Fancy living like a two-time Academy Award winner with seven Emmy Awards and four Golden Globes to their name? Soon, you will have the chance to.
That’s because Tom Hanks is offering his ‘silver bullet’ Airstream trailer used as his ‘home away from home’ on film sets for almost 30 years to the highest bidder.
The 33-foot caravan was bought new by Hanks in 1992 to his exact specifications because, in his words, he had ‘spent too much time in regular trailers with ugly decor and horribly uncomfortable furniture’.
It is being offered at the Bonhams Quail Lodge Auction in California on 13 August with an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000 (£110,000 to £182,000) – along with a selection of other vehicles owned by the famous actor.
Tom Hanks’ ‘home away from home’ could be yours: This 1992 Airstream trailer has been owned by the multi-award winning actor from new and been used on location for a number of his huge hit films. Next month it goes under the hammer…
Speaking to Bonhams about the trailer, Hanks said: ‘I didn’t want anything built-in, other than the kitchen and bathroom, so it had only a desk and cupboard in the back, a futon platform on the floor, and room for a small table and chairs.
‘I wanted a regular sofa, too, so I had one made with removable legs so it would get through the door.’
The Airstream is offered with the furniture Hanks ordered, as well as the bespoke touch of the actor’s signature.
Naturally, the compact bathroom features a ‘Hollywood lights’ mirror, while the living quarters boast an oven, sink and even a fireplace.
It also comes complete with all its accessories and furniture including dishes, glasses, several espresso makers, some kitchen equipment and the pictured comfortable teakwood chairs and table.
Hanks is offering the trailer to the highest bidder at next month’s Bonhams Quail Lodge auction in California. The actor says he is parting with his Airstream because ‘movies move faster now’ and he ‘doesn’t have as much time during set-ups’
It has electric levelling jacks, rollup patio awning and a pair of propane tanks, while there is a separate generator to keep the power running if you can’t plug into the mains
It is being offered at the sale in California on 13 August with an estimate of $150,000 to $250,000 (£110,000 to £182,000) – along with a selection of other vehicles owned by the famous actor
It has electric levelling jacks, rollup patio awning and a pair of propane tanks, while there is a separate generator to keep the power running if you can’t plug into the mains.
The caravan is also fitted with air conditioning, with one of the units autographed by Hanks.
From the sets of Forrest Gump in South Carolina to Angels and Demons in Culver City, California, the Airstream covered several thousand miles across the United States, providing the actor with a sanctuary in which to relax, learn lines and entertain co-stars.
It also comes complete with all its accessories and furniture including dishes, glasses, several espresso makers, some kitchen equipment and the pictured comfortable teakwood chairs and table that can be moved outside under the extending awning
The windows are adorned with replica clapperboards identifying eighteen locations where it was used from Sleepless in Seattle in 1993 to The Circle in 2017
The NASA sticker pays homage to Hank’s appearance in Apollo 13 while the United States Marine Corps decal closest likely hints to his role in Saving Private Ryan in 1998
It also displays a few touches to mark where it has travelled – and for which films.
The windows are adorned with replica clapperboards identifying eighteen locations where it was used from Sleepless in Seattle in 1993 to The Circle in 2017.
Inside the trailer door are three stickers on the side of the kitchen units.
One is an Apollo 13 decal from the 1995 hit film while another is an FBI evidence label likely from 2002’s Catch Me If You Can where Hanks played investigator Carl Hanratty attempting to track down fraudster Frank Abagnale, played by Leonardo DiCaprio.
The final sticker is a FedEx label, which would have been taken from Cast Away, filmed in 2000.
Inside the trailer door are three stickers on the side of the kitchen units. One is an Apollo 13 decal from the 1995 film while another is an FBI evidence label likely from 2002’s Catch Me If You Can and a FedEx sticker from 2000 hit, Cast Away
Hanks said he bought the 33-foot caravan in 1992 to his exact specifications because he had ‘spent too much time in regular trailers with ugly decor and horribly uncomfortable furniture’
As well as a fully working kitchen, Hanks said he also wanted a regular sofa for comfort. It has removable legs so it can be squeezed through the door
Naturally, the compact bathroom features a ‘Hollywood lights’ mirror and a decent-size shower unit
Hanks said: ‘An Airstream is gorgeous and cosy, which is why everyone who visited mine went away wanting one.’
‘I shan’t forget night shoots on Gump and The Green Mile with the windows open and the cool air coming in. Or the time Kevin Bacon, Bill Paxton and I watched a Buster Keaton documentary on the TV – before running through the Forest Lawn cemetery in our Apollo 13 costumes to pay homage at his grave.’
‘You haven’t lived well until you survive a movie-stopping thunderstorm in an Airstream while on location in Carolina.’
One of the bespoke features Tom Hanks had fitted to his Airstream trailer is this fireplace. He says his caravan was popular with fellow actors due to the creature comforts it offered
A selection of images show the small, but practical bathroom, with a toilet, shower, sink and cupboards. Speaking to Bonhams about the trailer, Hanks said he didn’t want anything built-in, other than the kitchen and bathroom. As a result, it had only a desk and cupboard in the back, a futon platform on the floor, and room for a small table and chairs
There are plenty of mirrors in the tiny bathroom, with lots of Hollywood lighting and enough space for a towel rail
The caravan is also fitted with air conditioning, with one of the units autographed by Hanks. He has also penned his John Hancock on a few other panels
After nearly 30 years of ownership Hanks is now parting with his Airstream because ‘movies move faster now’ and he ‘doesn’t have as much time during set-ups’.
‘I got it in the days when movies moved slower,’ he added.
The caravan will be offered as part of a Tom Hanks Collection at next month’s auction in California, with one of the vehicles being the pick-up truck used to tow the Airstream across the US.
Another vehicle being offered as part of the Tom Hank Collection at the Quail Lodge sale on 13 August is this 2010 Ford F-450 Super Duty pick-up
The truck is the vehicle bought by Hanks in 2010 to haul the Airstream trailer because it ‘gave a kinder, gentler tow’
Hanks’ Ford pick-up truck has an estimated sale value of $70,000 to $100,000 (£51,000 to £73,000)
It is a 2010 Ford F-450 Super Duty pick-up with an estimated sale value of $70,000 to $100,000 (£51,000 to £73,000).
It was purchased by Hanks because it ‘gave a kinder, gentler tow’ than regular movie support vehicles, although the actor himself was not on hauling duties due to insurance restrictions.
Also being made available to the highest bidder is Hanks’ customised 1980 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser, which is set to sell for between $75,000 and $125,000 (£55,000 and £91,000), and the actor’s 2015 Tesla Model S P85D electric saloon, predicted to sell for $70,000 to $100,000 (£51,000 to £73,000).
Mark Osborne, Global Director of Motorsport for Bonhams, said: ‘Tom has added a magical touch to this year’s line up with an all-American engineering icon in the shape of the Airstream and we’re delighted to have his consignments to add some Hollywood stardust to our Quail Lodge line-up for 2021.’
Also being made available to the highest bidder is Hanks’ customised 1980 Toyota FJ40 Land Cruiser which is set to sell for between $75,000 and $125,000 (£55,000 and £91,000)
The final model in the Tom Hanks collection being offered by Bonhams next month is this 2015 Tesla Model S P85D
Hanks’ electric saloon is predicted to sell for $70,000 to $100,000 (£51,000 to £73,000) – which is almost as much as a brand new Tesla Model S
