By John A. Larsen
Like a sad, abandoned puppy waiting for adoption, she sat for years on a back lot in our lake development. A large hole in the doorway made for an unwelcoming sight, and the packrat debris piled against water-damaged paneling didn’t help either. But when I stepped inside and looked around, I felt a strong pull to take her into our care and bring her back to life.
When I told my wife, Diane, about the find, she wanted nothing to do with another project. But after 45 years of marriage, I knew her well enough to be confident that if I could just get her to come take a look, she’d fall head over heels for this charming 1961 Shasta 19’ Deluxe. I was right. We contacted the owner, who—unbelievably—offered to give it to us if we would simply haul it away. Feeling a bit guilty about taking it for free, we wrote him a check for $150 to finalize the adoption. The rescue officially began with a set of new tires, which allowed us to tow her to our nearby lake house.
As many vintage trailer enthusiasts know, restorations often involve more than expected—and Angelica (as we soon named her, inspired by her shiny wings) was no exception. Water damage is the enemy of all vintage campers, and she had plenty of it. I ended up removing the entire front of the trailer to replace rotted framing and damaged paneling. Good thing we opened her up—otherwise we wouldn’t have been able to fit in the new refrigerator. A cooler barely clears the narrow doorway!
After I patched the floor, Diane got to work removing old tile and laying down new. She picked out fabric for the cushions and curtains and got busy transforming the space. With her trusty sewing machine, she even made a new awning and some interior artwork to give Angelica a cheerful touch. While she worked on the aesthetics, I tackled framing, panel restoration, lighting, plumbing, wheel bearings, and brakes. We sealed seams, painted surfaces, tested all the systems, and got everything ready for our first adventure.
It was a thrill to take our maiden trip to a nearby campsite, where we invited friends to join us. We christened Angelica with a bottle of champagne and shared a wonderful dinner under the awning.
While working on the trailer, we joined several camping groups to connect with others who share our interest. Over the past two years, our lives have been enriched by friendships made through the vintage camping community and beyond—including the NOMADS, a group of retired United Methodists who volunteer on mission projects. Our first project with them was in Moore, Oklahoma, helping with tornado disaster relief. Our little Shasta was definitely the smallest trailer in the group—dwarfed by all the big, modern rigs around us—but she held her own.
Now we’re on to phase two of our adventure: fixing up our new tow vehicle—a 1959 Dodge Custom Sierra Spectator wagon. It’s a California car, surprisingly rust-free, but it needs a little interior freshening. The “Spectator” name comes from the back-facing third-row seat, a feature we think our grandchildren will love when they come along for the ride. We can already picture their excitement, waving to Angelica through the rear window as we head down the road to our next campsite.
