When it comes to vintage travel accessories like an old-school camper trailer, the sky is the limit in terms of how period-correct you can make it or customize it to match the sweet vintage pickup that pulls it. The hard part is starting in on the project, as so many of these trailers have been neglected for many years after becoming cheap campground accessories that didn’t hold much value to the third or fourth owners. This 1952 Southland Runabout has escaped this fate entirely, as it has somewhat incredibly been in the care of longterm owners who clearly loved adventuring in it. Find the Southland Runabout By Mathison Aircraft here on eBay with bids to $7,900 and no reserve.
Vintage campers have become quite popular with the influencer crowd, especially those who purport to know a thing or two about living life at the high end. It’s largely superficial, as almost anyone looks ten times better wearing a $500 parka and drinking a warm adult beverage in the toasty confines of their travel trailer towed behind a fully-restored Jeep Grand Wagoneer. Do any of these so-called influencers actually live life on the road, accepting all of the various hurdles that come with living in a mobile home-away-from-home? Perhaps, but I’d still rather hear from someone like the seller of this Southland who has owned it for 22 years and is just the second owner. Look at that interior – it’s beautiful, and the listing notes that it comes with the original cabinets, wood interior, original electric refrigerator (it still works!), and propane stove.
I can’t believe that old-school fridge still keeps beers cold – how wild is that? The seller states that the trailer can sleep four, and it looks quite comfortable inside. There are fold-down tables and two twin beds, and there’s also the option to convert the twin beds into a roomy double. The Southland doesn’t have all the comforts of home on-board as it doesn’t have a toilet, shower, or space heater, but it at least comes with a propane light that the seller contends provides sufficient warmth. Other features include an awning, 15 amp exterior electrical outlet, a ten-gallon tank for kitchen wastewater, and a hammock above the rear beds suitable for a small child. The trailer has been previously repainted, and the seller says it still shows well despite having some years on it.
The Honda Odyssey seen here isn’t included, but the seller isn’t opposed to working out a deal for it if you need a tow rig. To me, when you buy a vehicle like this, you’re also buying the history behind it as no one really wants to inhabit something used as a drug den or a chicken coop. I buy a lot of risky vehicles and accept the fact that there’s going to be some ugliness I uncover; however, I very rarely spend more than a few hours at a time in them. If I’m buying a camper trailer or a camping apparatus of any kind, I want one that has been used for making memories and taking incredible vacations where you see everything you can’t see from an airplane window. This Southland Runabout looks like the kind of trailer you want to buy, and from the seller you want to buy from.
Well I do have a 1952 Chris Craft…
Speaking of original refrigerators, I happen to own a PHILCO unit from 1947 that was meant to slid under a counter, like behind a bar. and it still works! I took it apart awhile back & painted it a beautiful pastel turquoise. I had been white of course.
Very nice trailer! I love the original woodwork and appliances. Always wanted one of these in a quiet spot for summer weekends. Who knows; one day…
The farm I lived on in N. Wis. had an International Harvester fridge. I read, they were only made for 10 years after the war, and sold to Whirlpool in 1955. IH’s plan was to sell these along side the farm equipment, as farms were just getting electricity then, I’m sure why the one was at the farm I was at. They had all IH equipment.. They weren’t cheap, either, and an ad in the early 50’s shows an IH fridge for $339 bucks, with that “adjusted for inflation” malarkey, ALMOST $4,000 BUCKS today.
As someone born and raised in N. Wisconsin (more of a Yooper), where was your farm Howard?
The linoleum in this trailer is the same that was in the home I grew up in…..
Armstrong from the 60s.
Our house too! Good eyes!😂
Wow if I was really good at predicting old travel trailer futures I would have made a ton of money back in the 80’s and early 90’s I was scrapping trailers like this that had been sitting on peoples property and they wanted them gone. I was able to use the wood to heat my shop in the winter and sell the metal to scrap yards.
“Airstream? We don’t need no stinkin’ Airstream!”
These are heavy! My 17’ Santa Fe weighed 4000 lbs!
That would look good behind a vintage Dormobile.
Rick in Oregon – Me, too! This same type flooring was in my Parent’s house when we moved in the fall of 1969.
Refreshing to see one near original and not painted all sorts of pastel colors on the inside being listed as restored for sale. I’ve just finished a 63 Aristocrat complete frame off project. I tried to reuse as much as possible but the reality of these old campers is they were slapped together. Most rotted along all the corners and roof areas. So I rebuilt 98% with new birch panels and plywood staining and poly coating entire interior. I hope the person with this one listed gets a better price it’s just worth more plain and simple compared to what they sell new for today and really aren’t put together any better. My .02
Ended: Dec 06, 2021 , 7:14PM
Winning bid:US $8,000.00
[ 2 bids ]
Located in:Pinon Hills, California
Relisted
http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=255273649143&vxp=mtr
Ended: Dec 18, 2021 , 6:36PM
Starting bid:US $7,900.00
[ 0 bids ]