We have featured some crazy campers over the years, but this thing may take the cake. It started life as two halves of a 1941 Western Flyer van, but was restro-modded into the awesome RV seen here. It’s not a barn find, but it’s definitely an oddity that’s worth a look. It has won awards and features many upgrades that make it very usable today. Find it here on eBay where bidding is already up to $66k!
There isn’t a lot of information online about the Western Flyer van, but we do know it was designed by Brooks Stevens and he came up with some amazingly styled vehicles that were essentially early motorhomes. You can read more about him and his awesome creations over at Hemmings.
This one has obviously been modified from its original form. There’s a modern chassis and drivetrain underneath and a new interior inside. We think it’s a lot of work to restore a car, but just think about all the challenges the builder faced when they built this thing!
This could be the ultimate snowbirdmobile. Just think of the looks on everyone’s faces when you pull into the RV park with this puppy! It’s not going to be cheap, but it will be even more stunning than all your buddies’ six figure rigs. Who needs a slide out when you have a tail fin!
How about 1941 not 1914. That really made me look at this one I couldn’t imagine anything looking like this in 1914.
Thanks for catching my typo. All fixed!
Want! (Thou shalt not covet…thou shalt not covet…)… that thing is cool!
I have never been a fan of restomod, but this thing is awesome. Reminiscent of GM futureliners. Very cool.
Brooks Stevens gave us some wonderful inventions ( conversely, however, he is considered the father of planned obsolescence, boooo). He used to have a museum in Mequon, Wis. but that has since closed. Sadly, this unit has been around. It was advertised on Hemmings a few years ago @ $115,000. It must have sold back then, but with a current bid of $66g’s, someone is going to take a bath. This, like most of Steven’s creations is so over the top, you can’t help but think how cool it is.( center tail fin and single headlight on the roof, the RR engine styling to name but a few) I only hope, someone, somewhere rekindles the Stevens museum and this should be in it. He was that important of a guy.
This is absolutely the coolest rv creation I’ve seen!
The wife just made me promise her that if we hit Powerball this weekend I would buy this for her…
Interesting. I follow a number of forums and blogs and am always reminded that the Barnfinds audience is unique from others. Never have figured out why.
Regardless, the positive response that this has received here so far is a surprise compared to elsewhere.
Good for you guys!
Totally awesome! But $66K+ and it doesn’t even have a john? As much as I love it, I’d rather have a used 45-foot Airstream motorhome for less than half that, and with far more amenities.
Yeah, but it’s still cool. . I want it!!!!!!
Well yeah, it IS cool!
The ebay listing shows what looks to be a waste tank underneath. Must be a john somewhere on that rig.
The tank is for the sink !!
Actually, I’d rather not waste the space and deal with the tanks required for a john. This isn’t designed to spend a week at a campsite. It would be awesome for car shows and two
day trips with one overnight.
exactly!!!
Nice and I agree with Healeydays wife, if we hit the powerball I want it.
I love it. It is not the RV I would want to travel in any more than I would want a 1934 Chrysler as my daily commute; However I would love to own both of them.
You do get that the shell is the only original part, right?
Deco-Diesel Punk at it’s very best ! I’d have to incorporate a TV antenna inside that rear wing though…to make it functional.
I am in. What a fantastic creation.
Very good. What sort of entertainment system?
Yes, very cool in every way. I just hope the microwave is bolted down (I’m sure it is).
It’s also impressive because of the number of modern, high quality elements of the build that were incorporated into this vehicle.
But it’s Brooks Stevens, Brooks with an ‘S’ at the end. Jesse got that right. Surprising the seller didn’t.
Stevens was one of the original industrial designers. In fact, he popularized that term, as well as designing lots of vehicles that many people will probably recognize.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brooks_Stevens
just plain kool !!
exactly !!!
I totally think this is cool, but more importantly I HOPE it inspires others to go out and build something just as cool and stylish. I have never understood peoples fascination with affixing a toilet in close proximity to your cooking,food and sleeping appointments in a RV. If you are so fixated on that build a matching trailer. Make room for a cool motorcycle to run errands with with attch for saddlebags for grocerys etc. and build in a toilet and catch tank in the trailer.
Why. It’s perfect as it is with its toilet.
Super Cool!
Looks like a GM Futurliner crossed with a 1938 Garwood Bus.