Packing up and moving on became surprisingly popular during the Great Depression both despite and because of an impoverished economy. All this activity boosted the tiny travel trailer industry from fewer than fifty local makers in 1930 to nearly ten times that by 1937. Lightweight and aerodynamic “canned ham” and “teardrop” shapes were particularly popular, since they could be towed by almost any of the underpowered cars of the day. But it was during the postwar period that trailer makers really gained traction: moving out of necessity gave way to moving for recreation. Today, vintage trailers from the “canned ham” era are all the rage. They’re cheap and charming, and so long as your ambitions are modest, capable. Here on eBay is a 16′ 1959 Shasta Airflyte – one of the more appealing makes, thanks to two-tone paint and the “wings” on its rear roofline. The price is $8500, and the trailer is located in Burbank, California.
The seller says that in the thirteen years that he’s owned the Shasta, he’s traveled all over the country without ever experiencing a leak. Other than re-crafting the wings using PVC so they won’t rot again (the original material would have been pine), replacing the floor with OEM inlay, and adding a removable loft, the rest of the trailer is original. Shasta made its trailers of corrugated aluminum over a wood frame, on a steel chassis. The Airflyte weighed only 1840 lbs dry.
The interior is quaint, with its “log cabin” paneling, “Princess” two-burner stove, tiny refrigerator, sink, and dinette. There’s no bathroom, but the seller notes that nearly everywhere he ever took the trailer, bathrooms and showers were available. The listing includes a photo with the trailer’s tow buddy – the pair is so well matched, it’s almost too bad to break ’em up!
Shasta was sold to Coachmen Industries in the 1970s, and then in 2008, Forest River bought Coachmen. The brand was still in use when, in 2016, the Airflyte arrived once again in showrooms, as a “reissue”. Not only did the new versions look identical to the vintage ones, but the jalousie windows were actually made by the original producer (Hehr), and the company contracted with Amerimax to reproduce the paneling. But that’s where the resemblance ceased: the reissue has all-modern amenities, including a bathroom. Of course, even on the used market, a 2016 Shasta costs twice as much as the real deal from 1959, so if the lack of a few amenities doesn’t bother you, maybe a call to the seller is warranted!
I remember our dear friend Howard was in the market for an RV or Van. Heck the trusty 4pot, 5sp Jeep could pull this around pal. And as an old trucker, no bathroom..no problem. He’s used to no toilet on board, save for the old milk jug 🚻 😲 Thanks for the article Michelle 👍
Mornin’ Stan, you haven’t driven a 4 cylinder Jeep, have you? I wouldn’t even attempt it, why, just going to look at it would try the thing. Yeah, I “cooled off” a tire or 2 on a ramp I’m not particularly proud of, strictly forbidden today, btw, never did the “milk jug”, I thought was disgusting, and I would miss my “Epsom salt” baths. I shelved the camper/RV thing and am pricing new recliners,,, :)
“Shasta ” minute( gathering thoughts, ow) as a kid, say 6 or 7 our family did a lot of camping. Since the old man didn’t like tents, perhaps a reminder of the war, we always had a camper. 1st one I remember, was a step down Friendship, that the old man never liked, then a Shasta just like this. I know there are pictures of it, just my brother hasn’t gotten that far in the mountain of slides we took. He had a plethora of inept vehicles to pull it, each worse than the last. Some that didn’t cut it, ’61 Plymouth wagon, ’61 Mercury wagon, ’63 GMC Suburban V6, ’66 Dodge wagon( that caught fire on Monteagle Hill), an IH Travelall( worst of all) and finally, a Chevy Suburban and moved on to motorhomes. Camping was huge, and the old man thought nothing of doing that, and we weren’t alone. All 2 lanes, cities, small towns,,,and tires, always with the tires, then camping for the night. My mom would drag out the “Woodalls”, and the search began about 3 PM. By 5pm, my mom had a place, usually 3 stars or less for overnight( not the 4 and 5 star for those snooty Airstream crowd) , only to repeat every night. After the Suburban, we took our Honda 50 and we didn’t have a license, so just putted around the campground, or to the beach. There was an upside I was not aware of, but I ended up taking my kids camping, and today, it remains one of their favorite past times. It’s a lot busier today, and highways aren’t exactly “tow behind camper” compliant, and don’t recommend such, but short trips, throw the phone out the window, and enjoy nature. Now, what to pull it with???
Back in the early 70’s our neighbor picked one up for $300 that looked just like this. I was a freshman in high school. We went camping with them in Arizona and also got to use it as an extra bedroom when our cousins came to visit.
How ’bout a ’67 Ford Ranger with
air horns and a 428/4 speed? That’s what we had in ’68 I think.
It had plenty of oats to pull the 20 foot Scotty we had back then and a whole lot more. And the.air
horns? They were real alright. Got my ass beat for blowing them in my sister’s ear one day.
I was maybe 14 then. The Ranger
was a black 3/4 ton with lots of
factory chrome and those huge
West coast mirrors on the doors,
and running lights on the roof. And did I say it was a torque monster? It certainly was that and a whole lot more. And to my
knowledge, it was the only one with a factory 428/4-speed in it.
Dad traded it in on a new ’68 Chevy pickup with a 6 and a 3-speed tranny. Not as much fun as the Ranger, but it pulled the camper okay. Dad also had a topper on both trucks so we kids
could do some adventure sleepin
in the pickup bed too. Those were the days weren’t they.