1953 Vagabond Trailer – Model 35
Well, this is the one that started it all. Nobody was really interested in trailers when I bought this trailer. Nobody but Stuart in Florida. Stuart is the person who started me in all this mess. But what a great mess to be in.
Initially, I saw a small ad in Hemmings Motor News listing a 1953 35’ Vagabond travel trailer for sale, in mint condition. I asked Jenay, my wife, “wouldn’t it be neat to have an old trailer to tow behind one of the vintage cars?” The usual answer, (her old “usual answer”, since nowadays she is addicted), “no way!” Whatever!”
I called the seller in Florida anyways, and asked a few questions. He told me the trailer was never lived in and was a park model. Much too big to use very often, it was finally put into where else?—–A BARN (sound familiar?) The windows were covered with foil, preventing any light whatsoever from getting in to bleach the wood. The barn protected it from everything but pigeons. I was told it was basically new. Think I believed any of it? How many times over the years have I gone to look at a basically new condition vintage car, only to find a pimp my ride “before” wreck. I passed on the trailer.
Well, Stuart must have really liked our conversation. Over the next year or so he called me a several times and started telling me I was going to buy the trailer. My response, “Stuart, if it is as nice as you are telling me, you would have sold it by now” His response, “ I want to sell it to you.”
One day I was getting ready to go to Michigan to see family, and my wife said “you know what, it isn’t a very expensive flight from Michigan to Fla. Maybe you should go look at the trailer”. (you see, Stuart had also been talking to my wife). Much against my better judgment, I called Stuart, made arrangements, and thus started my journey into trying to locate and collect near perfect trailers.
Stuart picked me up at the airport in a van that appeared to be wreckage from a war movie, smoke, rattling and all. I started to put this all together in my head, GOOSE CHASE EXTRAORDINAIRE. He took me to a building that didn’t look much better than the van. My heart sunk even further. I opened the door, traipsed in with Stuart and nearly fell over. There she was. Blinding yellow and basically brand new. Now we had never even mentioned price so I had to pretend not to be impressed. After walking around the trailer and mumbling “well, it looks ok”, what’s the inside look like?” He went nose to nose with me and said “I told you————–it’s new!” We went in. Stuart wasn’t lying. We went outside and shook hands on my first vintage trailer deal.
Enough said. I think the pictures will tell it all. The only thing I ever did to this trailer was occasionally wash it. The only bad thing I ever did to this trailer was to sell it. The only good thing about selling this trailer is that I met two lifelong friends, Stuart, the guy I bought it from, and Henry, the guy I sold it to.
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