It seems like large Spartan luxury trailers are coming out of the woodwork lately. In fact, we’ve featured several here on Barn Finds over the past few months. They have great retro styling and work really well as tiny homes or guest accommodations. This one is from 1959 and can be found for sale here on Craigslist with an asking price of $70,000. The “Imperial Villa” is currently set up as a full-time residence in Austin, Texas and the seller says the lot rent is $750 per month. However, it could be towed where you want it, but any repairs (tires/axles/lights), permits and delivery fees would probably be fairly expensive. Have a closer look at the awesome retro interior and let us know what you think.
Most Spartan trailers have the living room near the front. The large windows give you great views from any seat and the retro styling on this one is pretty neat. There’s plenty of space for seating, storage, and entertaining.
The kitchen and dining room are located to the left of the front door. You can see the kitchen features all the modern conveniences, however, the retro appliances have been replaced at some point. The full-size range is a nice feature if this trailer is going to be lived in full-time and the cabinets offer plenty of storage.
In the middle, there’s a small office and sitting area. This could be easily converted to extra sleeping quarters with the addition of some bunk beds.
The bathroom features a very striking flamingo theme. Definitely not everyone’s style, but it certainly is memorable.
The bedroom features what looks like a full bed, but it may possibly be a queen. These trailers were the height of luxury camping in the 1950s and make great full-time residences or rentals. Of course, I could go to my local RV dealership and pick up a 2021 Airstream for about the same price. Would you rather have a vintage trailer with retro styling or a brand new one? Let us know.
Already deleted.
Certainly not worth $70,000.
All you’d need to pull it would be a one ton pickup truck with a receiver hitch.
I knew a guy who lived in one similar to this behind the shop that he worked out of. It wasn’t in quite as good of shape but the cabinetry was outstanding in quality
It’s worth the asking price, but only if the doggo comes with it.
$750/month for lot rental? Is it parked in an oil field? That doesn’t leave much for beer, cigarettes, and “wife-beater” undershirts.
$750/mo trailer lot in Austin?
Ocean view?
Mountain view?
Austin?
I’d buy a 2021 Airstream. May not be as big, but it wouldn’t be pre-owned or decorated to somebody else’s taste. Wiring’s new, plumbing’s new, and a warranty no doubt of some sort!
And you can start with fresh new roaches and train them yourself instead of inheriting someone else’s ill mannered, slovenly roaches. Same goes for the Black Widows. And because it’s Texas, the Brown Recluse. Also termites and Fire Ants.
Oh yea, first thing that needs to be done? Is enclose the whole trailer in vinyl wrap, to make an air tight seal and then have it fumigated to kill anything that may be calling it home. Then finish whatever your plans are. But if those plans include traveling of any sort? Use the money to buy a very nice new rig, Airstream or a new truck an good sized travel trailer of high quality.
70000 for an old trailer park looking trailer,it’s not even a double wide🍻
Every time I see some post one of these I start wondering why the company called itself “Spartan” . It can mean plain or bare , which would to me anyway ,mean theres not much luxury in these trailers . Like Studebaker used the stereotypical name ” Scotsman” for their absolute bottom of the barrel cheap model .
Manufactured by Spartan Aircraft Company.
Smells like dog. HARD PASS!!!!!
That’s a rat
70k? Wow, let me think about it…….Naw!
Having lived in a single wide trailer for 4 years, I always felt I was living on a platform. The low ceilings and cheap everything made it feel so temporary. I toured through a small mini home the same size with a higher ceiling and an actual foundation and it seemed perfect and cozy (weird). Even though this trailer has been updated, I’m sure I’ll get the same demoralizing feeling like in my trailer days.
Those low ceilings are specifically designed to give you that oppressed feeling. Shortly after moving in you will develop new feelings of doom and hopelessness on your own thanks to your individual brain chemistry and emotional resilience. Eventually you will lose the will to live and stop trying altogether. It’s a feature AND a benefit rolled into one.
Now, THATS funny
You haters make fun all you want – I see these old school aluminum trailers from the 40’s and 50’s and feel like embracing my inner WT and parking it behind (or maybe even in) my man cave. Hell, maybe even get an above ground pool to put next to it. Just call me 8 mile and make fun while I’m having fun.
Turbo – how in hell can one ¨hate¨ an object? One may dislike it, but hate? The criticism being expressed is perfectly legitimate. $70.000 is a bit much to put it mildly – it is after all an old fashioned lived in trailer. I certainly would look at something new for the price. As far as Austin goes, I have no idea whether it´s a good place or not, even though $750 per month is steep anyplace.
Austin has become the Seattle WA of Texas. A friend of mine was paying $900 lot rent in southern California plus $600 payment on his doublewide. I’ll say in flyover country.
I love the people harping about the price, when this sold for taking price in three days. Comparing this to a single wide trailer is not really that valid. This was the best of it’s kind when made, with excellent quality cabinets and build out. Even though it is old, the quality is there. $70k may buy you a new stream, but that’s 21′ and an Imperial Villa was 10’x46′, plenty room for a single person or couple to stretch out full time. $70k, tow it and get it set up for $5k, rent a lot for $250 a month. Cheap living in style
No one here knows if it sold or what it sold for.
It’s was listed at a number that was wildly overpriced for what it is.
As someone else pointed out, it’s a lived-in trailer. It is in need of a refreshening to sell for anywhere near the asking price. If someone bought it for over $60K, I have a bridge I want to sell them.
I follow these kinds of sales closely and I live in a refreshed 1974 FMC 2900R, just like the one Charles Kuralt drove for his On the Road segments for CBS News so I do have an idea of what it’s worth.
That being said, if it sold for anything close to the asking price, the seller made a killing and the new owner is upside down from day one.
“Spartan Luxury” is an oxymoron, a self canceling phrase, like “Jumbo Shrimp”
Or “Shrimp” or “Plate” or “Plate of Shrimp.”
The question not being asked is does it still have the original ALUMINUM wiring, which is crystalline by this point, and waiting for you to plug in a 1500 Watt space heater , and burn the the sucker to the ground ! Rewiring these 2 and a half inch walls, without removing the wood paneling, is next to impossible ! Caveat Emptor !!