nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Oct 25, 2017 13:08:54 GMT -8
A vintage camper must be old enough so that you can convince yourself that it was a magical time to be alive... which means it has to be old enough so you have no way to know if times were really better back then...and old enough so nobody can correct you about it being a magical time.
For me it has to be 1962 or older and shaped like a can of ham. Toasters remind me of being trapped in the back seat while my Dad pushed to cover as much ground as possible every day. We actually were 50 miles from the Grand Canyon and my father decided to not stop because the 50 miles each way would have put us behind schedule. There is no way I can romanticize 1972.
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aslmx
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Post by aslmx on Oct 25, 2017 15:11:26 GMT -8
A vintage camper must be old enough so that you can convince yourself that it was a magical time to be alive... which means it has to be old enough so you have no way to know if times were really better back then...and old enough so nobody can correct you about it being a magical time. For me it has to be 1962 or older and shaped like a can of ham. Toasters remind me of being trapped in the back seat while my Dad pushed to cover as much ground as possible every day. We actually were 50 miles from the Grand Canyon and my father decided to not stop because the 50 miles each way would have put us behind schedule. There is no way I can romanticize 1972. My magical year would be definitely 1987. I'll have to research the campers from that year . Rock on!!!
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ckz72reddale
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1972 Red Dale 12' "Foxy"
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Post by ckz72reddale on Oct 25, 2017 16:05:17 GMT -8
I've heard it said that any above a 69 model won't have a spirit or soul. I can't remember how it was quoted. At first I thought they were smoking pot but it's true. You won't have the same feeling with a "vintage" 1991 model as you do with 60s model. I've never been in a real old one from 40s and 50s but I can imagine that they have an excellent vibe in them. My 1972 Red Dale definitely has a soul! I do think Red Dale was slow to update their construction methods and look. So, other than being a toaster, she's looks older than she is and really similar in the interior to the late 60's models. The only chip board stuff I have found is the backs of the drawers. The ash paneling has gorgeous grain and a nice golden color. It's not golden birch, but i really like it, and while Avocado appliances would not have been my first choice, I am playing them up with late 60s early 70s melamine and scandinavian enamelware. I've noticed a whole lotta not-vintage-over-'69 crowd drool over early 70s restored Ford trucks. SaveSave
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ckz72reddale
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1972 Red Dale 12' "Foxy"
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Post by ckz72reddale on Oct 25, 2017 16:07:12 GMT -8
<a data-flickr-embed="true" href="https://www.flickr.com/photos/134931553@N07/23649226498/in/dateposted-public/" title="IMG_9338"><img src="https://farm5.staticflickr.com/4481/23649226498_ec7166afbc.jpg" width="375" height="500" alt="IMG_9338"></a><script async src="//embedr.flickr.com/assets/client-code.js" charset="utf-8"></script>
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gary350
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We should have gone camping today it is going to snow 6" tonight.
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1964 FAN
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Post by gary350 on Nov 2, 2017 4:09:44 GMT -8
Antique & vintage has always been considered 25 years old. Most groups make their own rules. There are several vintage camper groups in the TN area 1 group says nothing newer than 1977. Another group has all brand new reproduction camper trailers nothing old about them they are copies of the old vintage campers. Another group says, air streams and all air stream look alikes are not vintage. If you go by the 25 yr rule a 1991, car, truck, boat & trailer, are antique & vintage but you do not see anyone restoring those. DMV say, cars and trucks 1972 and older do not have to be emission tested I wonder how they decided that. The teardrop trailer group does not care what year your trailer is, if you have a teardrop your part of the group.
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mrmarty51
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1972 HOMEMADE
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Post by mrmarty51 on Nov 2, 2017 4:38:10 GMT -8
And here I thought 100 years old is antique.
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roadtripper
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Post by roadtripper on Nov 2, 2017 11:26:18 GMT -8
Me too Marty. So I've been thinking about this post awhile. Is it really that important what words you use if what you have works for you? My getting close to done project is a 62. Vintage? I'm happy with "old". And I was there in 62. I was a freshman in high school. It was a different time for sure. My dad, who passed away that year drove a 57 chevy to work everyday. Would that car be called vintage now? I think "classic" is more like it. Im sure Marty, Bill and others in this crowd have lots of fond car memories. I've often said how I wished I'd kept all my old ones...a 31 ford, 55 ford, 54 porsche to name a few. Recently a younger guy said that's funny. No one he grew up with ever said that. Like, " sure wish I'd kept the old 82 Honda". Anyway, this old man is looking forward to some good times next spring in my "old" trailer.
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Post by vikx on Nov 2, 2017 19:57:29 GMT -8
I sold a 56 Chevy convertible for 25 bucks many moons ago....
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nccamper
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1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
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Post by nccamper on Nov 3, 2017 4:13:10 GMT -8
I sold a 56 Chevy convertible for 25 bucks many moons ago.... There's no way to make you feel better about that.
