Every vintage trailer story has a moment where curiosity turns into commitment. For Frank Stevens, that moment happened in January of 2014—thanks to a late-night scroll through Craigslist. A lifelong camper and professional old-car restorer, Frank had already been eyeing vintage trailers after visiting several rallies. He had hoped to find a Trolley Top, but nothing suitable ever surfaced. Instead, fate delivered something even better: a 1947 Spartan Manor sitting just thirty minutes from home.
The exterior was remarkably original, complete, and clean, right down to a standout slimp wheel. The inside, however, was a true blank slate. It had been gutted, rewired, insulated, and outfitted with most of the new cabinetry and countertops, plus a modern 3-way refrigerator. For a builder like Frank, it was the perfect starting point.
Creative Solutions and Custom Details
Frank’s creativity kicked in on day one. While towing the Spartan home that first night, he realized he couldn’t see the underside of the trailer in the dark. His solution? He mounted LED running lights inside the rub rails to illuminate the ground while towing. Since the original rub rails were damaged, he repaired and refinished the entire set and even sourced rare ’46 rear corners, reshaping them to fit perfectly. A backup camera was also seamlessly integrated into the rails. A classic shade of green was chosen to tie together the rub rails and various accent pieces.
A Bathroom Built to Impress
One of the biggest gaps inside the trailer was the missing bathroom—an open space waiting to be transformed. Frank wanted something functional, durable, and just a little different. The shower walls were built using boat flooring: completely waterproof, seamless, and ideal for vintage curves. A pre-sloped shower pan made it possible to add classic 1″ hex tile to achieve an era-appropriate look.
To follow the roofline, Frank bent a 3/8″ copper tube to form a custom shower-curtain track, finishing the curtain to match the curve perfectly. Rebuilt antique faucets were paired with a polished aluminum riser and authentic copper plumbing leading to a porcelain shower head. Even the light fixtures were handmade from bent copper to match the rest of the hardware. A composting toilet eliminated the need for a black tank—perfect for boondocking.
Bringing Old Meets New Together
Vintage style continued throughout the trailer. Frank created custom fiberglass fridge covers and painted them green to blend with the Spartan’s retro look. To keep things cool, he installed a Coleman Mach 8 rooftop A/C unit, reinforcing the roof and crafting a polished aluminum exterior cover. Inside, he faux-finished the plastic ceiling lid to match the birch interior so nothing looked out of place.
Of course, modern comfort means good music. Frank installed a high-end Alpine audio system with a 5-channel amp, a 12″ subwoofer, and front and rear speakers hidden behind antique speaker cloth—big sound without sacrificing classic style.
A Strong Foundation for Big Adventures
Underneath, the trailer received just as much attention. The original axle was swapped for a beefier, widened 5200-lb version. Frank found 1939 Artillery wheels at a swap meet, widened them, powder-coated them, and added pinstriping for a perfect vintage finish. He also boxed the front section of the frame for added strength.
After hundreds of hours and several years of steady work, the Spartan was ready for the open road. Frank now attends about seven rallies a year, including the Buellton Vintage Trailer Bash, and the trailer has logged more than 7,000 miles. One of its most memorable adventures was a 2,300-mile trip to Riverton, Wyoming, for the solar eclipse—a journey that included the Tetons, Yellowstone, and Zion National Park along the way.
His goal was simple: build a vintage trailer that was practical, distinctive, and fully capable of off-grid camping. Mission accomplished.
The Perfect Backdrop: The Mendenhall Museum
The Spartan’s photo shoot took place at the Mendenhall Museum of Gasoline Pumps and Petroliana in Buellton, California—an extraordinary collection and one of the highlights of the Buellton Bash rally.
The museum sits on the site of Jack Mendenhall’s original wrecking yard. Jack, who operated a Richfield service station and AAA towing operation in the 1950s, went on to spend decades traveling the country as a sign salesman. Along the way, he collected anything and everything that caught his eye—long before the term “picker” became popular. The museum showcases his incredible lifetime of discoveries, many from his earliest years on the road.
It’s a fitting backdrop for a trailer like Frank’s Spartan: a place where history, craftsmanship, and passion all meet.
