For those of us who have done our share of RVing, only one thing
is more fun than an
nostalgic look at an antique or classic RV and that is an entire
museum devoted to these land rovers of the past. Amarillo, Texas
is home to Jack Sisemore RV Museum. To sweeten the nostalgia
pot, the RV Museum is located just a short distance off the
"Mother Road" for all roadies, Route 66. Best of all. It's free.
The RV Museum is hidden away behind Jack
Sisemore's Traveland RV sales and service at
4341 Canyon Dr. in Amarillo. Once you find your way
there, someone will direct you to the museum located out back.
Once inside you have stepped into the past. The jukebox is
playing a 50s hit, maybe Jerry Lee, Fats Domino or even the King
himself. The jukebox
sits in a re-creation of a 1950s diner and really sets the mood.
One of the first of the vintage treasures I
spotted was a Lampsteed Kampkar. This baby was produced through
a marriage of two highly unlikely RV producers. It was built by
Anheuser-Busch (yes, the same company that produces one of the
most dangerous things you can drink while tooling down the road
in an RV) and designed by Samuel B. Lambert, whose father was
the treasurer of the company that manufactured Listerine. (For
an interesting
combination, you could gargle Listerine if you were determined
to drink "what made Milwaukee famous" while driving this RV.)
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| This was considered traveling in
style back in 1931 |
The Lampsteed Kampkar was sold as a kit to
fit the Model T Ford
chassis. Once assembled, the rear
compartment of the RV folded like a Pullman train car and became
two double beds. When folded in an upright position, the bed
frame's center section formed a pair of bench seats along each
side of the vehicle's body. Portable back rests allowed a
driver and "front seat" passenger to sit on the forward sections
of the two benches just as if they were in the Ford's front
seat. You could buy this RV for only $535 back in 1921. Don't
even ask what it's worth today.
Moving a bit closer to the present time, I
loved the big 1948 Flxible. This one may look familial to Robin
Williams fans. This was the Gornickes' traveling home
in the movie RV.
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| Wish Robin Williams could step
into this beauty once more. |
The Flxible Coaches are extremely popular.
I saw one online for sale similar to this one and they were
asking $27K. There is even a Flxible Owners International that
holds rallies biannually where proud Flxible owners
can show off their pride and joys. This one has been
modified for the movie and is in showroom condition inside.
Makes you want to hop in and drive it down the road.
The nostalgia continues with
a shiny like new 1962
Airstream that looks like it just came out the showroom. Inside
the curved look makes it so homey and comfy feeling. Maybe that
is why Airstreams are still so popular today.
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| You could step into this one and
travel in confort still |
Then there is the little aluminum 1946
Teardrop built for a kit. This baby was restored 24 years ago
and still looks perfect. I saw a Teardrop recently pulling into
a campground and they are so cute and maneuverable.
I loved a tiny red and white 1953 Fleetwood
Travel trailer not much bigger than a Teardrop. This was the
first year Fleetwood built trailers.
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| This little Fleetwood is a cutie
pie. |
Along with the RVs, the museum is filled
with antique motorcycles. Up front is a recreation of an antique
Standard Oil gas station as it might have looked in the 1950s.
This is just a small sample of what you will find at the RV
Museum. Jack Sisemore has been collecting vintage RV for over 25
years and this museum shows it was a labor of love. I could go
on and on but why not just take a trip to Amarillo and see them
for yourself . That is more fun.
This is a museum all RVers must visit.
For more Info:
www.rvmuseum.net/
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