By Danielle Davey
Sleek, shiny, and shaped like an aeroplane fuselage, the Airstream trailer exudes Hollywood glamour.
Film star Barbara Stanwyck used hers as an on-set dressing room in the ’30s, JFK used his as a mobile office, and Matthew McConaughey owns three. It’s an exclusive market in Australia, where only one dedicated seller of the vintage trailers exists. How exciting it is to discover it’s in Mornington.
Chloe McConchie, founder and director of Aluminia, has imported and sold Airstreams for more than 10 years. Her love affair with the distinctive ‘Silver Bullet’ trailers, as they are colloquially known, began when she saw one travelling through the desert near Palm Springs, California. A seasoned camper and music festival fan with a preference for glamping, she became obsessed with them. “I had to have one,” she said.
In an uncanny stroke of luck, shortly after her return home she saw a car towing her dream trailer through Frankston with a ‘For Sale’ sign in its window. Taking the sighting as an indication that it was meant to be, she jumped at the chance to buy the 1973 model – the first of many.
Chloe now has the largest collection of Airstreams in Australia, spanning the ’50s, ’60s, ’70s and new models. In their country of origin, she is highly regarded for her knowledge and restoration of the trailers, and is a regular attendee at vintage caravan shows and rallies in the US. It’s where she met her partner, Steve Hingtgten, the president of Vintage Trailer Supply in Sante Fe, New Mexico.
Her professional US network aids the process of sourcing and importing Airstreams, tasks that can otherwise be arduous for buyers. Restoring, polishing and customising trailers for Australian regulations – for instance, a new door must be cut for kerbside entry, given we drive on the left – are other compelling reasons Aussie customers choose Aluminia rather than handling everything themselves.
In her downtime, Chloe enjoys camping with a close-knit group of fellow Airstream enthusiasts beachside – Point Leo is a popular spot – and in bushland. Between them they own eight trailers, an impressive sight when parked together. She appreciates, though, that an Airstream can mean something different to everyone.
Most of her clients buy them for travel, but one buyer converted their Airstream into a B&B at Red Hill, and another had theirs lifted by crane into their Mount Eliza back yard for use as a poolside cabana. Some owners request a restoration retaining the original vintage charm, while others prefer a modern luxe interior fitout. Then there are those who simply hire the trailers for promotional purposes; they’re a great way to stand out in a crowd.
It’s impossible to deny their appeal. Like Chloe, once you set eyes on these sleek silver beauties, you’ll be captivated. To check out the stunning range, visit aluminia.com.au or @vintage_airstreams_aust
