Vintage Coleman coolers..suggestions??

[DragonFire]

I'm looking for a Coleman cooler to go with my 79 Grasshopper. Any suggestions on what holds ice well, what is rare, common, too heavy or whatever you can think of, good or bad.

Growing up Mom had the blue Thermos metal cooler. Took it on the boat, camping, picnics..but it was heavy (at least that's how I remember it)

My Dad probably had Coleman.

Obviously I'm frustrated by not having my Grasshopper here in my driveway, so I'm looking for everything I can think of that I need so when the time comes, I'm ready to roll in style. 1970's "style" that is..minus the leisure suit and disco ball.

[doug hodder]

If it's the date and make you are looking for...just find one, I'm thinking they came in a red, green and maybe a bronze...They all pretty much cool the same....it's the product and look you're going for. The vertical types with the exterior legs/interior tubs are more desirable, but in the vertical position...they dump the cold when you open the door on them...the ice chest types hold cool air once opened better. The vertical types can be used in a chest type position however. Sorry...I don't have model numbers on that stuff...maybe someone else will. doug

[Moho]

I just went through the coleman cooler thing recently in researching one for my teardrop. From everything I found, most agree that the below style holds the cold the longest, looks like this...



The coleman logo is on upper left, all metal latch and has a bottle opener on handles. These are from the seventies and I read somewhere that the insulation in these is superior for some reason. They were made in the colors Red, Green, Blue and Brown. They were also made in 2 large sizes, rough sizes are 22x16x14 and 28x16x16 (dimensions are approximate). I bought the bigger one myself. There is a smaller one (the blue one below) but they are harder to find. Basically comes down to size and color choice.

Other colors below...





Here is the upright I think Doug was refering to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintage-COLEMAN-CONVERTIBLE-Cooler-Upright-Right-Left-Hand-Flat-/300611481343?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fdd72eff

[Larry C]

I just went through the coleman cooler thing recently in researching one for my teardrop. From everything I found, most agree that the below style holds the cold the longest, looks like this...



The coleman logo is on upper left, all metal latch and has a bottle opener on handles. These are from the seventies and I read somewhere that the insulation in these is superior for some reason. They were made in the colors Red, Green, Blue and Brown. They were also made in 2 large sizes, rough sizes are 22x16x14 and 28x16x16 (dimensions are approximate). I bought the bigger one myself. There is a smaller one (the blue one below) but they are harder to find. Basically comes down to size and color choice.

Other colors below...





Here is the upright I think Doug was refering to: http://www.ebay.com/itm/Rare-Vintage-COLEMAN-CONVERTIBLE-Cooler-Upright-Right-Left-Hand-Flat-/300611481343?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item45fdd72eff

I own the green one (large) bought it new. It does keep ice better than anything else I have used. Also, I used to have one of the stand-up ones, but mine had a faux wood front door. I think I sold it for $20 at a garage sale

Larry C

[DragonFire]

Thanks for the info...very helpful. I'll check the vertical one when I'm not on the iPhone. I like the brown one. I've been eyeing the green ones too. I've seen a plastic cooler in green from 78, but I've heard the metal ones are better at keeping the ice.

[starleen2]

Steel belted Green on is the one I have - make sure you get one that has a drain in it - you'll be glad you did once you have to dump the melted water out to add more ice. I have two of the vertical ones - mainly for nostalgia - they don't seem to work very well vertically - but work well horizontally - so why get one that does both?

[DragonFire]

Checked the one that can be vertical...I don't like it as well as the chest type. Even with the thought of a woodgrain door...still like the classic chest style better...and I know about getting one with a drain. Our Thermos one had a drain. Later I had friends who had coolers with no drain...what the heck?? No drain?? That is at the top of the list. Must have a working drain.

Hopefully I'll find one at a thrift this weekend..shipping can be a pain on ebay, and I'll check on craigslist also.

Thanks for all the input!!

[Moho]

Might check etsy.com too, not always good deals, but a good deal pops up every now and then

[DragonFire]

Thanks for the tip on etsy...didn't find a brown cooler, but bought my 5th Toas-tite!!