Airstream introduced the PanAmerica in Model Year 2009 with a groundbreaking Airstream design that redefined adventure on the road while setting the stage for future Airstream innovation down the road. Designed for thrill-seekers and explorers, the PanAmerica combined state-of-the-art luxury with practicality, featuring a built-in garage that allowed adventurers to carry their passions and outdoor adventure gear along for the journey.
Aside from its popularity as a versatile Airstream toy hauler, the Airstream PanAmerica gained fame beyond the open road when it was featured in the 2016 action-thriller The Accountant, starring Ben Affleck and Jon Bernthal. In the film, the trailer served as a mobile base for Affleck’s character who regularly needed to hit the road and escape the criminal element in pursuit. The film showcased the PanAmerica’s versatility and rugged charm as a mobile homebase for Affleck’s character, and it’s featured prominently in the blockbuster sequel, The Accountant 2, also starring Affleck and Bernthal. The new movie premiered on April 25, 2025, further cementing the Airstream PanAmerica’s status as an icon of adventure and style.
Travel Versatility on Three Axles
The PanAmerica upheld Airstream's longstanding reputation for durability and quality. Built by hand in Jackson Center, Ohio, the PanAmerica embodied the craftsmanship that had made Airstream a trusted name for decades. It featured a three-axle chassis – a rarity for Airstream trailers that usually featured one or two axles.
The tri-axle design allowed for inclusion of the PanAmerica’s innovative garage – a feature that expanded the boundaries of what a travel trailer could offer. The rear 11 feet of this 34-foot trailer provided space to haul motorcycles, ATVs, or other gear – up to 2,500 pounds of cargo. But the garage wasn’t limited to transporting adventure equipment: It could also serve as a mobile office, a workspace for artists, or even a base for dog show competitors.
The garage was equipped with aluminum interior skin, optional overhead lockers, storage cabinets, and a floor-track cargo system. A gull-wing exterior door with a slide-out ramp made loading and unloading effortless, while a pass-through bulkhead door with a porthole window connected the garage to the living area. Rubber coin flooring in the garage area allowed for quick cleanup.
Luxury on the Road
The PanAmerica didn’t sacrifice comfort for utility. Its yacht-inspired interior design offered a modern, luxurious feel, with flush cabinetry, flowing lines, and subtle indirect lighting. Stainless steel appliances, leather accents, and a flat-screen television added to its upscale appeal.
Travelers enjoyed four-star accommodations, including a queen-sized bed, a spacious bathroom, and a separate shower. After a day of exploration, the PanAmerica provided the perfect space to unwind and recharge. This was not just a trailer—it was a home away from home.
An Adventure Icon that Took Hollywood by Storm
The Airstream PanAmerica delivered the perfect blend of luxury, functionality, and rugged practicality, inviting adventurers to explore the open road in unparalleled style and comfort. Though no longer in production, the PanAmerica became a Hollywood star when it was featured in the 2016 film, The Accountant. The movie centers on Ben Affleck’s character, Christian Wolff, a brilliant mathematical mind who uses his talents to help criminal masterminds rat out traitors stealing money from within the organization.
A solitary figure who eschews social contact, Wolff often retires to his Airstream to decompress from his stressful life and uses the proceeds from his less-than-savory employment to invest in fine art and gold bullion. On the Airstream’s walls hang paintings by Renoir and Jackson Pollack and in the drawers he keeps rows of gold bars, while the rear garage area serves as a storage depot for his vast arsenal of weapons. When Wolff’s cover is blown, he needs to quickly burn his identity – and the Airstream allows Wolff to quickly hitch up and make an escape with his worldly possessions in tow.
Now, Affleck and Bernthal return for a highly anticipated sequel, The Accountant 2, premiering April 25 in theaters across the country.
An Iconic Legacy
While Airstream no longer manufactures the PanAmerica, elements of the design were carried forward in later Model Years. The gull-wing hatch door is the most notable of these features, with a refined design becoming available as an optional feature in the 2011 Airstream Eddie Bauer Special Edition – albeit without the “garage” element. That feature would also be included in the 2016 Pendleton Limited Edition that celebrated the 100th anniversary of America’s National Parks. Today, the rear hatch is a popular optional feature in Flying Cloud, International, and Trade Wind models.
A version of the PanAmerica’s floor track cargo system would make its way into future models like the Interstate 19X, REI Co-op Special Edition Basecamp, and the main Basecamp lineup. Likewise, the PanAmerica’s rubber coin flooring would be used in Basecamp models as well. And the PanAmerica’s warm interior décor would become one inspiration for the revamped Flying Cloud model line that debuted the same year.
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Ready to start your own Airstream adventure? Visit an Airstream dealer today and discover the magic and versatility of Airstream travel.
