I recently went to the Hooters charity car show, in Davenport, which attracts lots of cool vintage iron. We’ll leave the full walk-and-talk of this show for another time, however. What I want to show you today is this Mercury.
You may remember this wagon from the Car Show Classic post some time ago. But back then, it was all by its lonesome. Today, it has a friend.
A vintage Airstream, to be specific. Suddenly it’s 1965, right down to the aluminum folding chairs and red-and-white checked picnic table. All that’s missing is a transistor radio, a cooler full of your favorite beverage and the requisite 1965 happy family.
Looks to be quite original inside. Do you remember those plaid coolers? They were before my time, but my dad and uncle sure would!
All in all, this was a nice surprise amongst the Road Runners, Mustangs and Camaros. I’m sure Paul is drawn to this vintage rig, but you can’t take it off road like you can a Chinook!
That looks like heaven.
As an aside, Airstreams go for stupid money these days.
And if they needed an auxiliary vehicle, they could tie the next-spot Triumph Spitfire on the roof rack.
Lol, best comment of the week!
Now that brings back memories. Troughout the ’80s my grandparents had an almost identical Airstream, but pulled by an always mint ’78 Grand Marquis (silver with a red pinstripe, to match the red leather interior).
America’s answer to James Bond – Matt Helm, played by none other than that woozy pretend drunk, Dean Martin – had a Colony Park in his mid-60’s films. It was luxuriously and outrageously outfitted for Helm’s exploits, which required lots of bars and beds.
I have to admit, I’m a little obsessed with Airstreams of this vintage. A month or so ago, I thought I had purchased a 1961 26′ Land Yacht, after looking at one and making an offer. The seller received a higher offer a day later and it was sold out from under me, much to my dismay. It was in rough shape cosmetically, but it would have been a restoration project anyway.
I love the door-in-door that this and earlier models had. It’s just a lot cooler looking than the standard screen door that replaced it.
I’m not so sure about the interior being original, though. The colours look very 1990s to me. The fridge looks too new as well. The stove and fridge on the one I looked at were a light pink colour.
There are lots of clues that this has been updated. The floors have been redone, but this is common. Depending on the year, that range hood may have originally just been a fan on the wall. The wood seems lighter than normal, but it could just be the pictures. The bathroom has been redone for sure.
Oh well, the beauty of those things is that you can have the classic style outside with a more liveable interior.
Yes, it has been updated.
What a treat! When I was a kid that would have been my Mom’s Dream set up. She always said a Buick Station Wagon but with the Full Size Buick wagons being discontinued in 1965 I think this Mercury would have fit the bill nicely. Anyway all Dad could afford in 1965 was a 63 Plymouth Savoy Coupe and a Nimrod Pop Up Camper, a little tight for 3 Kids and Mom and Dad.
That wagon just doesn’t look right without whitewalls.
As a recently former owner of a ’79 Continental: It is impossible to find a set of whitewalls in that size that have a decent ride and don’t fall apart under the weight of the car, let alone trying to tow a trailer. The only good tires in that size are light truck tires.
What a cool rig. My uncle had the Canadian equivalent of this Mercury when I was a boy. It was a turquoise colour, same wood grain with a black interior and was very likely the hottest vehicle I’ve ever ridden in. Whoever put this combo together sure got the details right, the lawn chairs and plaid cooler sure take me back. Where’s the cheap barbeque and bag of Kingsford bricks though?
Great combination. Makes me feel quite warm to that Mercury woodie too.
I’ve often considered how much easier a trailer would be, but then it just doesn’t fit into our style of camping.
While up in B.C., I passed at least two vintage cars pulling vintage trailers… never was quick enough on the camera to capture one, though.