January - February 2017 Volume: 6, Number: 1, Issue: 29
The Oldest Airstream?
1967 Kenskill From Arizona The magazine for all vintage camper trailer collectors, restorers, admirers and dreamers.
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Inside This Issue
Oldest Airstream pg. 10
Trolley Top pg. 18
Articles La Siesta Campgrounds in Arivaca Arizona, 1967 Kenskill
Publisher Paul Lacitinola 6
1936 Airstream Silver Cloud The Oldest Factory Produced Airstream Still In Existence?
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Old Tin Can - 1959 Shasta Mobile Kitchen
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Trailers at SEMA - 1950 Westcraft,1964 Fireball
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Vintage Trailer Halloween Mash - Ocean Mesa, CA 24 1970 Avalon 28 How To: Insulate Your Floors 1964 Holiday Rambler - Betsy Rose
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Coca Cola Classic and New
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Editors Caroline Lacitinola Contributors Rick Rajewski Toni Miltenberger Sue Mayfield Geiger Joe and Lisa Messina Mike Madriaga Scot Thompson Brenda Herrera Diane Hopkins John Abbott
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USA Rally Calendar 40 4
Monster Mash pg. 24
Background photo from Trailer Life Magazine - 1945 Who is in the Photo?
American Trailerite By Paul Lacitinola Publisher VCT Magazine Volume: 6 - Number: 1 - Issue: 29 PO Box 354, Elverta CA 95626 (916) 572-8554 www.vintagecampertrailers.com vintagecampertrailers@gmail.com Publisher: Paul Lacitinola American Trailerite The VCT Magazine is published bi-monthly January, March, May, July, September & November. “ I tell you, in this world being a little crazy helps to keep you sane “. Zsa Zsa Gabor Vintage Camper Trailers is a non-denominational supporter of the vintage camper trailer hobby. We welcome all collectors, restorers, admirers and dreamers. Subscribe Today - See page 40 for details.
Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine reserves the exclusive right to reject or accept advertising or editorial material submitted for publication. The editorial content contained in this magazine does not necessarily represent the views of the publisher. Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine (USPS Publication Number 15940) is published bimonthly (in January, March, May, July, September, November) by Vintage Camper Trailers, 8416 Elwyn Avenue, Elverta, CA 95626-9552. Periodical postage paid at Elverta, CA and additional mailing offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Vintage Camper Trailers, PO Box 354, Elverta, CA 95626-0354.
WE BUY Vintage Camper Trailers, Bicycles, Cars, and Pick-Ups. (916) 992-1427
Thank You to all of you that subscribe to the VCT Magazine, have purchased our first book and attended the rallies that we hosted last year. Your support over the past five years is appreciated and allows us to continue to promote the vintage trailering hobby. 2017 looks like it is going to be even busier than last year! Book Number Two: Our first book sold out of the first printing in a few short months. The response to it has been very rewarding and now we are working on book number two. Many trailerites have asked us how to get their trailers in our publications. It’s easy…If we can’t get to you, send your photos and stories to us! For our next book we are looking for photos of trailers and people having fun at vintage trailer rallies. For more information visit our website and see the “VCT Book 2” tab. Camp Store: As we travel to numerous rallies each year, we love interacting with like-minded people that appreciate all things vintage. At rallies we typically offer vintage trailering books, back issues of the magazine and our tee-shirts. I don’t know why it took us so long to build a mobile “Camp Store”! With an inspirational kick-in-the-butt from Scott Burud (see his vintage trailer store in issue #26 of the VCT Magazine), we found a 1955 Spartan at Flyte Camp and are busy building our take on a vintage camper trailer/store. Look for our “vintage vendor” at rallies this year. More Experiences: We are committed to creating experiences for everyone that wants to be a part of the hobby. With over 100 people on the waiting list for our Trailerfest Rally, we are having two this year! We have moved our fall event from Lodi, CA to a bigger park in Plymouth, CA. We are also doing a spring “Trailerfiesta” in Petaluma. (See ads in this magazine or visit www.trailerfetrally.com for details.) Boot Camp, Operation Restoration is coming up in March. It is bigger and better than last year with even more guest speakers and special guests “The Gypsy Time Travelers”. Along with lots of restoration learning we are also having some fun with swing dance lessons on Saturday night! Register at: www.vintagecampertrailers.com The Rally at the Ranch get together welcomes all year makes and models of RV’s. We have lots of room and lots of vintage trailer admirers that are “manufacture date challenged” with newer rigs. At this event we can all get together for some camping fun. Live country western music, potlucks and root beer floats. Register in advance and save $20.00 at www.vintagecampertrailers.com. We look forward to your continued support this year and ask that you welcome others in your circle of friends in to the vintage trailering hobby. On our website we have trailers for sale if they are ready to come camping. If they are just admirers at the moment they can get a copy of the VCT Book or “Join the club” and subscribe to the magazine.
