SOLD
1951 Silver Streak Clipper ("Arizona")
The coveted “alien eye” trailer (as the style would later come to be known) debuted in 1947 as the Curtis Wright Clipper. It was designed by Wally Byam, who left the company soon thereafter to resurrect his pre-war Airstream brand. In 1949, Curtis Wright Industries sold its trailer business to the newly-formed Silver Streak Trailer Company, which continued making the Clipper– with its iconic windows– just through 1954. (By 1955, the company used operable rectangular windows in all of its models.) No other companies ever produced a similar design.
This particular Clipper was in remarkably good shape when we got her, but still presented significant challenges. First, the exterior was speckled with a cement-like substance, and polishing required a lot more elbow grease than our 1963 Globetrotter. There was also a foot-long gouge in the aluminum on the street side. Inside, the factory paint job was peeling and discolored in places. Because of the unique speckled pattern of the green Hammertone-like finish, we could not just touch up these areas, even though we liked the retro feel. Finally, the camper as originally designed had no bathroom, no hot water, and no air conditioning. We wanted to add all three, but the dimensions of the camper and placement of the wheel wells and windows made the redesign tricky. The coach, though just 19 feet long, felt quite open and spacious. We didn’t want a bathroom to obstruct or block the alien eye windows or impinge on the galley kitchen. We also didn’t want an ugly white air conditioning unit sitting on top of our silver camper!
The complete renovation of this camper took over a year. The polishing process pushed us almost to the breaking point, but the refinished exterior– though still marked with the scars and dings of 65 years well lived– is pretty stunning. Where the gash in the street-side aluminum required patching, we installed an outdoor shower. We also designed and fabricated a custom pull-out front step.
Inside, we installed all new plumbing, electrical, and propane systems. We fit a wet bath directly behind the main closet and wheel well and in front of the rear alien eye windows. The side window in the bathroom and the corner sink make the space feel larger, and a bathroom fan adds privacy and ventilation. In the kitchen, we decided to replace the old icebox– charming as it was– with a new refrigerator that can be powered by either the electrical or propane systems (all the better for boondocking.) We replaced the space-hogging, free-standing stove with a new drop-in model and swapped the location of the refrigerator and stove to maximize counter space. We replaced the discolored laminate counters with new solid wood countertops, finished with five coats of marine-grade varnish. In the rear of the coach, we built a custom, wedge-shaped bed to maximize both the length and width of the main sleeping space. Lift-out panels allow access to plumbing and electrical systems and additional storage space. We also carved out a space in this area for a portable air conditioning unit, with dual vents to the outside. (It can be removed in winter or in cooler climates for additional storage space.) Because the ceiling of the ’51 Clipper is lower than later models, we decided to replace the old linoleum with a 4mm luxury vinyl tile instead of hardwoods. It was critical to squeeze out every last bit of head room! And the new flooring is also lightweight and waterproof. Finally, we painted the cabin a soft white and added new upholstery and curtains, as well as custom bedding for the main bed and convertible dinette.
We made a number of small but important additions to improve the camper’s safety and livability. Most critically, we installed smoke and carbon monoxide detectors in the cabin and an exterior backing camera. A new Fan-tastic Vent, kitchen fan, fans in the front and rear of the coach, and the all-important bathroom fan mentioned above improve airflow and reduce moisture in the cabin. Nightlights near the floor at the entry and in the bathroom help you find your way in the dark without waking others. Under-cabinet lighting and a pop-up countertop outlet in the galley improve the work space. LED lightbulbs throughout the cabin minimize heat output and increase energy efficiency (especially important when you’re camping without hookups!).
We took a number of additional steps to make the camper boondocking-ready. (We love long stays in the woods!) She has a fresh water carrying capacity of 26 gallons, as well as a 21-gallon gray tank and an 8-gallon black tank. (We also have a 35-gallon san tote.) A large wall-mounted lantern is propane-powered, and all other interior light fixtures are 12V (i.e., battery-powered). Several 12-volt outlets throughout the coach allow you to charge phones and other devices when operating off-the-grid. The tankless on-demand water heater, oven/range, and wall furnace are all propane-powered, and as mentioned above, the refrigerator can also be propane-powered. We also installed integral connections for a new 100-watt solar panel to recharge the battery on longer trips.
Despite all the upgrades, our favorite parts of this camper are the original items that we kept. We cleaned and polished the original aluminum galley and dinette benches. We stripped and re-finished the original plywood cabinet and closet doors and re-used the original hardware (hinges, latches, etc.) wherever we could. (For the rest, we used reproductions from Vintage Trailer Supply.) We kept the charming old ceramic kitchen sink and magazine racks on the interior walls. We cleaned and polished the original Hehr windows, with their perfect levers and latches, and “L.A. Calif” stamped on the handles, and replaced all the window screening and the glass as necessary. We purchased a new, vintage-style black and white striped awning for the existing track (to match the black and white striped vinyl tile flooring in the cabinets and closets). We adore the refurbished screen door and, of course, the ’51 Clipper’s classic “alien eyes.”
The new and improved Arizona weighs in at just 3,040 pounds with the portable AC. With its light weight and more streamlined shape, it was much easier to tow than our 1963 Airstream Globetrotter. (Though a full 3 feet shorter than the Clipper, the Globetrotter weighed almost 500 pounds more!) We had a blast taking it for a test run in the mountains of New Mexico and Colorado.
The Arizona was appraised by Polk Associates in June 2019 at $77,500. We have since added the new solar panel and connections, new tires, and a number of amenities not included in the appraisal.
