These galleries of old photos of cars and trailers traveling across the US usually seem to open up many memories for our readers. And why wouldn’t they? It’s the perfect mix of vintage cars, open roads, landscapes, and, occasionally, curious setups.
As in previous installments, the range of cars in this collection is wide, as is that of the trailers. Going from the basic to the unusual, and the spiffy.
Nice set of photos.
My favorites are the Ford wagon pulling a clearly homemade trailer; the Corvair which may or may not have pulled that trailer behind it (is that even possible? I have seen very few photos ever of a Corvair pulling a trailer, especially one that big); and the Buick wagon with the boat. It’s hard to imagine pulling that big boat all the way from NY (I think those are NY plates on the Buick) to Florida, but I suppose it would be possible.
The same ones caught my eye. The homemade trailer behind the ’56 Ford looks to be a former sedan delivery, which with its rear door made a good candidate.
As to the Corvair, yes, they could tow. I don’t know that tow specs were published, but keep in mind that the Corvair drive train was used in the full size Ultra Van motor home. And it was not uncommon to see other small cars including VWs towing. Those trailers were built pretty light.
I had the same thoughts about the wood boat, which is a beauty. It looks like it might be wider than what’s legal too, but I could be wrong. But yes, folks did tow all sorts of things back then, including some remarkably big trailers that were closer to mobile homes.
The Buick’s plates are actually 1960 Ohio plates (the only year Ohio used that golden-yellow and blue combination) – and the boat is registered in Ohio as well. Not that it makes much of a difference… that’s a might impressive load to haul 1,000 miles!
Agree. I’d like to see what’s inside that homemade trailer. Towing with a Corvair is something really think about. People ask if they can put a hitch on their Honda HR-Vs. No you can’t tow with a CVT and a unibody. But it turns out all they want is to attach a bike rack. It’s a different time.
The boat looks a bit like a Lyman most of those were 8′ wide so in the limit but some of the larger ones were 8’10” so either way close to the width limit. The registration on the boat is Ohio but the plate is NY of course that could mean the combo came from western NY. According to the data I found a 23′ Lyman should be about 3300lbs dry so figure gas supplies and trailer that’s about 5k lbs. Which should be pretty doable with a wagon like that a lot of airstreams towed with similar cars would have weighed more.
It’s amazing folks pulled travel trailers with cars, except for the IH Travelall. But most seem matched except the Thunderbird!
Nothing unusual at all, I tow a 7metre caravan/traveltrailer behind a FWD Citroen diesel its not even near its GVM, yesterday I moved my classic it has no brakes so I trailered it, car 12-1500kg its loaded with tools trailer easy 750kg empty, much more than GVM the car cruised towing it, and good mileage,
?IS THE TRAILER PULLED BY THE PASTEL GREEN & WHITE ’56 FORD MADE FROM THE BACK OF AN OLD CHEV SUBURBAN?
Wow,
Cool to see what I considered rich folks when I was growing up .
I loved to travel far and wide .
I *think* that home made trailer is a GM “Sedan Delivery” from the 1940’s .
-Nate
I like the 1955 Mercury with the Airstream. Somewhat like the Lucille Ball movie with the “Long Trailer”.
My favorite is the ’54 Buick on the beach. The ’60 Buick wagon pulling that boat probably had the boat filled with their luggage, a good way to keep the interior of the wagon less cluttered. That white ’50/60? GMC is an extremely sanitary rig!
I’ve never towed a trailer on vacation, but it looks like it could be a fun way to travel, as long as the trailer isn’t too big. On the TV show Tracker, Justin Hartley tows that cool Airstream behind that big black Chevy pick up. I’ll bet that will lead to an increase in the popularity of trailer camping. At least for middle aged men wanting to be cool.
The 54 Buick is next to the remains of a wooden shipwreck. I have to wonder about its story.
Caught my eye too.
What tire pressure on the back of this Corvair do you think?
Based on the label, GM considered each passenger to weigh 150 lbs
(150 x 5) + 200 = 950
I think most American are a bit heftier now days.
Yeah, 68kg does sound a bit light for 2024.
Thats also for bias ply tyres you know the garbage that needs 40psi to stop the sidewalls flexing, its a joke.
You mean to tell me that there was a time when a family didn’t have a vehicle for daily use, a vehicle for each HS kid, a vehicle for hauling and a vehicle for fun?
They only got one that had to do all that?
LOL – I love those photos, but I wouldn’t want to be in one when they try to climb over Loveland Pass, past the seven sisters avalanche slides!
I like the picture of the ’62 Dodge with the color coordinated camper … the mts in the background makes me want to get busy on our rig … a 1963 Airstream Bambi and our ’86 Mercury Grand Marquis.
In looking at that picture close-up, that car sure looks like it’s Right Hand Drive. The inside mirror is tilted towards the right hand side as well. But the script on the rear fender (“Pioneer,” I think) seems correct, so the image wouldn’t be reversed.
