This 1953 Airfloat Navigator Is an Affordable Vintage Camper With a Stylish Interior

The company needed only a few years to become one of the market's leading names. The early years of World War II saw Airfloat build mobile homes for defense workers in the Los Angeles area. After WWII, the Airfloats were among the most expensive trailers available. Omar Suttles retired in 1956, and Airfloat production ended one year later.

Come 2023, Airfloat trailers aren't as desirable as their Airstream counterparts. But this is actually good news for enthusiasts looking to hit the road in a vintage camper. That's because many of them are pretty affordable despite featuring stylish and, in some cases, premium (for the era) appointments. The 1953 Navigator you see here is one of them.

Produced only a few years before Airfloat went into the history books, this Navigator comes from the company's aluminum era. Airfloat had switched to this durable and lightweight material from masonite in 1947. And even though it has rectangular windows front and rear, the sides are packed with porthole windows, Airfloat's most famous trademark feature.

But the round windows aren't the only thing that will make you feel like you're living in a boat. The Navigator's interior is also dressed entirely in lacquered wood and loaded with vintage furnishing. And thanks to a thorough restoration, everything looks the part, and the interior retains the camper's vintage vibe.

It also includes correct and functional appliances, while the electric and propane lines are brand new. The propane sconces were replicated using original photos. The same goes for the cabinets, the upholstery, and the white glitter countertops.

The restored exterior is just as gorgeous. There's no info on whether the green and white color combo is original, but it's definitely period-correct. All the windows and vents were removed, cleaned, and reinstalled with a polyurethane sealant during the restoration.

This Navigator is a museum-grade vintage camper, and that's more than just marketing talk. The trailer recently emerged from the Volo Museum in Illinois, where it's been kept in ideal conditions.

At 20 feet (6.1 meters) long, the Navigator is one of Airfloat's smaller campers. While it's longer than the Commander and the President, it's a few feet shorter than the Commodore and Landyacht models the company introduced in the 1940s. The Navigator costs $21,998, which makes it more affordable than most vintage trailers from the era in similar condition.