Scott and Teresa’s journey into the vintage camper world began in 2019 when Teresa found a small trailer on Facebook Marketplace while Scott was away on a business trip. She sent him a picture and asked, “What the heck is that?” Scott wasn’t sure what to think, but they decided to take a chance and restore it. They named the trailer “Lil Louise,” and it became their first vintage camper project.
Falling in Love with Vintage Campers
“We had no idea what we were doing, but we gave it a go and fell in love with the vintage camper culture,” Teresa said. “It’s been five amazing years since we started, and we wouldn’t change a thing.”
Scott and Teresa Strizver love everything about vintage camper trailers. They enjoy fixing old trailers and bringing back their charm. One of their most exciting projects was a trailer they named “Marilyn.” They found her on Facebook Marketplace, but she wasn’t in great shape. The people who owned her before had taken away her original vintage style. Scott and Teresa decided to bring Marilyn back to life and make her beautiful again.
The Restoration Journey
The restoration journey began when Teresa looked through old Facebook posts of the previous owners. She discovered that Marilyn used to be a well-preserved time capsule with many beautiful vintage features. Sadly, the previous owners had removed all the charm that made Marilyn special.
“They took out her original white Dixie stove because they thought it was too heavy and removed the toilet to replace it with a composting toilet,” Teresa said. “They even painted the cabinets a bright turquoise color!” The countertops were replaced with 3” thick Douglas fir!
Scott and Teresa wanted to bring back the vintage vibe and add their personal touches and personality to the trailer. The previous owners had done some repairs, like fixing the framing, upgrading the electrical and plumbing systems, and replacing the windows. But Marilyn still needed a lot of work.
Decorating Marilyn
The vision for Marilyn’s new look centered around a pink freestanding Dixie stove that Teresa bought from another camper in Shelton, Washington. They decided to decorate the kitchen and bathroom with a pink starburst Formica table from Winlock, Washington, and a gold starburst countertop from Portland, Oregon. Teresa also found a vintage pink teddy bear velvet couch and a Sputnik chandelier to add a touch of glamour to Marilyn’s living area.
Scott painted a modern fridge and sink to match the stove, making the kitchen look like a beautiful pink masterpiece. Marilyn’s new theme was Palm Springs/Hollywood Glam, with a nod to the late Marilyn Monroe. There were gold starburst details, black and gold cabinet pulls, and even a pink heart-shaped bathroom sink with a gold swan-shaped faucet.
Teresa and Scott had a lot of fun decorating Marilyn. They filled her with vintage radios, magazines featuring Marilyn Monroe and Frank Sinatra, and a vintage telephone. They added palm frond curtains and a matching outdoor awning to give the trailer a mid-century modern vibe.
Modern Features and Comforts
Scott and Teresa wanted Marilyn to have modern features for comfort and convenience. They installed a Bluetooth sound system in a restored 1940s TV and added a modern smart TV in the bedroom area. Marilyn also has a microwave, an air fryer, an on-demand hot water heater, and quick-release propane connections for the BBQ grill and fire pit.
Teamwork and Challenges
Working on Marilyn wasn’t always easy. Scott and Teresa are both strong-willed and have different ideas about how things should be done. Sometimes, they had to remind each other to “stay in their lane” to keep the project moving forward.
But they also had a lot of support from their friends and fellow campers. Their friends advised them, helped with some of the work, and encouraged them when things got tough. “Our friends were there to lend a hand or answer questions,” Scott said. “It really takes a village to restore a trailer like Marilyn.”
They also worked with talented people like Rene from Down River Vintage Trailers, who made curtains and altered linens, and Leanne from Gingergirl Vintage Awnings, who created a beautiful awning for Marilyn. Vintage Camper Trailers magazine caught up with them in Washington to take these phpotos for the magazine.
Debut and Camper Rallies
After months of hard work, Marilyn was ready to make her big debut. In June 2024, Scott and Teresa took Marilyn to the Glamping Gals trailer rally at Champoeg State Park. Everyone loved Marilyn and admired her unique charm and vintage style.
Scott and Teresa love attending rallies and gatherings with other vintage camper enthusiasts. Their favorite rally is the Mt. St. Helens Rally at the fairgrounds in Chehalis, Washington, hosted by Jeremy and Rene Ralstan with Down River Vintage Trailers. It’s a great group of people with fun activities and time to socialize and explore the local area.
Another gathering they enjoy is the NW Gathering at Champoeg State Park in Salem, Oregon, in October. The campground is beautiful in the fall, and everyone dresses in costumes and hands out treats to kids who come to trick-or-treat. Scott and Teresa also like going to the “Goin’ with the Flo” gathering on the Oregon coast in Florence. This is a smaller gathering, just steps from the beach. Locals love to come and see the vintage trailers and chat with the campers.
More Vintage Treasures
Scott and Teresa love vintage trailers so much that they have a few more in their collection. Their first trailer was a 1964 Fireball Friendship they affectionately named “Lil Louise.” Scott rebuilt her from the ground up, and she holds a special place in their hearts.
They also have a trailer named “Nashty,” a 1966 Aladdin Sultan’s Castle with a Nashville Honky Tonk theme. Nashty comes alive at night with a bar and a signature cocktail. In addition, they own a 1953 KomPak Sportsman, a teardrop-style trailer inspired by a Ford Country Squire station wagon. Their latest addition is a 1953 Airfloat Navigator waiting for a professional restoration by Down River Vintage Trailer Restoration.
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