Some trailers are found ready for the road. Others need someone with vision to see what they can become.
This 1958 Boles Aero Zenith 17-foot trailer, now known as “Blue Betty,” was found in a field in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. At the time, she was in rough shape and needed far more than a quick cleanup. The restoration became a full rebuild, bringing the trailer back from a dilapidated condition while keeping as much of its original character as possible.
The restoration was completed in October 2015. The trailer was taken completely apart, the frame was repaired and painted, and a receiver hitch was added. The original wall frames were used as patterns to build new frames, helping preserve the trailer’s shape and structure while giving it new life.
Many of Blue Betty’s original parts were saved. The windows, rock guard, most of the exterior skin, interior cabinets, and cabinet cutouts are original. One section of skin on the front was patched, but much of the trailer’s vintage charm remains intact. Inside, the ash wood has been finished to a warm glow, giving the trailer the cozy feel so many vintage camper lovers appreciate.
The interior blends period style with useful updates. The cream-colored propane stove and electric refrigerator are period appropriate and still work. The trailer also includes a porcelain toilet, on-demand water heater, furnace, small air conditioner, and an outdoor shower.
The sleeping area has a full-size Comfort Dreams mattress. To make the layout work, the mattress was shaped slightly along one side at the foot of the bed so the bathroom door could open properly. The dinette also converts for extra sleeping space. Its original frames were reupholstered during the restoration in navy vinyl with a white diamond pattern, giving it the look of a 1950s American diner. For added comfort, a single air mattress can be placed over the cushions when the dinette is used as a bed.
All of the original jalousie windows work well, and the remaining windows are also in great condition. The side window near the bed was retrofitted to serve as an escape hatch, adding a practical safety feature while keeping the vintage look.
Blue Betty has also received important mechanical and maintenance updates. New wide whitewall Firestone tires were installed in 2023. A new AGM battery was also added in 2023. In 2024, the original brake magnets gave out, so the axle was rebuilt. A new 7-point cable was installed that same year. Each fall, the trailer has been winterized and stored indoors in an unheated storage facility until spring.
A few extras complete the setup, including four vintage-style leveling jacks and a custom black-and-white striped awning made by Marti’s Awnings with ropes and poles. Sheets, mattress pads, a twin air mattress, stabilizing jacks, and other camping items are also part of the package.
Boles Aero trailers are a rare piece of American RV history, and Blue Betty is a good example of how one can be saved, restored, and enjoyed again. She has been camped in, cared for, and loved, and now her owner is ready to move up to a larger camper.
Blue Betty is currently located in East Jordan, Michigan. For more information on this 1958 Boles Aero Zenith and other vintage trailers for sale, visit the Vintage Camper Trailers classifieds.