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ARIZONA
La Siesta Campgrounds in Arivaca, Arizona offers a camping season that is opposite of most the United States La Siesta Campgrounds in Arivaca, Arizona has been hosting vintage camper trailer rallies for Southern Arizona Vintage Trailers and Rides Club, Sisters on the Fly, Arizona Round Up, Streamline Vintage Travel Trailers and Tin Can Tourist Southwest since 2014. This year La Siesta’s owner, Steve Rendon, emailed Paul and I at Vintage Camper Trailers Magazine to let us know about the Monster Bash Rally sponsored by the Southern Arizona
Vintage Trailers and Rides Club. Steve invited us to come stay in a beautiful 19-foot Spartan owned by Michelle Davis. The Spartan is one of several permanent vintage camper trailers setup at the campground for guests to rent at La Siesta. With rainy summer monsoons starting in May and lasting through September, the Arizona camping season is opposite of most the United States. When we
arrived at the campground, Steve and rally hosts, Keith and Renae Kersey, welcomed us and made us feel right at home. It became immediately apparent that the people at this rally were more than associates – they were family. The Monster Bash Weekend, Oct. 27th through the 30th , was the first camp-out of the season and much catching up was being done around the campground. While old friends were catching up, new
Written By: Caroline Lacitinola Photos by: Brenda Herrera and Paul Lacitinola
1967 Kenskill
Susan and Troy Hayes Tucson, Arizona
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friends were being made and welcomed. Susan and Troy Hayes from Tucson, Arizona towed their 1967 Kenskill to the rally for its maiden voyage. Before they even set up their awning, people were there taking pictures and checking out the trailer. The Hayes bought the Kenskill in Idaho and had it towed to Arizona. When the trailer arrived, it looked pretty good, but as they started to rebuild, they found it was full of mold and rot and needed extensive work. Susan had been looking for a vintage trailer for quite some time and had met up with fellow vintage trailer enthusiast Brenda Herrera. The Hayes liked the trailers Brenda and Rex had rebuilt and with no time or expertise to do the work themselves, they hired Brenda Herrera and Rex McKay from Apache Junction, Arizona to rebuild their Kenskill.
The 1967 Kenskill was bought and restored in memory of Susan’s mom Elaine. Elaine, a single mom, was a generous, giving person. Susan’s fun relationship with her mother included calling her mother “Eunice.” When called “Eunice”, Elaine would be quick to remind Susan that she was the daughter of “Eunice”. Susan said her mother loved traveling as well as shiny pretty things and the Hayes wanted the trailer to share that same spirit. With its big windows, sparkling chandelier and bright colors, “Eunice” the trailer, is a beautiful tribute to Susan’s mother and her zest for life and travel. The Hayes are planning on enjoying the camper while they make new memories as a family and remember the legacy “Eunice” passed on to enjoy traveling and admire what is beautiful.
The weekend ended with a rousing chili cook off won by Roni Cleveland who generously donated her winnings to the local Arivaca 4-H Club. Roni held tightly to the title of Chili Cook-off Champion! It was a fun, spirited competition with delicious chilies. The kids from town were invited to the campground and encouraged to go trick-or-treating. Those giving and receiving the candy were equally pleased by the offerings of creative costumes and the prolific candy assortment! Following candy sorting, the kids played games under the starry desert sky while the adults enjoyed visiting around the fire. Again, the spirit of those who love camping in vintage trailers is the same no matter where you go: acceptance for all who enjoy and preserve some of the best the United States had to offer in the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s
With its big windows, sparkling chandelier and bright colors the trailer is a beautiful tribute to Susan’s mother
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The exterior of the Westcraft Coronado was painted in cham beer paint colors ke pagne and root eping with the Wes tcraft’s original tone metallic finish adde s. The pearlescent d to the original color scheme really mak while the SolarGard es the trailer pop paint protection ad ds the modern tech looking great. nology to keep it Flyte Camp has this
fully rebuilt trailer fo
r sale for $125,000
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DOWNTOWN ELVERTA CAR
The “Trolley” or “Lantern” top trailers were styled after cable car designs of the day.
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1950 Westcraft Trolley Top
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