Star-spangled motorhome for sale

Apart from the humble Kombi, motorised campers aren't usually seen as terribly stylish or having much appeal to the masses.

But the owner of at least one motorhome in Australia has had to get used to celebrity-style attention every time he goes on holidays...

Gold Coast resident Grant Phelan says it's not uncommon to be pestered, or even forced to pull over by strangers keen for a closer look at his eye-catching, 33ft (10m) long motorhome, based on an American-built 1947 Flxible Clipper coach.

“Wherever she goes she turns heads,” explains the 60-year-old former owner of a tourist bus company.

“When we’re in caravan parks people knock on your door, all they want to do is look at it and touch it. And when you leave the caravan park it’s like a standing ovation. But I’m used to it now,” he says.

Although the Flxible Clipper coaches with their streamlined, riveted bodies, curved windscreens and bold exterior colours were mostly built in the US, they became a relatively common sight in Australia during the 1950s and ‘60s after Reg Ansett of Ansett airline fame got the licence to build the Clipper locally for his Pioneer interstate coach business. 

According to Phelan, there were 131 Clippers built in Australia, with around 34 still in existence today, mostly in the hands of collectors and members of the Flxible Clipper Club of Australia.

Unable to get his hands on an Australian-built Clipper (his twin brother has two!), Phelan found his chrome-laden white and red example on a trip to the US about six years ago.

“I found it in Dallas, Texas. I drove it across to Los Angeles via Las Vega -- she’s been up the Vegas strip! -- and then brought it to Australia,” he says.

Already converted to a luxury motorhome, the Clipper only required a few modifications including a right-hand drive conversion and changing from a 110  to 240V electrical system.

To make it easier to drive the original Deutz air-cooled, rear-mounted petrol engine was long ago ditched for a more reliable Caterpillar V8 diesel, mated to an Allison five-speed automatic transmission.

With no rust according to its owner, the Clipper motorhome has won numerous awards, including more recently the major trophy at this year’s Garter Belts & Gasoline festival on the Gold Coast. It’s also been used in displays and promotions, and been featured on the ABC.

While most surviving Clipper coaches have been modified to some extent, few offer as many luxurious, self-contained camping features as this one.

The four-berth layout includes an ensuite and queen sized bed, hot water system, multiple battery systems and invertor, fresh, grey and black water tanks, and two air-conditioners. It rides on air suspension and, like modern A-class motorhomes, has four, push-button stabilisers.

There’s even a polished, solid cedar benchtop in the kitchen and a hitch system to tow a small 4WD (Suzuki Vitara optional!)

“I can park it anywhere and do anything, there’s everything in it. It’s a lovely home,” he says.

With its low centre of gravity and aerodynamic shape, the Clipper was renowned for its handling and Phelan says he’s had his vehicle cruising above 140km/h.

After numerous trips including to Alice Springs, the Clipper has been reluctantly put on the market, as his wife now wants “to go back to a caravan”.

He reckons $240,000 is a fair price given its extensive fit-out, collectable status and crowd-pulling ability.

“You get an $800,000 Swagman and put it alongside that Clipper, I’ll bet they'll take more photos of the Clipper... This one has everything you want and it’s immaculate.

“(Clippers) very rarely come onto the market. I don’t know any that are currently for sale, you have to wait until some bugger dies!”