In 1937, 400 trailer manufacturers were competing against each other — Airstream survived the Great Depression and World War II, and is, in fact, the only one on that list still in business today.
Cornelius Vanderbilt IV, great-great grandson of Cornelius Vanderbilt, was a good pal of Wally Byam, the Airstream’s inventor and, unsurprisingly, wanted a larger model. Called the Airstream Commodore Vanderbilt, it was the first 30-footer style manufactured. This was back in 1955, 3 are still known to exist.
http://www.ourstate.com/airstream/
Out Of Doors Mart in North Carolina is the oldest Airstream dealership still in business, http://www.outofdoorsmart.com/
http://www.solidsmack.com/design/american-retro-caravans-a-refresh-on-vintage-airstream-design/
