Meet Tiny Shiny, a beautifully restored 1960 Aristocrat Lil’ Loafer that proves good things really do come in small, shiny packages. This petite 9-foot trailer was rescued from a backyard in need of serious TLC and adopted by longtime vintage trailer enthusiasts Donn and Donna Marschall in 2012.
The Marschalls aren’t new to the vintage trailer scene—they’ve been part of the community since the 1990s when they owned a 1950s teardrop. After 15 years of getting dressed while laying down in the teardrop, they decided it was time for an upgrade and restored a 1967 Aristocrat Low-Liner. That trailer served them well for several years, and like many dedicated trailerites, Donn and Donna have since helped others discover—and rescue—their own vintage trailers.
When they acquired Tiny Shiny, it was clear she needed a full frame-up restoration. Every piece of wood in the trailer had to be replaced. With the support of friends Steve and Patty Elliott, the Marschalls rebuilt the cabinetry and reassembled the trailer piece by piece. One of their clever upgrades included installing a marine toilet in an extended closet—complete with standard RV hook-ups—proving that even tiny trailers can offer a touch of modern convenience.
Donna added her signature artistic flair to the interior with splatter-painted walls, her favorite part of the project. She also sewed the curtains and upholstered the couch, which folds down into a double bed. Donn tackled the task of polishing the exterior aluminum—his least favorite job—but he stuck with it (with some help from Donna). To give others a realistic idea of the work involved, the couple tracked their time and logged over 120 hours polishing the body to bring out that iconic shine. Interestingly, this Lil’ Loafer originally came with a bare aluminum finish and had never been painted.
High school sweethearts and now married for over 58 years, Donn and Donna share a deep bond—both in life and in trailer restoration. While they both agreed they would never polish another trailer, Donna gave a playful shrug and added, “Maybe I shouldn’t say never.” After all, despite their vow to slow down, the Marschalls are currently cleaning up a 1955 Boles Aero Ensenada. Some habits are hard to break—especially when they shine this bright.
