Shortly before World War I began, a wealthy British family commissioned a caravan. The Bentall family, the founders of a department-store chain, had a Ford Model T Motor Caravan custom-built with a wood-burning stove, a leather sofa at the front, and enough space for four people, according to a listing for the caravan on the auction site Bonhams.

Fast forward to 2022, and Bonhams believes it's the oldest surviving motorhome in the world. 

The piece of history could be yours. The RV is planned to sell at a Bonhams auction on September 10 at the Beaulieu National Motor Museum in England. 

Auction experts predict the caravan will sell somewhere between $23,400 and $35,100.

"This is a very rare machine and offers a chance to own an important piece of motoring leisure history," a Bonhams representative told Insider.

According to the caravan's listing, the motorhome was based on the framework for the Ford Model T car, which was then lengthened and strengthened. The body itself was built by Dunton of Reading, which was a well-known caravan company at the time. 

While Bonhams believes that this is the oldest surviving RV, the first motorhome was the Pierce-Arrow Touring Landau, which was mass-produced in 1910, according to Auto Evolution. 

The caravan's style and shape mimic railroad carriages of the same time period, according to Silodrome, a publication dedicated to gasoline.

The Bonhams listing states that the RV was abandoned in the 1920s, and it wasn't until the 1970s that it was restored by Leo Smith and Robin Tanner.

The pair managed to salvage the vast majority of the caravan's wood and finished the restoration process over four years.

The walls and roof of the motorhome were built from big timber, and today, it's painted a cream color. 

Silodrome estimates that the RV's engine could reach a top speed of 45 mph. Although the caravan's weight would likely cause its max speed to be slightly lower. 

At the front of the RV is a leather couch, which can be turned around to function as seating in the heart of the caravan. 

According to the listing, the seat also has additional hidden storage space. 

Today, many elements throughout the RV are the same or inspired by the 1914s. 

Pine flooring fills the home, and there's a table, a wood-burning stove, and enough space for four people to sleep.

Velvet green curtains frame each window in the caravan and antique-style furniture lines the walls.  

Additionally, there's plenty of storage. According to the listing, there are lockers both beneath the floor and at the rear of the caravan. 

The caravan will also be sold with a set of antique lamps, a fuel can, a spare wheel, and spare spark plugs.

The listing estimates that the caravan will sell for somewhere between $23,400 and $35,100. 

However, a representative told Insider that the price could climb on the day of the auction. 

"We always offer vehicles at an attractive estimate with the hope of achieving more on the day for our clients," they said in a statement sent to Insider. "This motorhome is one of very few remaining examples and should be of international interest."