Sometimes, the best vintage trailer finds come when you least expect them. For Tom and Landa Penisten of Platteville, Wisconsin, it was a chance encounter that led them to their dream trailer—a 1962 Avion that seemed almost lost to time.
They first spotted her tucked behind a machine shed on what looked like an abandoned lot, nearly hidden from view. “What a shame,” they thought. “She’ll rot away and end up in a junkyard.” Just as they were debating how to find the owner—maybe by leaving a note—a stranger pulled in.
Tom quickly explained they were only admiring the trailer’s beauty and asked if the man knew who owned it. By sheer luck, he did—it belonged to his brother. What were the chances? The Penistens couldn’t help but think it must be destiny.
The next day, they returned for a closer look. At first glance, time had not been kind. The trailer smelled of rodents and moisture, with debris and garbage scattered inside. But despite the mess, the Penistens could see the potential. Hidden beneath it all was her charm—complete with a pink stove, pink sink, and pink tub.
“She sat there beckoning for us to claim her and make her beautiful once again,” they recalled. By the end of the visit, they knew they had to try. Tomorrow, they decided, they would call the owner and make an offer.
What began as a forgotten trailer in an abandoned lot is now on its way to being restored with love, vision, and just a little bit of fate.
Owners: Tom & Landa Penisten – Platteville, Wisconsin
