for sale

Airstream caravan a Ray of Hope in camping

In the U.S., the silver Airstream caravan icons: In them, lives on the frontier idea, the campfire romance and the bittersweet On-the-road feel. Now there is the cult-caravan in a European version – but the clientele is still hesitating.

75th Anniversary of the Airstream Manufacturing Company, which was celebrated in the summer of 2006 in Jackson Center in the U.S. state of Ohio were, 165 fans with their silver-colored living airships traveled, which served the management personally hamburger. The gentlemen from the company management were active not only as service personnel, but also decided to establish the American cult of caravans in Europe. For the expansion, however, much preparation was needed. For from the chassis to the body virtually everything had to be adapted to European conditions and size and weight laws. There are now three options available and sold the first almost a hundred models in England, Holland and Germany. But particularly in this country to keep the fans of mobile living back yet.

“It’s probably the crappy image, the Caravan in Germany,” says Armin Heun, managing director of Roka, North Hesse Mengerskirchen, currently the only Airstream dealer in Germany. Caravan holiday will still be related to Knausertum name. But who wants to save is certainly not the idea to buy an Airstream caravan. For the cheapest model costs 55,000 euros, the price for the top model 684, a luxurious Tandem can achieve, with full equipment absolutely EUR 90,000. Heun: “Considering that the average price of homes bought in Germany at € 13 800, you can already see the exceptional position of Airstream.”

The special features open up even without such market data right away, because Airstream caravan considered design classics. While appearing normal caravans as yellowed plastic bubbles acts Airstream model as an Art Deco sculpture. Built the caravans since 1931 virtually unchanged – with bare aluminum outer skin, a characteristic cigar shape and tasteful interior. The caravan mediated by an airplane fuselage riveted outer cover both soundness, adventurism, and a taste of the future.

It began with a construction manual for a dollar

Wally Byam invented the vehicle – and if we are to believe the company’s history, it was his wife Marion, who was the impetus to do so. For she accompanied her husband while camping, but did not especially nights in a tent. Therefore, Mr. Byam built on a Ford-T chassis a kind of rolling hut with kerosene stove and refrigerator. In an article entitled “How to build a caravan for a hundred dollars” described Wally Byam its construction. The response was so great that he sent a blueprint for a dollar each and took a short time $ 15,000. He spotted a business – and founded the company in 1931 Airstream Manufacturing Company. The name he chose because his caravan should slide easily as an air flow through the streets.

The caravans carried himself later names like Flying Cloud, Wind Cruisette or trail. The currently available versions in Europe, however, are called profane. 532, 534 and 684 names of the models that are long from 5.30 to 6.80 and 2.30 meters or 2.50 meters wide. To be accepted in Europe, the caravans were a completely different chassis, a 230 Volt were designed power supply, newly slimmed down considerably and so balanced that the vertical load is a maximum of 140 kg.

Too cool for the hardcore annual rent

“Airstream caravans are four-star hotel on wheels,” says the German representative Armin Heun. Comparable nonexistent on the mobile home market. The equipment ranges from leather upholstery with a microwave oven until the flat screen. Above all, the institution does not follow the still popular plush and cozy homes standards, but is oriented on a cool, elegant lounge-style of modern big-city bars – the interior designer Christopher Deam, the interior designed. The annual rent from Castrop-Rauxel like that seem strange and out of place – the style-conscious world travelers but should that be most welcome. But: there are so many that a business can make of it?

Armin Heun Airstream and the company it will try anyway. Soon launch a road show through 20 German cities, will be presented at the Airstream caravan. Founder Wally Byam always emphasized that he does not sell homes, but a lifestyle. Heun has a similar view. “The right Airstream feel the need to develop in Germany yet.”