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Nov 4, 2017 10:46:52 GMT -8
I am going to stop using the word "VINTAGE" for the era of campers that I enjoy the most. That would be campers built between 1945 and 1965. This era is called the "Mid-Century Modern" era. All things built during that era reflect the times in design, production methods and fashions. Vintage is such a subjective word and today the trailers of the MCM era are becoming more and more rare as time marches on. Trailers built in later years are still available in great quantities so there is not much demand for them except that they are easy to find. Don't get too caught up in the word vintage. If you look at the market now anything that is old and rolls is starting to be considered "vintage" and thus everyone thinks they should get bank for their junk. A trailer, or anything else for that matter only has value if it is rare. And the rarer the trailer the more it is worth. I don't really consider Shastas or Aristocrats to be worth much because they are the least rare trailers out there. You can't swing a dead cat without hitting a Shasta at a vintage trailer rally. So in my very humble opinion I think we should pretty much drop the word Vintage when it comes to trailers newer than 1965. But I know that won't happen so I am going to use the term MCM or "Mid-Century Modern" to describe the era that I am most in love with. That's my story and I'm sticking to it...
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gary350
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1964 FAN
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Post by gary350 on Nov 5, 2017 15:39:48 GMT -8
Your right there are too many Shastas. I refuse to own a Shasta because I don't like the name and I don't like the wings. It seems like every rally and gathering we go to there are more Shasta than any other camper. There is 1 camper groups that is Brand New Vintage Reto Shastas only everyone in the group takes turns drooling over each others Shasta at Saturday 1PM Show & Tell. LOL. A 2017 Shasta is not vintage. Also an old unknown vintage camper with homemade plywood wings is not a Shasta.
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HOTRODPRIMER
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1957 Shasta
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Post by HOTRODPRIMER on Nov 7, 2017 9:18:11 GMT -8
Your right there are too many Shastas. I refuse to own a Shasta because I don't like the name and I don't like the wings. It seems like every rally and gathering we go to there are more Shasta than any other camper. There is 1 camper groups that is Brand New Vintage Reto Shastas only everyone in the group takes turns drooling over each others Shasta at Saturday 1PM Show & Tell. LOL. A 2017 Shasta is not vintage. Also an old unknown vintage camper with homemade plywood wings is not a Shasta. Personally,I like them all,even though I own a early Shasta (pre-wing) model,mainly because this is what I remember as a child when camping with my grandparents. I will agree the Shasta is probably the cheapest built camper during their heyday but the guys that designed the look of the canned hams and executed the rounded corners of the cabinets took a back seat to no one. I have only been to one rally and our '57 Shasta was the oldest and probably the smallest Shasta that was there. I have learned that the campers have a loyal following according to brand just like vintage cars. Many people have ask me why ours doesn't have the wings and I explain that they didn't offer them in 1957. Danny
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mobiltec
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1954 Jewel In Progress...
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Post by mobiltec on Nov 7, 2017 9:29:51 GMT -8
You're right Danny. I have nothing at all against Shastas. They are the icon of MCM trailers and the wings are sort of a badge of honor. They just aren't all that rare and that's only because so many were made. They were by far the most popular trailer in the country back in the day. I've worked on a dozen Shastas now and I'm sure I will work on more in the future. Aristocrat copied many of the Shastas once the toaster models came out. Mr Perch saw the popularity and decided not only to compete with Shasta but copy them as well.
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Post by Deleted on Nov 13, 2017 7:34:14 GMT -8
Larry, I like your Mid Century Modern designation for early models 48-65. Many people will quote the department of transportation 25 year rule for vehicle registration but that doesn't address the real question within the vintage camper community which is style, and in my opinion when does the absence of style begin to occur (the end of vintage). A 2017 camper with no style whatsoever may be titled as a classic or antique in 25 years I think we would all agree that it will never be considered vintage to the community regardless the DOT.
As most new to the scene will learn, there is no official designation for what vintage is as it relates to campers and while Mid Century Modern typically refers to interior and architectural design but it is the best alternative I have heard yet. Using the same approach for the '70's styling from architecture from that era, "postmodern" doesn't really fit well when it comes to campers. "The 70's" seems to be universally understood though.
When using the style designations from interior and architectural design, the keys to their classification are based upon a "significant design movement" and whether people like the styling of the 70's or not (I happen to like 70's paneling) it is widely accepted that the 70's in general owns a clearly defined era of styling that will never be duplicated. (I love my big body '74 Monte Carlo too).
One could also say vintage is any era before "contemporary" although I don't really agree with that. There IS an end to vintage. Just like with cars, the key is that regardless of when you personally define it (the mid-80s in my twisted world) at some point everything, in every area simply ran out of creativity and style and car's, campers, houses, clothes all became dull, dry and devoid of style and uniqueness.
In the end, Vintage is defined solely be the owner of whatever group we are in at the time. Thanks for reading my dissertation.
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mobiltec
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Post by mobiltec on Nov 13, 2017 21:40:36 GMT -8
Hence toasters. The 70s do have their very own description... I love my 78 Blazer and have a lot of fond memories from that era.
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