by Cameron Bird
A 90-year-old caravan has been sold at a recent auction for £11,500 – double the original estimate. The real surprise comes when examining this rare caravan, which reveals that caravanning was once an activity that was reserved for the aristocracy.
This elegant Bertram Hutchings Voyageur could once have exclusively been towed by large, powerful cars like a Rolls Royce. The Voyageur was also part of the first generation of caravans that replaced coaches pulled by horses.
The interior of the vehicle was known for its luxury, including a gramophone, stove, gas lighting, oak furniture, and even an early fire extinguisher, according to the Daily Mail. These may seem like trivial items to have nowadays, but in the 1920s it was quite a big deal.
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There is also a curtained-off lavatory, a beautiful sofa-bed, and a wooden clock on the inside of the caravan, and the outside walls are made from artificial leather called Rexine. The Voyageur was actually nicknamed the “Rolls Royce of caravans”, once again highlighting its high-end reputation.
The two-berth sleeper would have cost £245 in the ’20s, and there are thought to be fewer than 100 still in existence.
Rob Hubbard, from auctioneers Bonhams, the group that auctioned off the Voyageur, noted that: “The original owners probably had a chauffeur who had to sleep on the back seat of the car during a weekend away.”
“I wouldn’t have thought that there are more than about 100 of these left and they are popular with those who have vintage cars,” Mr. Hubbard added.
