World’s Oldest RV Going Up For Auction
During the first year of the pandemic, I heard that sales of RVs were skyrocketing. It made sense. Flying, cruising, and staying in hotels were off the table for a while. Even after things started opening back up, most of us were hesitant to travel that way. Motorhomes seemed like a much safer alternative. Some of my neighbors bought some. Driving to Philadelphia and back over the Labor Day weekend, I saw even more evidence of the RV boom. They were all over the interstates.
The world’s oldest intact motorhome is going up for auction this month. According to Insider, the 1914 Model T Caravan was commissioned by a wealthy British family and came complete with a wood-burning stove, a leather sofa, and enough space for four people. It even has a mail slot!
The motorhome, which was abandoned in the 1920s and restored in the ‘70s, is being sold at auction on Saturday (9/10) by Bonhams at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu, England. The vintage RV is expected to bring in somewhere between $23,400 and $35,100.
While it does look luxurious on the inside, I’m not sure how well this RV would do on a trip across America, especially the flat parts. With a top speed of 45 mph, the Model T motorhome has such a high profile and narrow wheelbase that one good gust of Great Plains crosswind could probably tip it right over. You can see a gallery of photos from the auction house HERE.
The 1914 Model T Ford unit was born at a time when machine-powered mobility was extremely rare.
— HT Auto (@HTAutotweets) August 30, 2022
The RV houses a leather couch which can be turned 180 degrees, plenty of wooden furniture and a wood-powered stove. It will be auctioned by @bonhams1793. https://t.co/fKuvQsYjv3
