Owned by millionaires, Spartan started out building luxury airplanes, then went into the camper business.
This Spartan travel trailer has been fully restored and updated with modern features.
It's the ideal way to explore the Rockies this summer.
The Kootenays are a particularly scenic part of southeastern British Columbia, full of cascading rivers and lofty peaks, a lovely place to camp in summer. Well, why not do so like a wealthy 1940s tycoon? To do so, you'll want to pick up this 1946 Spartan Manor Model 25, currently up for sale on Bring a Trailer (which, like Car and Driver, is part of Hearst Autos). It's an art deco masterpiece from a company with roots in aviation and a history of making trailers that would outshine even a vintage Airstream.
Spartan was founded in the late 1920s by Oklahoma oil tycoon William G. Skelly, and initially built luxurious aircraft. One early customer was none other than Howard Hughes (famously, not much of a camping enthusiast later in life).
Skelly's company was acquired by fellow oil richie-rich J. Paul Getty in 1935. After building planes for World War II, the company went into the camping trailer business, using its expertise in aluminum monocoque construction to build some truly luxurious getaway campers.
This example is located in Nelson, British Columbia, in the heart of the Kootenays, and the seller says he'll throw in a locally sourced cheese plate as part of the deal (scroll down to check out the curious cows inspecting the trailer). It's got a fresh steel chassis as part of a three-year refurbishment from 2017 to 2020, mahogany floors, and new insulation.
Onboard amenities include a refrigerator, a three-burner stove, and a water heater. There's even an air fryer. The kitchen also comes with a stainless steel sink and plenty of cabinet storage. Sleeping arrangements include a memory foam bed, and there's a shower and toilet.
With its aircraft heritage, a Spartan is a gorgeous piece of history, and all the modern add-ons here make its name slightly ironic. It's not spartan accommodations at all, but a lovely place to stay while you tour around the Canadian Rockies—or wherever you decide to tow it.
Just in time for the height of the camping season, this trailer would look great perched on the tow hitch of a vintage truck or maybe even a modern Ford Lightning. It's a 1940s classic that's thoroughly updated for today's camping needs, a pretty great place to sit down and enjoy a nice cheese plate.
The auction ends on July 30.
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