Historical RV Articles

Click Here To Read the Details of the article "Steaming In Search of the Sun"
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Steaming In Search Of The Sun

In the 1890s the motor car was the latest advance in a century of remarkable transportation developments; an opportunity for established engineering businesses, entrepreneurs and every backyard inventor. By the mid-nineties there were hundreds of car makers...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "The First Six Wheeler"
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The First Six Wheeler

In the 1890s Léon Turcat and his brother-in-law Simon Méry were among the many pioneers who helped France to forge its way to first place in the infant world of the automobile. They began work on their first car in 1896 and soon proved that they would not be...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "The 1910 Pierce Arrow Camper"
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The 1910 Pierce Arrow Camper

The George N. Pierce Co. of Buffalo, New York made bicycles in the 1850s, produced its first car in 1901 and was renamed Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Co. in 1910. English-born David Furguson, who remained with the company until 1921, designed the first light cars...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "Mr. Hounsfield's Trojan"
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Mr. Hounsfield's Trojan

Almost throughout automotive history there have been individuals and companies seeking to make their mark - and their fortunes - with a car which was simple, cheap to buy and economical to run. The quest for these objectives has often led to unorthodox solutions...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "Lamsteed Kamper on Ford Model-T"
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Lamsteed Kamper on Ford Model-T

Henry's wonderful Model-T was the maid-of-all-work of the automotive world. During its 19 years in production the 'T' came with a variety of factory and proprietary types of passenger body, whilst the 'T' chassis and the long wheelbase 'TT' version catered for all...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "The Rally Winner 1912"
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The Rally Winner 1912

Grégoire et Cie of Poissy, Seine-et-Oise, was founded in 1904 and within a few years Grégoire cars had taken part in events such as the Circuit des Ardennes, the Tour de France and the Coupe des Voiturettes. The 1912 Rallye de Sainte-Sébastien, however, was not a speed...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "An Elegant Eccles"
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An Elegant Eccles

The Eccles story begins in 1913, when W A J Riley built himself a motor caravan on a 1909 Talbot. In 1919 Riley and his son Bill put the Talbot outfit and a rather crudely built trailer caravan on show at a London garage close to the 1919 Motor Show. A positive response to...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "A 1924 Ford TT from Belgium"
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A 1924 Ford TT from Belgium

Our 'Pioneer' series has featured many an outfit on the famous Ford Model-T but few of them would have won prizes for their looks. In contrast to the early creations for the wealthy, motorhomes based on the 'T' tended to be built to a price, like the Tin Lizzie itself...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "The 'Autobungaloafer' A Landmark In Progress In The USA"
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A Landmark In Progress In The USA

In 1921 the first overland Travellers' Park' was opened in Denver, Colorado and as motor campers of all kinds poured into the new facility it became something of an informal exhibition for motorhomes. This outfit, grand for its time, was a star attraction and had been constructed...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "A Fifth-Wheeler For A Financier"
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A Fifth-Wheeler For A Financier

The fifth-wheeler floats between the world of the trailer caravan and that of the motorhome, not quite fitting into either. Whichever side of the divide you choose to classify this unusual outfit, however, it certainly deserves its place in the broader history of caravans.

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "The First Raven"
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The First Raven

Norman Wilkinson-Cox was the proprietor of Service Garage in Ravenscourt Park, West London. Like many of the pioneer caravan constructors he started out by building an outfit for his own use. The idea of a self-propelled house-on-wheels for free and easy touring, faster too...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "1927 Motor Coach, Flordellen, with Carved Interior"
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1927 Motor Coach, Flordellen, with Carved Interior

In 1927 Leonard S. Whittier, of Elmira, New York, had a custom built recreation vehicle, long before it became part of the American way of life. The traveling home was christened "Flordellen" using the name of his wife, Florence, son David Lane and his own. Although none of...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "A Carlight With A Slide-out"
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A Carlight With A Slide-out

The slide-out extension has become a popular feature with American RV manufacturers in recent years but the idea is by no means new. Sixty and even seventy years ago British caravan constructors were making models with slide-outs to extend sleeping space or create toilet or...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "A Bedford Double Decker"
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A Bedford Double Decker

Peter Crerar's Coachworks at Crieff in Perthshire created this luxurious motorhome on a 1933 special long wheelbase passenger version of the Bedford WLG. Upstairs there was accommodation for six in bedrooms furnished with spring mattresses and the dormitory area also boasted...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "Streamlined To Extremes"
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Streamlined To Extremes

Is it a motorhome? Is it just a car and trailer caravan? Well, although it comprises a motive unit and a living unit, this outfit was conceived and developed as a whole. The objective was to achieve the ultimate in streamlining or, as we’d say today, it was all about drag...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "Hindley's 1937 Curtiss Aerocar 5th Wheel House Trailer"
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Hindley's 1937 Curtiss Aerocar 5th Wheel House Trailer

Is it a motorhome? Is it just a car and trailer caravan? Well, although it comprises a motive unit and a living unit, this outfit was conceived and developed as a whole. The objective was to achieve the ultimate in streamlining or, as we’d say today, it was all about drag...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "1940 Howard Hughes Bus"
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1940 Howard Hughes Bus

This bus was built in 1940 by the legendary Howard Hughes. It is one of 8 he built when he was with RKO Studios. They served as his mobile dressing rooms for location filming.

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "Canada's First Traffic Accident"
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Canada's First Traffic Accident

In 1866, Father Antoine Belcourt, parish priest at South Rustico, Prince Edward Island, purchased a steam powered automobile from the United States. The automobile was delivered by...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Click Here To Read the Details of the article "Rocinante"
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Rocinante

Rocinante is the truck author John Steinbeck drove across the United States in 1960. He recounts the journey in Travels with Charley, a bestseller that initially sold more volumes than...

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Published in Motorhome Monthly, by Chris Burlace
Did You Know?

Ontario's first speed traps were stop watches used by police to calculate the speed of motorists, but there was another method that was a little controversial. Officers threw planks studded with nails in the path of oncoming traffic. If a motorist stopped before the planks, then it was assumed that he was driving within the speed limit. If he couldn't, he got a fine and a flat tire.

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