When was the first airstream trailer built

Airstream has roots all the way back to the s when company founder Wally Byam began constructing trailers out of Masonite in the backyard of his Los Angeles home. The first unofficial Airstream trailer was built in when Wally combined a tent with a Model T Chassis. This first model was a start but leaked too much for extended use. Easily towed with a car this first RV was the envy of many travelers and led to Wally making and selling how to kits to customers.

This Popular Mechanics guide was successful. Additionally Byam began to make trailers for neighbors and other people in his home shop. When this location proved to be inadequate he rented a small building in Culver City, California in The first model made in this factory was the Airstream Torpedo Car Cruiser which sold over one thousand in just a year. The RV business began to grow and over companies were competing in the space by This experience and influence would lead to the improvement of later Airstream models including the iconic fuselage design.

After the war, several trips across both America and Europe led to several design and sustainability changes to Airstream travel trailers. This also included large Caravan models along with the expansion of Airstream in both size and scope.

Other changes including a hot water system developed in made these camping trailers fully self-contained campers. Wally Byam passed in and Art Costello took over. In the late 60s Airstream went over a huge design change focusing on a more luxurious look and feel.

But survival was soon threatened from without. On December , , the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, and leisure travel and the materials necessary to build trailers became luxuries the country could not afford. Structural aluminum was classified as a critical war material, available only for the building of vital aircraft. Tires and gasoline became scarce and Wally Byam closed his doors. By , Airstream Trailers, Inc. Wally had learned much about aluminum fabrication and design in the aircraft industry, and he was ready to begin applying that knowledge to his trailer concepts.

The demand for Airstream trailers seemed to know no bounds, and it was soon obvious that Airstream had become a nationally known product.

In July , the lease was signed for a facility in Jackson Center, Ohio, to serve the eastern market. By August the first Ohio-made Airstream rolled off the production line, and the California factory was moved to larger facilities in Santa Fe Springs.

For the next ten years, Wally continued to improve and refine his products, and the company continued to prosper and grow. During this period, the company made the transition from direct, factory sales to a dealership network, providing even better service and responsiveness to its customers.

Then in , Wally Byam passed away. By the early seventies, the popularity of motorhomes had grown by leaps and bounds. After several years of development, the first Airstream motorhomes were introduced in In , Airstream rolled out the all-new Land Yacht motorhome. In contrast to the Classic, this motorhome featured laminated fiberglass construction and had front and rear end caps so innovative that a patent was granted for them. The Land Yacht was an immediate success and is still the best-selling Airstream motorhome.

Airstream motorhomes continue today to be an integral part of the space shuttle program.