The 1914 Ford Model T discussed here captures a long standing affection for free living on four wheels. The dream of life on the road has long been more than a fantasy; it has been a practical pursuit for people who wanted mobility with a home base that could travel. While early road travel offered few comforts by today’s standards, this example stands out as a rare snapshot of early motorhome craft and transport ingenuity. It remains the oldest known motorhome powered by an internal combustion engine, a true ancestor of today’s mobile living solutions.
Built for the wealthy Bentall family in the United Kingdom, this vehicle sits closer to a car you can sleep in than to the modern motorhomes of today. Its lineage as a travel vessel is clear: a Ford Model T chassis extended to provide living space, paired with a specialized build by Dunton of Reading. The result is a compact, travel ready cabin that preserves the charm of early automotive design while hinting at the future evolution of mobile living.
In the 1920s, many motorhomes fell from use and were largely forgotten for decades. Interest waned until the 1970s when a professional furniture maker revived this craft focused vehicle, restoring it to working, display worthy condition. The interior reveals a blend of vintage practicality and period character that parallels the era’s engineering with a domestic touch.
Inside, the front cabin features a studded leather sofa that can rotate 180 degrees to face the living area, a design choice that maximizes space for socializing and sleeping. The arrangement accommodates four people and highlights built in furnishings with a granny chic aesthetic, a nod to the era’s design sensibilities. A mailbox in the door adds a quirky, functional touch that recalls a simpler form of on the road communication.
The bathroom space is sparse by modern standards, a reminder that early campers prioritized travel and shelter over luxury amenities. There are no flat screen TVs, USB ports, generators, microwaves, batteries, or refrigerators. Instead, a wood stove serves as both heat source and cooking appliance, delivering warmth and real cooking capability in one compact unit. This emphasis on essential, low tech comfort speaks to a time when life on wheels was about practical survival and fuel for adventure rather than digital convenience.
The experience of traveling in such a camper is deliberately slow by today’s standards. The top speed sits around 48 km/h, a modest pace that reflects the vehicle’s design and the road conditions of its era. The engine delivers roughly 20 horsepower, enough to move a fully loaded chassis at a steady, unhurried pace. The ride emphasizes the journey over the destination, inviting travelers to savor landscapes and checkpoints rather than sprint between places.
Potential buyers can view the vehicle in person at a Beaulieu Beaulieu auction, with the sale scheduled for September 10. The listing notes a price range that could attract collectors seeking a historically significant motorhome, with estimates reaching into tens of thousands of pounds or several million rubles, depending on currency and interpretation of value. This figure underscores the vehicle’s status as a rare artifact rather than a mass market purchase. It may appeal to enthusiasts who value provenance, craftsmanship, and the story of early motorized living—an object that bridges historical curiosity and collectible investment.
- Visitors can explore selections of especially notable campers in the broader catalog.
- Updates and stories from the world of vintage travel can be followed through related channels and posts.
Image credit and catalog references come from the auction house listing and archival materials held by the Beaulieu estate, which preserve the vehicle’s condition and historical context for researchers and collectors alike.