Tag Archives: MimboloveVintage Travel Trailer
Mark paid $500 for his Avion T-20 in Tennessee not too long ago. Says internet: “The body of the AVION Travel Trailer is two complete Aluminum shells one inside the other, separated by a blanket of 1 1/4” plastic treated fibreglas insulation, riveted together as one unit on aluminum stretch formed bows and stringers. The only wood used in the construction of the AVION is the plywood floor and cabinets.” Brochure here, and 1963 price list here. I estimate that this 20′ Tourist model trailer cost new about $4k, weighing roughly 2600 lbs.
Long story short: Spartan Aircraft Company of Tulsa, OK, founded by an oil baron in 1928, was sold a decade later to an even richer oil tycoon, J. Paul Getty (richest man in the world, “The meek shall inherit the earth, but not its mineral rights.”). Spartan made really good planes including the oil magnate luxury special Spartan Executive that cruised at 200+ mph with 1000 mi. range. At the end of the war, the company pivoted to expensive airplane-inspired aluminum monocoque mobile homes. Spartan folded in 1962.