A compact hotel on wheels

• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 
• 

Show your PreWarCar

You might have seen this 1928 Packard 443 and 1930 Curtiss Aerocar Camper last year during the Hershey Region of AACA. Or recognise it from the pictures of the Eastern Fall Meet - Hershey 2019 we published earlier.

We were contacted by Paul Tacy, the owner of this 1928 Packard and 1930 Curtiss Aerocar Camper. His father purchased the Curtiss Aerocar Camper in 1982. Paul would like to tell you more about the Aerocar and show you the inside of the camping trailer.

“The Aerocar was developed by the American Glenn H. Curtiss, who was also highly involved in the motorcycle industry and the early aviation movement. The camper has a wood-framed construction that is wrapped with an oilcloth material. It is the only one known to exist in this configuration. In the 18 feet long Aerocar there is a small kitchen equipped with a stove, icebox, gravity feed water, sink, and cabinets. The living area has the ability to be used as a sitting, sleeping and eating area. The windows crank down for a nice breeze and the screens can also be pulled down. There is also a 2-way intercom system allowing the driver to communicate with those in the trailer.

The coupling assembly is a factory Curtiss Aerocar Fifth wheel mechanism which is mounted in the rumble seat area of the Packard.” Paul recently coupled the Aerocar with a 1928 Packard 443 Roadster. The mechanism can be seen in the pictures. “The connection is a wheel of aeroplane design and the car is of light aeroplane fuselage construction, minimizing weight, eliminating vibration and assuring speed and comfort.” As described in the Everglades News (June 22, 1928).

What a wonderful combination! Thank you very much for sharing Paul! We really hope you will use the camping trailer this Summer. And maybe go on hunting and fishing trips into New York State’s Adirondack, Berkshire and Catskill mountains in this ‘compact hotel on wheels’ just like Mr Curtiss himself used to do.

More about Glenn H. Curtiss and his interesting innovations can be found here.

Do you also have a special pre-war car, motorcycle or other vehicle you would like to show us and many other enthusiasts? Please send an e-mail to [email protected].

Kommentar abgeben...