by Chris Jefferies
American caravanners may differ from their British counterparts in many ways, from their terminology (RV, trailer etc.) to the sheer size of their often gargantuan tourers, but we can all agree that teardrop trailers have a certain retro charm that is hard to resist.
With this in mind, interior designer Brad Ford and expert barman Jim Meehan teamed up earlier this year for a classic American roadtrip with a difference.
The two chaps are currently in the middle of their coast-to-coast tour which takes in several exclusive charity events in New York, Montauk and Beverly Hills, with the aim of selling plenty of drinks to raise money for DIFFA, an Aids foundation.
The star of the show is The Great American Woody, a teardrop trailer that has been lovingly restored in a retro ’30s style by design firm Moore & Giles, complete with wood panelling and touches of leather.
A traditional teardrop trailer has a bed in the centre and a kitchen under the bonnet, but the ‘Woody has been overhauled to work as a fully-functioning cocktail bar, complete with storage space for up to 30 bottles of wine or spirits and a keg of beer with draught tap for a perfectly poured pint.
It doesn’t stop there either, as Brad and Jim have a built-in Sony Blu-Ray Player with Golden Ear speakers to keep them entertained on the road.
The resulting tourer is humbly described as “a watering hole on wheels”, but it also represents a comforting slice of nostalgia for Brad, who is a lifelong camper.
“I grew up in Arkansas and have such fond memories of camping outdoors as well as tailgating at the Razorback football games. Both experiences included a lot of family and friends and were very social,” he explains.
“In designing the Great American Woody, I wanted to revisit those good times, but bring them into the 21st century. [The Woody] combines modern day luxury with the charm of the original tear drop campers built in the ’30s,” Brad continues.
“It’s almost impossible for it not to spark conversation, reminisce about old memories and make new ones, and hopefully bring a smile to the faces of those who get to enjoy it.”
The Woody’s US tour culminates at Sotheby’s auction house in New York City on December 6th, where it will be auctioned off the highest bidder, hopefully resulting in thousands of dollars going to a very good cause.
To find out more about DIFFA and the work they do to support people with Aids, click here.
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