I have to admit that since I only drive old cars, occasionally stepping behind the wheel of a newer car can be nice at times..... In a new car you don't hear the road. You don't really feel the car. It's almost like a null experience that doesn't even require much thought or focus in regards to the driving itself. Instead, you can focus on thinking about other things, talk on a phone call, tweak around with a blackberry, doing make-up, etc.
This is exactly the same reason why i refuse to drive a new car. It's really not driving to me. This is why I decided to put the ball on the ol' Chevy Wagon and hook her up to our trailer for a recent family camping trip. We drove up north to Casini Ranch on the Russian River to attend a vintage trailer rally. When my daughter gets older, i know that she'll never forget old car bumps, open exhaust and wide bench seats on trips like these. Soul glows when you mix station wagons and old trailers together....
The camper is a 1954 Traveleze, is restored original and in pretty damn good shape for it's age. I feels nice to sit inside at night with all the nice woodwork. This beast is in Doug Keisters' book, Ready to Roll if you're into this stuff. It weighs a tad under 2000 lbs and pulls great with the wagon (350 small block / Muncie 4 speed.)
The rally had about 50 great other trailers. You can see all my pics on my flickr. Here's also a couple of my favorites:
These folks were totally decked out, with about everything era correct-- including canoe.
look at those body lines. loved the high polish, tire cover and rear taillights on this "Streamline."
when i saw the interior of this Jewel, it made me hungry for breakfast. nice seating and look.
This is an early 60's German camper. all six or seven foot of it.
At night the campground set up a movie screen and played the old Lucy / Desi movie called "The Long Trailer." Between that and getting to play with fire and eat smores, a good time was had.
i picked up the old late 50's Coleman table and chairs for a pretty good deal in the original box. it all folds together nicely.
By the way--- Coop possessed me to pick up an old Polaroid Land Camera setup that i got in the mail right before we left for camping. Unfortunately, i didnt have time to pick up film quick enough-- otherwise, i think the Polaroid would have produced some beautiful looking traditional camping pics. I'm excited to put it to use-- next time...
-scott noteboom
Man, that wagon is sweet!
Posted by: COOP | October 11, 2008 at 02:46 AM
Holy crap, that trailer rules... do you have a trans cooler and beefed up brakes in the wagon? Having pulled 2000# trailers with a modern rig (Honda Pilot w / 270 hp) it seems that it'd be a white knuckle adventure in that Briarwood going through the hills.
Posted by: iowahawk | October 13, 2008 at 06:50 PM
Solar panels are suitable for camping, boating and caravaning portable solar energy generation is becoming more and more popular these days as a cost...
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Posted by: rashmi008 | January 03, 2011 at 01:18 AM
A very smart and diplomatic answer. It’s really appreciable and general.
Posted by: Account Deleted | January 28, 2011 at 04:27 PM
Now that's what I call "camping in style". A vintage car pulling a vintage camper; what more could you wish for. I admire your passion for driving vintage cars, we have the same blood flowing on our veins, hehe. That chrome camper looks awesome, by the way.
Posted by: Kevyn Hagemann | June 09, 2011 at 02:36 PM