreams
- Airstream Life
- Airstream Bohemia
- The Argosy Solar Project
- Vintage Trailing
GMC Motorhomes
Picture borrowed from this EBay Auction
Another design that really appealed to me was the 1970's GMC. Its futurist, "space shuttle" lines and rounded mod interior are great to look at; and yes, it was the Urban Assault vehicle in "Stripes".
"The year was 1970. NASA has just put a man on the moon and the nation was a buzz with all kinds of futuristic ideas. Building on the technological excitement of the times, General Motors design team put forth a plan to make an ultimate, space age travel vehicle - a motorhome unlike any other."
- From the History of GMC Motorhome
Eventually GMC dropped their motorhome and out of the RV businesses completely, but recently there have been faint rumblings of a possible rebirth via their new concept RV called the "GMC PAD"
"The GMC PAD, an urban loft with mobility, a concept for living in the ever-changing cultural landscape of Southern California or, quite simply, a modern alternative for those priced out of Southern California's escalating housing market. It's a home ownership concept that enables cultural & geographic freedom for the modern city dweller. It's a concept that represents a reasoned solution to the problems of urban sprawl, development, and it's damaging effects on the region's environment."
- GM Design Team
GMC Links
- History of GMC Motorhome
- GMC Motorhome.com
- MY 1976 GMC Motorhome Classic and My GMC Classic
- Info on the GMC PAD
9/27/2006 | Permanent Link
