Very odd looking trailer - any ideas?

[scruffyponies]

Have just seen this for sale locally. Looks like a Westfalia to me, but it has a RICE name on the front. Anyone know what it is?

 

[Green Bean]

Can't say I have seen one like this, but it looks like it comes from the Art Deco period

 

[Lexi_]

Looks like Robocop to me!

I don’t hate it ?

 

[Bradsmum]

It's a Rice elite trailer. No experience with one, I've just googled and found one on horsetrailersales.co.uk

 

[Tiddlypom]

Only 7 were ever made! I like the look of it from the front.

 

[Bradsmum]

You beat me to it TP, I was just going to update my post to say how rare they are and that someone posted on the forum back in 2011 to say theirs had been stolen.

 

[scruffyponies]

It's a Rice elite trailer. No experience with one, I've just googled and found one on horsetrailersales.co.uk

Do you have a link for that one Bradsmum - I can't find it anywhere!

 

[Errin Paddywack]

My husband thinks these were fibreglass. He knew someone who had one to test and said it was a lovely trailer but not robust enough. Horses could easily kick holes in it. Shame, it looks amazing.

 

[LittleBlackMule]

So putting two and two together.. the one reported stolen was apparently the only one remaining, so this trailer must be the same one.

 

[Tiddlypom]

So putting two and two together.. the one reported stolen was apparently the only one remaining, so this trailer must be the same one.

Post below from 2011. Curious and curiouser...

Stolen from Upminster in Essex, Grey Rice Elite Trailer. This is very unique and one of only 7 ever made by Rice. Any information greatly received as this trailer was not a run of the mill one and it is not only the cost of replacing it but the fact that this was the only one still left of the 7 made and so it totally irreplaceable.

Thanks very much

Followed by reports of it being listed on eBay in 2016, though it still had not been recovered by the legitimate owner. Quite a chequered history.

 

[scruffyponies]

It's definitely not grey and pink now! Could be a different trailer I suppose.
Thanks for identifying it. Would love to hear the story of their conception - looks very much like the typical British company last gap 'struggling to keep up with cheaper more modern looking competitors, so produces something strikingly new and hopelessly expensive before finally going out of business when nobody buys it' story.