I couldn’t let this one go – it appears the location is New Zealand. The photo appears to match up with The Remarkables mountain range on the South Island. I suppose that accounts for the outside mirror placement as well.
Google StreetView:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/dFqsAw7L9RoVW6JY8
Eric703, that’s some *great* sleuthing…I figured “somewhere around Palm Springs?” and looked right past it.
eBay Australia has this brochure, which might perhaps be relevant:
https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/186291954376?_nkw=1961+dodge+brochure&itmmeta=01J7E582Y6S51CK1NQZMM779H1&hash=item2b5fdda2c8:g:fdcAAOSwC6dZs3F3&itmprp=enc%3AAQAJAAAA8HoV3kP08IDx%2BKZ9MfhVJKmSn%2BaA%2FV5Eo3SwJ%2BxX7PRsVGmC3L%2FunMlI0z%2BLPycisiVa%2B%2FVh%2Fbo54BrEIjfboWfwyPg00gXx1yDPJr17%2BS6d0IJm9BO6kfyZBadfvSRAdrXIGSattes1jQUe341%2BzH%2Bx844OCWLPKdkGHL%2BxBRTp8s%2FmgkldoaunrmkHB5GfP1CIsLUtAOpZyEUuVlk2SEFowHwi0ryYf9pLfVVCX7I%2BV511vr%2B29jJchzU9KFGWBJHn8MQsEJjjXhzaGBDWn1W1uf2YHQ31%2FgklBSvaBhc6zSNSBpg5uhJdKtFgYJp5PA%3D%3D%7Ctkp%3ABFBMmK-gxbtk&edge=1
Thanks for that link! I was unaware that these cars had a significant presence in Australia and New Zealand. I was drawn to that picture at first because of the color-coordinated trailer, but then realized it was even more interesting than I first thought.
And the caravan door is on our curb side.
Good point – thanks!
That white GMC pickup is sooo nice!!
I have a 63 Corvair Mona convertible and I’m not about to tow with it. The front/rear weight bias is already extreme. Not sure the front tires would have much grip at all. I really like the car, but never thought of towing with it.
That GMC pickup appears to have a V6 via the fender badge. My family had one of the same vintage but pretty well worn. That engine was indestructible and was not fast, but had gobs of torque. As a teenager I couldn’t tear it up.
Wow, love the ’60-’61 GMC 3/4 ton with camper, aluminum boat and trailer! Truck has an Orrin W. Fox Rambler-GMC dealership license plate frame. Orrin Fox was in Pasadena CA. on Colorado Blvd., currently it’s the location of Thorsen Buick GMC Isuzu Truck. It was not uncommon for independent-make dealers like Rambler and Studebaker to have GMC or International truck franchises in the 50’s and 60’s.
What’s going on with the ’54 Buick’s rear bumper?
Four tiny wheels under that big boat!
Who else saw the GMC with camper and thought “Travels With Charlie”?
My folks had a then- new ‘56 Ford Fairlane two door hardtop and a ‘53 Chevrolet 5 window pick up. We had an Airstream trailer that the truck towed ( my Dad would never have used his new car for towing). We lived in Newport Beach, CA and drove Route 66 out to visit family in Kansas. The trailer was such a pleasure to have. We felt like we were traveling in style!
RD, it’s a 1961 Dodge Dart. I believe the model to be the lowest priced Seneca.
I knew it was a Dodge by the ,”A” pillar; my folks had a ’62 Newport which became my first car way back when. I almost put this “rig” somewhere in
our American southwest; glad I didn’t post the location as I would have missed it by a few thousand miles! That’s a nice color … it almost matches my ’93 Mercury Grand Marquis.
You rarely see travel trailers being pulled behind cars anymore ! Usually , 5th wheelers are towed by full sized trucks . Years ago , rumor had it , that automobiles were not made to pull trailers , but that is debateable . Any 8 cylinder vehicle should have adequate power to tow an average size trailer .
I tow my racetrack camper with my ’69 Skylark. Since it’s a 7’x4′ trailer with a hard shell the ‘lark hauls it just fine.
Sweet ride, Chris. Cool set-up.
Thanks! Very few things in life work as well as that trailer. It does exactly what it was designed and built for.
A race track camper that keeps me warm, dry and secure.
Every late June/early July from 1967 to ’70 my dad would put our ’64 Jeep cj-5 in nuetral, attach a tow bar to the back of our ’66 Mercury colony park, put our two big dogs in a special separated pen in the back of the Jeep, leave the windows open for ventilation, and all of us (mom& dad, 3 kids & 2 dogs) would make the 450-mile trek from southeast Pennsylvania to southern New Hampshire. After about a week everyone would stay in NH for the summer except dad, who would drive the Jeep back to PA and his job. It worked out well until 1970 when the Jeep developed severe mechanical problems on the return trip, and after that everything and everyone went into the Merc