The Elcar Coach Corporation was a subsidiary of the Chicago-based Mid-States Corporation. One of the company's offerings for 1947 was the 27 footer seen above. Its exterior was not made of aluminum...or even metal. The unit was covered in plywood, which was sealed with a synthetic, leather-like coating called "Kimpreg". Somehow, this doesn't sound all that durable...
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A floor plan of the ELCAR rig shows that there was no shower or bathroom (this was still a premium -and expensive- feature). The 8-wide trailer was promoted as "A three room furnished apartment you can own!" This was in reference to the severe post-war housing shortage that made even an apartment, or very modest house trailer, something to long for.
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The Pan-American Trailercoach Company, of Monrovia, California, was turning out three models in 1947; a 25, 27 and 31 footer. All were a standard 8 feet in width. In a direct comparison with the rather stripped-down ELCAR rig seen above, the PAN-AMERICAN trailer would come out on top. Unlike the ELCAR 27 footer, it featured a tandem (or two) -axle chassis.
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On the inside, the PAN-AM 25' trailer might seem a bit cramped, even though there was no space taken up by a full bathroom (the rig did, at least, have a shower stall in the bedroom). Perhaps the most noteworthy aspect is the unusual placement of its kitchen sink.
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