In the 1930s, the travel trailer industry exploded. By the time World War II started, there were around 400 manufacturers. However, wartime took a toll on most of them. Airstream RV was the only company that remained.
After he suffered a heart attack, Wally began preparing for retirement. In 1957 he turned over Airstream RV to Andy Charles in Ohio and Art Costello in California.
After the purchase of Airstream in 1980, Thor Industries acquired the Canadian company General Coach in 1982. Today, Thor Industries is an RV empire as the world’s largest manufacturer of recreational vehicles.
Airstream RV has five touring coaches built on the Sprinter chassis and one unit built on the RAM ProMaster chassis. The most expensive option, the Atlas, is 24 feet long and features a Murphy bed that pulls down over a three-seater sofa.