John Palmer
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Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Jun 10, 2014 9:12:23 GMT -8
OK, I have a question to any one of the many "Shasta Cult" members on this site. What's the big deal with Shasta's?
I understand that more Shasta's were built, and sold "back in the day" than any other travel trailer, by a factor of something like "ten to one". I'm sure we are all trying to relive our youth, and since more of you grew up in your family Shasta trailer or camper as a kid, it might be a logical reason why they command crazy money today. If I were a trailer "flipper", I would never pass up buying a run down Shasta, because they are so easy to sell, and they always sell for much more than they are logically worth.
The current popularity can not be based on quality. They were the cheapest built trailer back in the day, and you can easily still see some of the price cuts that the factory made today. They have almost no windows, or at least they are much smaller, or in some cases just cheap and leaking plastic "fixed/stationary" windows. This had to be done to cut the selling prices when they were new. It could only be a low price point issue, it could not have been a sales feature, to have "less ventilation". I have read entire threads on this site of Shasta Owners commenting (complaining) on how many flaws you have found in factory construction during your restorations. If you believe in supply shortages causing high demand in the market place, it would also seem to me that more Shasta's should exist today because many more were built originally, which should actually lower the price because they are so common. Maybe they all fell apart, and you are surprised to find one that has survived today, hard to say.
I just don't get it, most people save or collect, the things they could not afford when they grew up. For me, it's Schwinn Black Phantoms, and Schwinn built Excelsior tank model bicycles. Maybe the original Schwinn Krate models, or hand built Schwinn Paramount bicycles from the 1940's and 50's. I never had a nice Hot Rod back in the day because all my salary went for the family, but I have one today in the garage.
Help me out Shasta Cult, what is it?
Any Shasta leads appreciated, so I can make some extra money before The Cult comes to their senses. LOL
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Jun 10, 2014 10:50:55 GMT -8
Wings.
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Post by schweetcruisers on Jun 10, 2014 11:06:23 GMT -8
For me it was the shape and wings. Recently I was at a vintage trailer show, out of the 12 or so trailers that were on display , I think there were 8 Shasta's of various years.
As far as bikes and trailers, Shasta made the most little trailers so there still pretty common. Kinda like Schwinn, granted Schwinn bikes build and ride quality were better then most, but they built more than anyone, and that's why you'll always see Black Phantoms and Krates at bike shows, for me I always gravitated toward Shelby Bicycles. My next trailer will not be a Shasta, going to be a less common one without a cult following, so when I show up at the campground, I'm the only one with that kind of trailer!
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SusieQ
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'62 Shasta Compact
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Post by SusieQ on Jun 10, 2014 11:27:07 GMT -8
My first answer was a little tongue-in-cheek. I wasn't looking for a Shasta. I was looking for a fiberglass egg. I just wanted something small, bigger than my teardrop, that we could take shelter in and sit at a table when it was cold or raining. It also had to be light because of the tow vehicle I had at the time. I bid on a Scotty, but in the end, I ended up with wings and couldn't be happier.
I always wanted a Schwinn bike when I was a kid. I only had two bikes, one when I was 6. It came from Sears and my daddy was mad at my uncle for giving me something for my birthday that he couldn't afford to give me. We would pass the Schwinn shop and my mom would say how expensive those bikes were. Four years ago, I got a Schwinn and I still don't have a good one. It's almost bottom of the line but hey, it says Schwinn and suits my needs.
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pathfinder3081
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1971 Shasta Loflyte
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Post by pathfinder3081 on Jun 10, 2014 12:11:09 GMT -8
To much fun there John, I don't think people really levitate toward a Shasta specifically.. I think the name Shasta simply throws almost everyone on the same page. The name is a simple identification of the little campers from back in the day. The common everyday public my not say: “Hey Officer, he went that way towing a Golden Falcon!”
