Vintage RV: 1960’s Aristocrat Travel Trailer
The Aristocrat trailer line has a long lineage of history in the RV world
We are always on the lookout for a trailer fit for an Aristocrat. You know — a trailer that is both classic and luxurious at the same time.
We haven’t come across a vintage Aristocrat Trailer in a while, so we were excited to see this one perched on a sales lot in Kalispell, Montana.
The founder Irving Perch was a colourful personality doing everything from starting and running a RV company to collecting vintage airplanes, autos and RVs and operating a restaurant called the Flying Lady in Morgan Hill, California.
The Aristocrat trailer line has a long lineage of history in the RV world and here is a little bit of it complements the Tin Can Tourist website:
The Aristocrat was built by I.B. Perch Company in Morgan Hill, Ca, Weiser, Idaho, from 1956-1974.
Irving Perch manufactured Aristocrat trailers in California from 1956 to 1974. The Lo Liner model was called that because one could purchase optional metal wheels to install when storage in a low garage was desired. These smaller wheels lowered the height, as well as the unique “drop axle”. The Lo Liner was sold as a 13′ and a 15′ trailer back then, but licensed as 16′, as the nearest measurement from hitch to tail.
Perch also manufactured a Mainliner, Land Commander, Hi Liner, Lil Loafer, Travelier, Classic, Landmark, Land Liner, Land Star, American Clipper Motor Homes, the Pick-up Partner and an 8 foot RV called “the bug”. The exterior of the Lo-Liner was notable for the large windows on all sides of the trailer. The trailers were extremely well-built with aircraft construction techniques,(metal I beams) and many are still on the road all over North America.
Irv Perlitch (Perch) made his fortune by founding Aristocrat Travel Trailers after moving to Morgan Hill in 1957. Mr. Perch collected unusual antiques such as a 1929 Ford Tri-motor, the first commercial passenger plane to make coast-to-coast flights. In 1969, he sold his successful trailer business to begin work on a 200 acre family resort in Morgan Hill, CA. It was home to his museums of antique cars and airplanes and where he built his Flying Lady Restaurants.”
There was a Canadian division associated with the General Coach Company with manufacturing facilities, at one time, in both Oliver, B.C. and Hensall, Ontario – now defunct.
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