1934 Thompson House Car - It would take the ingenuity of a watchmaker to come up with the Thompson House Car. In fact, creator Walter Thompson of Ontario, California, was a fine watchmaker when he designed the vehicle for extended African safaris. This is one of the few prewar camping vehicles fitted with a telescoping roof that could be raised or lowered on demand. The house car was constructed on a Studebaker chassis and fitted with such amenities as an ice box, a sink, and a stove.