However, most people would understand quickly if they said; “towing a Shasta or he was pulling a old blue Scotty”
When I was a kid I knew what a Shasta was. I knew the Scotty and the Airstreams as well. Then the eggs, I knew what they were too. The rest of these model are all new to me. Ten different makes, a few basic shape and half dozen different models. It's like they all worked at the same place and kept striking it out on their on with "a screw you I can make these trailer too".. Off they went.. (lol) I think the decade or so that surrounds these campers aid in their desire as well. Either way, we get what we want. I toss and throw a Frisbee and could care less about the “flying disk” that are on the market today. Better built or not. I guess I was just born this crazy frisbee, Shasta way..  |
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pirateslife
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1969 Shasta Compact
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Post by pirateslife on Jun 10, 2014 12:29:05 GMT -8
I think it has to do with availability, with so many people entering the addiction people think they are worth more. In my opinion, none of these are worth what is being paid for them. 15-20k restored....ridiculous !!!! People will talk about the hours that go into them, and while it takes time, I'm sure shasta was turning out many a week.....I can't see spending the kinds of money some spend. When it's all said and done, the money was spent because of leaks. Guess what....there gonna leak again, everyone can say theirs will never but that time will come. Even new ones today leak after a few years. If anyone could guarantee a trailer not to leak for even ten years, they need to be building them in a factory.
As been said before, many of these trailers have nearly identical floor plans. So it's a lot of what's available., and a few fly by night companies everyone forgot about.
Oh but the main reason.......THE WINGS!!!!!!!! Gotta love em
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tim
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Post by tim on Jun 10, 2014 12:57:56 GMT -8
Owning a Shasta is not the inspiration that drives me...it's the 5 years of meditation time spent trying to figure out the 500 millions ways I can restore it to my satifaction.  |
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Post by bigbill on Jun 10, 2014 14:44:03 GMT -8
John I can't speak for everyone but I can tell you why I am currently redoing a Shasta. I was looking for a trailer that I could redo my way and not feel guilty about messing up a rare trailer, also wanted it cheap, looked around for a while found the Shasta 1500 for $300.00 and went from there. Unlike you I have been building rods since the 50s and currently have two but I never cut up a good restoreable car to build a rod, I always started with junk. The family always had a nice home and most of the toys that went with it, so I had to work extra hard and learn to do it myself to have a nice rod. The thing that helped me was the boss liked cars, boats, and motorcycles also and she was much happier with me playing with them instead of being out drinking and chasing other women. She always seemed a little narrow minded about that for some reason. |
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Post by universalexports on Jun 10, 2014 15:18:56 GMT -8
I like them because they look SNAZZY! Cool wings, and that classic "canned ham" shape like a lot of the campers you see on the old cartoons. they just look too cool.
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soup
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"I hate cold Soup"
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Post by soup on Jun 10, 2014 15:51:57 GMT -8
It's all about the wings.
Really.
Because they are the worst built, the weakest, the thinnest walls, with the most flaws.
It's the wings, the name, the myth, the legend.
That's it.
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Schatzi
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1959 Shasta Airflyte
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Post by Schatzi on Jun 10, 2014 17:19:48 GMT -8
When I started looking for a vintage trailer, it was all about weight. My research led me to a Shasta or a Scotty. My tow vehicle at the time didn't have a lot of capacity. I went with a Shasta Compact because I LOVE birch! I'm on my second Shasta restoration and yes, I see a lot of bad workmanship. Still love them though. A little thought for all, if we were restoring new trailers do you think the construction would be better? Nope, I don't think so.
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smccusk
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63 SC Restoration in progress
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1963 Shasta SC
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Post by smccusk on Jun 10, 2014 17:27:53 GMT -8
if you have to ask you will never understand. lol
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John Palmer
Senior Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Likes: 573
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Post by John Palmer on Jun 10, 2014 17:55:47 GMT -8
if you have to ask you will never understand. lol OK, you got me back!
That's a good one. LOL
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John Palmer
Senior Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
Posts: 1,619
Likes: 573
Currently Offline
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Post by John Palmer on Jun 10, 2014 17:56:27 GMT -8
It's all about the wings. Really. Because they are the worst built, the weakest, the thinnest walls, with the most flaws. It's the wings, the name, the legend. That's it. Soup, I think you might have hit on it! LOL |
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smccusk
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63 SC Restoration in progress
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1963 Shasta SC
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Post by smccusk on Jun 10, 2014 18:04:19 GMT -8
John,
All these old trailers are usually pieces of junk when you buy them. It’s the esthetics that draws you to them. It’s simple to me, The Shasta’s look cool, there is no denying that.
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