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The Star Streak Is How You Turn a Cadillac Eldorado Into a Fancy Motorhome

As parents are wont to say, if you want something done, you’d better see to it yourself. Not many people would think to apply that to a motorhome, but Lt-Col. Paul Jones from Cape Coral, Florida, was definitely not among them.
Star Treak II, completed in 1988 10 photos
Photo: RV/MH Hall of Fame Museum
Star Treak II, completed in 1988Star Treak II, completed in 1988Star Treak II, completed in 1988Star Treak II, completed in 1988Star Treak II, completed in 1988Star Treak I, which saw more than 100K miles of useStar Treak I, which saw more than 100K miles of useStar Treak I, which saw more than 100K miles of useStar Treak I, which saw more than 100K miles of use
Back in the ‘80s, Lt-Col. Paul Jones, who had been with the U.S. Air Force, started looking for an RV for himself and the missus. The goal was to travel the country, and, like many folks are discovering these days, as the health crisis continues to change everything about our normal lifestyle, he believed that a motorhome was the ideal solution.

The problem, as far as Jones was concerned, was that the market did not have what he wanted from an RV, so he set out to build one himself. The fact that he had experience in aeronautics, several engineering degrees, and bucketloads of skill helped – and he was able to create not one but two such recreational vehicles. He called them the Star Streak I and II, and both still exist to this day and are in excellent condition, though they’re no longer seeing any road use.

First and foremost, Jones wanted a complete motorhome with all the amenities you’d need to live comfortably on the road. He also wanted a vehicle that was still low enough to allow parking inside a regular garage, which is how he came up with the idea to use old Cadillac Eldorados for it.

Star Treak I, which saw more than 100K miles of use
Photo: JustACarGuy
To this day, the Star Streak is the epitome of retro-futurism. It looks like a block on wheels, but it’s a stylish one, and the quality of the work is visible from afar. Even though this was a homemade project, Jones cut no corners in terms of the build. As a result, he got to enjoy his homemade RV for a very long time: blurbs online mention that he and the wife traveled over 100,000 miles (160,934 km) in the first one he completed.

Speaking of which, it’s currently on display at the California Automobile Museum in Sacramento, part of the permanent collection. For it, Jones used a 1971 Oldsmobile Toronado chassis and trim from Cadillac, but most of the panels, including the windows, were hand-fabricated. Designed with aircraft construction techniques, the motorhome features an aluminum frame built with anodized aluminum panels for the outer skin, which require no paint. Jones used polystyrene foam for insulation, and bullet-resistant glass for the windows, to prevent scratching.

The Star Streak I engine develops 350 hp at 4,440 rpm and is paired to a 4-speed automatic transmission with front-wheel drive. The cabin is similar to an airplane cockpit, which is hardly surprising considering Jones’ background in aviation. The wheelbase is 112.3 inches (2.9 meters) long, and the dry weight is 5,800 pounds (2.631 kg).

As for amenities, this RV has them all, including gas and electric heating, air-conditioning, and even a built-in vacuum cleaner. There’s also hot and cold running water, a generously-sized formica kitchen (relative to the size of the interior) with a dual sink, fridge, and cooker. The lounge has a TV and a skylight and can turn into a two-person bed. Jones fitted the motorhome with antennas both for TV and radio, so he and the lady could always tune in for entertainment when they wanted to.

Star Treak II, completed in 1988
Photo: JustACarGuy
According to the museum, the RV also has a small bathroom that can change to provide a shower. It includes storage for a barbecue grill, folding chairs, and two bicycles, and this is whatever proof you still needed that Jones really did think of everything when he started this project.

There’s no explanation for why Jones wanted to build a second motorhome, but he did it either way. The Star Streak II was built in 1988 and uses pretty much the same “recipe” as the first build: the chassis of a 1976 Cadillac Eldorado and a 1976 Oldsmobile Toronado engine. Even the layout is similar, with a kitchen block on either side of the aisle and a lounge slash dinette slash bedroom at the rear. The kitchen includes a double sink, cooker, and refrigerator, and the lounge converts into a two-person bed at night. With a total length of 270 inches (6.85 meters), the Star Streak II weighs just 5,400 pounds (2,500 kg).

Star Streak II is now part of the inventory at the Motorhome Recreational Vehicle and Motor Home (RV/MH) Hall of Fame Museum in Elkhart, Indiana, after Jones’ family donated it.

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About the author: Elena Gorgan
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Elena has been writing for a living since 2006 and, as a journalist, she has put her double major in English and Spanish to good use. She covers automotive and mobility topics like cars and bicycles, and she always knows the shows worth watching on Netflix and friends.
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