Check Out Airstream at the Chicago Auto Show

The Chicago Auto Show is not what one would consider a dealer's show, except in one case: Airstream. The travel home manufacturer is being represented at the show by Airstream of Chicago, Illinois' exclusive dealer of the iconic Airstream Trailer brand.

The cold February chill that is Chicago (except for this past weekend) somehow melts away when you combine the Chicago Auto Show and Airstream, which is located in the West side of the Grand Concourse, across from the ride and drive test tracks, at McCormick Place. You can't miss the beautiful silver bullet trailers.

Airstream of Chicago's President, John Dresselhaus, reports promising trends in the RV industry that are likely to continue in 2011. "In this economy, we have found the value and convenience of RV travel to be more appreciated than ever. In 2010, Airstream of Chicago saw a 40% increase in sales over the previous year and we expect this trend to continue in 2011."

Dresselhaus has also seen a steady migration from larger Class A Diesels to high-quality, feature-rich Touring Vans in the past year. "Our customers are really engaged in the high-experience, hands-on vacations that Airstream travel affords them. They're also excited by the breadth of the modern convenience that today's Airstreams feature."

Airstream has been a part of American culture since 1932 when Airstream Trailer Company went into full production. At the time, there were fewer than 48 trailer manufacturers registered for business. Five years later, nearly 400 companies squared off against each other. Today, of those 400, only Airstream remains. The list of "firsts" in the trailer industry attributed to Airstream is a long one, including the first holding tank, the first ladder frame, the first pressurized water system, and the first fully self-contained travel trailer — the 1957 Airstream International.