“Go RVing!” as the tagline proclaims today. This isn’t exactly an RV but it certainly possesses that sentiment and is exactly how people hit the open road back in the ’60s. I’m not much of a camper, I’ve done plenty in my past but these days, unless it’s a Holiday Inn, or something similar, it doesn’t have the appeal that it once did. But this cute Winnebago is rather welcoming, so let’s take a tour. It is located in Alto, Georgia and is available, here on eBay for a current bid of $5,200 with 39 bids tendered as of this writing.
Founded in 1958, Winnebago produced travel trailers only and didn’t introduce motor homes until 1966. At sixteen feet in length, this travel trailer is modest in size but then everything was modest in size back then. Modern RV’s have become huge, in some instances being able to compete with a 50′ boxcar on size but that wasn’t the case in ’64. Actually, the challenge back then was to design as much functionality as possible into a minimally sized footprint. I would say Winnebago was successful in this instance.
The seller states that this trailer has been restored inside and out, and it looks like it! It is beautiful and clean and probably shows as it did when new. Equipped with “A gas stove /oven, large icebox, air conditioning unit, porta-potty” the interior is finished off in a sea-foam green which speaks to the era. Even the appliances and cabinet hardware seem period correct. One has to wonder about the amount of time and investment placed in such a restoration, it may be tough to fully recover but every undertaking, fortunately, isn’t just about dollars and cents.
The seller claims, “pulls great” so that probably means good road manners and stability and would probably not be overly taxing for a V8-powered pickup or SUV, though back in the day a Galaxie or an Impala probably provided forward motivation. As for brakes, that’s an unknown though it would be reasonable to assume a trailer tongue actuated mechanism may be present. Any input that can be provided on that front would be appreciated.
Just like driving an older restored car, this Winnebago will be a standout and conversation piece at Good Sam’s or any other camping environment that the new owner decides to explore. Think about it, not only will the intrepid campers be traveling, but they will be traveling back in time 57 years, and hopefully, go off the grid, leave the cellphone home (probably not) and enjoy a simpler pace of life, right?
I don’t think I would really call this a restoration with all of those dings, dents, and gouges still on the siding. Looks like someone just sprayed a fresh coat of paint over all of the bad stuff.
Aw, geez, ( wiping tear from eye) this one hits a nerve. When I was just a lad, the old man ordered a new Winnebago like this, only a bit smaller, 14 ft. I think, ordered it unfinished inside, at a reduced cost and trimmed it out himself. Yep, that was my dear old dad. It was the only thing I can remember him buying brand new. We had a plethora of vehicles to pull it, some come up here, and the stories going to Fla. ( from Wis) every year, could fill a book. Every year, it was a different vehicle, many “one trip wonders”. The only vehicle I remember making it several times, were the Chevy Suburbans. ( he had 2) While this is a great find, as most became poker shacks in the woods, or “trailer races”, there’s a big following for these “canned ham” campers. Retro campers like this are being offered, but with price tags in 5 figures. The cheapest new Airstream this size, the “Basecamp”, goes for an astonishing $38,000!!! With prices like that, people are more apt to pull these “mobile living rooms”,( they already have the truck) for probably the same price. Great find. Anyone like me from that era knows, camping was HUGE, and for a couple hundred bucks, everyone could enjoy. Sadly, and here it comes, camping today is reserved for the wealthy, that sit in their slideouts, A/C blasting watching Wendy Williams and never leave the “camper”. Therefore, it grinds my gears when families that could actually enjoy the outdoors and give their kids lasting memories, like my kids that we took camping, they love the outdoors, they just won’t have a chance, and that’s a shame.
Wow, you brought back some crazy memories. Wendy O. Williams of The Plasmatics. Who can forget her zaniness! Remember the bus going through the wall of TVs? She died in April of ‘98.
The Ring Brothers should tow this behind the turbo LS-swapped 68 Winnebago they built a few years back
I was curious why you said “this isn’t exactly an RV” ? I would say it is!
It’s a Vehicle, and you Re-create in it. Thus, an RV.
Looks like it has electric brakes – not uncommon back then. I still enjoy tent camping, albeit with an air mattress! I, too, can’t call parking a 40+ foot furnished home in a campground “camping.”
I, too, can’t call parking a 40+ foot furnished home in a campground “camping.”
Right, that’s why I only park a 23 footer? :-)
It has all the amenities that I need. I can’t sleep on the ground or even on an air mattress for a tent. But I do like being able to cook and eat and sleep in relative comfort. I draw the line on television though, absolutely not. A campfire and a few chipmunks are my entertainment.
Hi Kenn, oh yeah, electric brakes. Either they skidded the tires, or did nothing. I remember more than once, the old man frantically actuating the brake control, to no avail and couldn’t stop. An Alabama State trooper wasn’t too pleased once, but must have seen the Wisconsin plates, and let us go.
Looks great. I’d remove all the “live, laugh, love” signage that Instagram people like to clutter up their dwellings with.
The seller also chose the pictures he used in the ad carefully to make the interior look bigger than it actually is, possibly even using a fish eye lens.
Hopefully the next owner has gone their research prior to purchase. As you mentioned, with those signs, the seller knows his market.
Steve R
Ah yes, back in the day. Early 60s Dad bought a 50s teardrop (much better than the teardrops of today) Drove it to Arizona from New Jersey with the ’64 Ford Fairlane bought new. Later to Florida and Arizona with the ’70 Checker Marathon, also new. On occasion, Mom and I would take it to DC for a weekend relaxation with the dog. Great memories. Ex hubby and I had a 18′ that we actually lived in for several months. That had a full bathroom. The teardrop had no such luxuries. Just a kitchenette, dining area folds down to a single bed and a double bed in the rear. Very basic. But I loved that trailer. Trying to recreate my childhood, trying to find one similar to hookup to my SUV.
Ah the good old days! Dad hitching our
camper to the rear of our ’51 Chevy 3/4
ton pickup and heading out on Friday
nights for our weekend adventure, and
then coming home Sunday night with a
new story to tell our friends. Those were great times that are gone forever.
Especially when we kids slept in the back of the pickup while Mom and Dad
slept in the camper. Now THAT was
adventure sleepin’!
And I’d pull it with my 64 Olds 88 convertible just to button up the package!
If it has brakes they are electric. It’s a little hard to discern if they are present.
Right, that coupler is NOT a surge brake design. It is simply a triangle to bolt/weld to the tongue beans.
I restored a much nicer 1962 Shasta (16 ft. Also). It had a real bathroom, that was fully connected to the plumbing, a furnace, plus hot water tank, fridge and stove, plus it slept 4. The entire interior was paneled in natural wood. It had the shape of an egg with the “wings” in back. We towed it with our ’87 Broncos II up to the Adirondacks (from Ohio). That furnace really came in handy when we awoke on a late September morning to 6″ of snow! Paid 600 dollars before restoration. (1986). I think the Winnie is Way overpriced.
This would look great behind my son’s 1961 Chevrolet Apache 10 pickup.
Modern brakes, 305 cid TBI Chevy V-8 with 5 spd manual, (to try and appear original) all we would need is a brake controller and a hitch we were certain would support it.