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I want a movie star caravan, better get an Airstream… right? | Editor’s Pick October 2025
The enduring style of retro caravans means you can holiday like a Hollywood star in an Airstream… or maybe have a look at those companies emulating the iconic silver-skin style.
Words by: Tom Roberts
Published on 30 September 2025 | 0 min read
“Mr Roberts, you’re needed on set!” When I was nursing my aspirations of a career in movies, I had visions of myself in amazing locations reading my lines in an enormous caravan waiting for my call to set. You know the caravans I mean, the big silver ones with huge island beds and kitchens that are the epitome of vintage-style luxury. And the closest I’ve come to realising that dream is sitting in an Airstream Tourer mumbling to myself that I want one, and I know I’m not alone in my desire.
Even Tom Hanks loves them. He had a custom-built 1992 Airstream Model 34 travel trailer made for him which he used as his personal on-set trailer from 1993 to 2017. But they do come at a cost, which is why other companies are running to build vintage-style caravans that are slightly more wallet-friendly. The question is, are they worth it?
Even Tom Hanks loves them. He had a custom-built 1992 Airstream Model 34 travel trailer made for him which he used as his personal on-set trailer from 1993 to 2017. But they do come at a cost, which is why other companies are running to build vintage-style caravans that are slightly more wallet-friendly. The question is, are they worth it?
The silver-skin dream
Airstream’s shiny metal-skinned touring caravans evoke the Hollywood image perfectly, and the company has cemented itself as the go-to if you want that level of style in your own caravaning experiences. The range is wide, and from the smaller Bambi and Basecamp models to the enormous Tourers there’s no noticeable drop in quality… even at the entry level.
Marketed as an ‘American-style’ caravan supplier, Airstream does a lot of European business, but its imitators are never far behind in their attempts to draw on its retro styling. And who could blame them? For a certain type of audience this type of caravan is the dream purchase BECAUSE they look so different to the typical caravans we see on UK roads. It’s not that they offer fixtures and fittings above what you’d normally expect from a caravan, it’s how they look!
Marketed as an ‘American-style’ caravan supplier, Airstream does a lot of European business, but its imitators are never far behind in their attempts to draw on its retro styling. And who could blame them? For a certain type of audience this type of caravan is the dream purchase BECAUSE they look so different to the typical caravans we see on UK roads. It’s not that they offer fixtures and fittings above what you’d normally expect from a caravan, it’s how they look!
Looking for looks
However, it’s fair to say that not everyone wants to spend the money an Airstream purchase would demand, so I followed the natural path of Googling and having a look on Autotrader’s own caravan marketplace. And wouldn’t you know it, my search threw up a few notable companies in the UK trying their hands at emulating the Airstream style.
There are plenty of ‘metal retro’ touring caravans built by bespoke companies like Rocket Caravans vying for those looking for a Tourer. There are even smaller retro-style caravans available from companies like Barefoot Classic who have nailed a look in that legendary middle ground between retro and modern. And the desire for retro looks clearly goes deeper than I first realised when I discovered Dub Box, a company that turns old Volkswagen camper van bodies into caravans (definitely worth a Google). If I had the cash, an Airstream would still be at the top of my list. But now it would be on that list with caravans from a few more companies putting their spin on what it means to be ‘retro’. That’s a wrap!
There are plenty of ‘metal retro’ touring caravans built by bespoke companies like Rocket Caravans vying for those looking for a Tourer. There are even smaller retro-style caravans available from companies like Barefoot Classic who have nailed a look in that legendary middle ground between retro and modern. And the desire for retro looks clearly goes deeper than I first realised when I discovered Dub Box, a company that turns old Volkswagen camper van bodies into caravans (definitely worth a Google). If I had the cash, an Airstream would still be at the top of my list. But now it would be on that list with caravans from a few more companies putting their spin on what it means to be ‘retro’. That’s a wrap!
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