Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

Take a Don Draper-Worthy Road Trip in this Vintage $225,000 RV

Image used with permission by copyright holder

Don Draper was one of those characters — women wanted him and men wanted to be him. We were awed by his 1960s swagger that made us yearn for the old days of sleek suits, cocktails in the middle of the day, and the retro decor that’s once again so popular in home design (but maybe without all the casual misogyny). So what if the story of Don was about his love of travel and exploring the U.S. instead of his talent as an ad man? Mr. Draper would surely have hit the road in this insanely awesome Holiday House Geographic Vintage Travel Trailer. And the best part: If you have a spare $225,000 laying around, you can snag this swanky trailer for yourself.

Just what makes a this particular trailer worth so much? The Holiday House Geographic Travel Trailer has a long and fascinating history that includes the owners of a gift basket company, a BMW race car designer, and a factory fire.

In the 1960’s, David Holmes, the owner of a mail-order gift basket company needed to come up with a way to keep workers busy during slow months. His solution was to build upscale travel trailers, naturally. The Holiday House Trailers were futuristic and unlike any other trailers on the market at that time. After early success, Holmes took things a step further, teaming up with BMW race car designer, Chuck Pelly, to develop the Geographic line of Holiday House trailers. A limited edition series, these trailers were intended as “trailers for the rich.” Only ten of the Geographics were ever made.

Eventually the original molds (which had survived a devastating factory fire) were discarded when Holmes’ company was sold. Today, only two trailers are known to be in existence, and this one, which is up for sale until August 22, has been fully restored to its original glory.

Made of fibreglass, the Geographic has that retro vintage style the ’60s were known for. The exterior has a unique streamlined shape and masculine two-tone colorway. That alone would make you feel like a king towing this baby down the highway, but your jaw will drop once you step inside.

The trailer was carefully and lovingly restored with sleek finishes that make it feel at once vintage and contemporary. Polished black walnut cabinetry, walls, floors, and ceilings were installed in the main living space. A stainless steel panel embellishment running along the ceiling coordinates with the stainless steel counter top of the kitchen space. The shine of these finishes along with lighting under the cabinets and built-in seating gives off a luxury, private club feel. Beside one of the built-in sofas is a mini bar complete with crystal cocktail set, perfect for those mid-day whiskeys.

Image used with permission by copyright holder

The Geographic is outfitted with several of the standard trailer amenities as well as a few 21st century updates. There is a kitchenette, fold-out beds that sleep up to four, a surprisingly spacious bathroom and changing area, and plenty of storage. There’s also an updated air conditioning unit that doubles as a heater on cold nights. A flat screen TV is built into the wall above the bar and is outfitted with surround sound.

And finally, if all that isn’t enough to convince you this trailer is worth every penny, Chuck Pelly himself signed it after it was restored. Anyone have a spare quarter-million we could borrow?

If this is a little too “antique” for your liking, you can always check out the new Airstream Basecamp instead.

Photos courtesy of Hal Thomas Photography, Tim Cash of Far From Earth Films, and Anna Scribner of Flyte Camp, LLC.  

Editors' Recommendations

Topics
Kelsey Machado
Former Digital Trends Contributor
Kelsey is a professional interior designer with over a decade of experience in the design field. With a passion for…
12 classic sci-fi books everyone should read
If you love science fiction and reading, these classic sci-fi novels are a must
Man reading a book and drinking coffee

It may feel like we were recently living in a science-fiction dystopia life -- and in some ways, we were -- but that doesn't mean that we should simply avoid an entire genre of writing. Hardly. In fact, this is probably the perfect time to explore classic sci-fi books, to see what the masters have written, and maybe even see if someone predicted anything like this. Many, though, simply ignore sci-fi wholly and completely because of an association with robots, aliens, and the like.

Long story short, if you think you don't like sci-fi, you have never read great books from the genre. But indeed, many such books abound, including a number that has delighted generations of readers going back well over 150 years. In fact, one of the best things about so many sci-fi books is their very timelessness. As by definition, this type of fiction breaks away from the norms of the everyday world -- whether slightly twisting things or taking place on entire other worlds -- the stories often feel as fresh and relevant today as when they were published decades ago.

Read more
The 7 best classic fantasy books to get lost in
Even adults can enjoy entering the fantasy world
Man reading a book

Using the term "fantasy" when it comes to fiction, we are admittedly casting a pretty wide net. After all, think about just how many shows and movies could technically be considered fantasy, too. If. we're talking about classic, canonical fantasy, though, the net shrinks considerably. If a book is to stand the test of time to be considered a classic -- regardless of genre -- it has to be damn good. At the risk of offending plenty of authors and fantasy fans both of yesteryear and today, most fantasy writing ... how should I put this? In a few decades, it won't be on some future writer's list of fantasy classics.

I say all that as an absolute fan of fantasy writing. From the Game of Thrones books, our era's Lord of the Rings, to the novels of Neil Gaiman, to the Twilight series (except not that), there is a plethora of great fantasy writing being produced today. But if you're looking to get into the genre or are already an aficionado with a few gaps in your reading list, classic fantasy novels are always a fine choice, as are classic mysteries, classic adventure books, and on it goes across every genre of literature.

Read more
How do cigars make you feel? My experience as a cigar smoker
Man smoking a cigar in a newsboy cap outside.

Most enthusiasts and cigar lovers smoke for more than just the appearance. In other words, it's not about looking cool or suave but about the experience itself. Smoking a good cigar is flavorful, pleasurable, and relaxing, and, on occasion, may even make you feel light-headed or give you a slight buzz -- although it's nothing like drinking or imbibing other common substances. For someone who's never smoked before or is interested in getting into the hobby, wondering just how cigars make you feel is a valid concern. What can you expect, and what is it about cigars that change the experience for better or worse?
How does a cigar make you feel?

For the most part, a cigar experience is pleasurable and relaxing, but nothing more. You don't smoke to feel something, so it's not like drinking alcohol or taking other substances in the sense that you're doing it to chase a particular feeling. If you like drinking for the taste or the flavors, that's the best comparison to smoking a cigar. A good cigar will be aromatic but also leaves a lot of nuanced flavor on your tongue and, if you retro-hale, in your nostrils. You'll get hints of chocolate, coffee, leather, spice, and maybe even some sweet tones like fruit. It depends on the cigar and the blend.

Read more