|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 14, 2024 18:42:42 GMT -8
I recently bought a 1963 Asta Villa Stampeder that I am restoring from the frame up. This is my first restoration, my first camper of any kind, in fact. If anyone has any information on Asta Villa, made in Alberta Canada, i would greatly appreciate it. There is sparse information available on the internet. I really appreciate all of the shared information on this site and elsewhere. I feel like I'm learning something new at every turn. Seems like a fun hobby that is accessible and rewarding. I'm enjoying the process so far. I'll share photos when I can figure out how. So far I removed the skin and windows/door. I've scraped and painted the frame. It's now at the welding shop having a new axle with leaf springs and electric brakes installed. Today I was building the structure of the floor, which will be lowered onto the frame later. Look forward to connecting with you all.
|
|
|
Post by Teachndad on Jan 14, 2024 21:28:55 GMT -8
Hello and Welcome! Well, it sounds like you are well on your way and have accomplished quite a bit! Thank you for wanting to share your journey with us. We don't get too many folks with vintage Canadian trailers here, but the build concepts are more or less the same. Pictures are always appreciated. Here is a link for how to post pix on the forum. vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/7276/add-photos-hosted-flickr-tutoria Once you get the Flickr account set up, then it only takes a minute or two to add photos to your posts. I know you are hungry for info on this trailer, but I have been here for over 10 years and this is not ringing any bells for me. There are also American built trailers that are also missing background information. We had hundreds of trailers produced during their hey day and production runs could have been less than a dozen or hundreds like Shasta. Sometimes there just isn't anything left to find. Cheers, Rod
|
|
|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 15, 2024 8:43:35 GMT -8
Thank you so much Rod! Maybe by posting the manufacturer name here I'll hear from someone at some point. Will share pics shortly!
|
|
|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 15, 2024 19:28:16 GMT -8
Blue and yellow paint scheme is less faded on this side. Must have been the shady side. In case you're wondering, I paid under asking ;-) The camper sits low due to undersized wheels/tires and, probably, sagging leaf springs. The first big improvement will be a new axle and leaf springs with electric brakes. Manufacturer's plaque. In case you missed it - "Esta" is for Estevan, Saskatchewan. "Stampeder" for Calgary Stampede(?). And "Villa" as a Spanish or south-west reference. Makes sense to me?! The curtains had a red floral pattern that looked southwestern as well. Other campers of the same brand sometimes have a rooster emblem. Major floor damage after tree branch punctured the roof vent. Embossed logo on sink. The folding chess board table is a favorite of mine and one of the things I will salvage. Rear fold-out bed. I plan to replace this with a double mattress with storage beneath. Skin coming off. Substantial rot: everywhere. You can see here how the walls meet the floor. The floor deck was tiled before the walls were added, meaning there is flooring material sandwiched between the floor plate and base of walls. This would have been a fast way to do it. Floor and wall framing is 1-5/8 inch square rough sawn lumber. Obviously, what I have here is not so much a trailer, but a good template for the new trailer I'm going to build!
|
|
|
Post by Teachndad on Jan 16, 2024 6:54:46 GMT -8
Your trailer is very cool! ooooohhhh, look at the right angles in the wall construction!. I really like the lines of it with a mixture of angles and a curve on the roofline. I like the lowrider look, but it's unfortunately, not practical, lol with those small wheels and sagging springs. That's a nice size for two people to move around in. I am also digging on the checkerboard on the dinette table. I gave a pause when I was looking at the photos. I am impressed with the condition of the dinette cushions. Are they as nice in person as they look in the photos? It's gonna look great when you are done with her. Personally, I would like to see the original paint scheme as a repaint and it will pop. Is it registered in any way and if not do you foresee any issues with getting it titled. I would hate to see you do all this work and then not be able to title it. Down here in the states, some states are easy to work with and others are a pain in the neck. Finally, what's the back story on your trailer? Cheers, Rod
|
|
|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 16, 2024 8:52:56 GMT -8
Hey Rod, It is a unique shape right? They made a half-hearted effort to turn a box into something curvy. I'm warming up to it:-) I don't have much history on it. It apparently sat on blocks for many years, likely serving as a rural cabin here in the Muskoka area of Ontario. Aside from the water damage it seems to be completely intact. It was probably a nice trailer when initially parked. The guy who sold it to me was selling it for a friend. He obviously wanted to see it brought back to life. Obviously there is no ownership. My plan is to register it as a homemade trailer. I understand that can be done with a letter and a weight slip. It will be mostly new materials by the end of it. We'll see how that goes (curious to hear from others whonhave tried this...).It will primarily serve as the site office for my business (home building), so it will be put to use even if not registered. The dinette seats don't look terrible but the mice have been into them in a big way. They're also quite heavy. The fabic, frames and springs could possibly be salvaged (there may be a few small holes). But I was thinking to replace with dense foam cushions that might be more comfortable to sleep on anyway. I realize I may be speaking sacrilege to a serious restorer :-) I would aim for a fabric pattern that looks vintage.
|
|
|
Post by Teachndad on Jan 16, 2024 12:10:15 GMT -8
I asked about the registration because there are stories of folks who bought a vintage trailer without paperwork on it and could not register it for a variety of reasons when they went to their DMV. Personally, I have had two such trailers and I had to be creative to solve the issue - both were nailbiters. So, if you or anyone else did all this work to restore the trailer and then you find out it can't be registered, you/they are stuck with a trailer that can't be towed and after investing time, money and energy into a project it can be a surprise. But in your case, having plans to use as your office (ohhh yah baby!) I will welcome you to the Work in Your Trailer club or WYTC, LOL. There are those of us who ENJOY spending time inside sitting and sipping on a drink of choice while working away in our warm cozy mantuary or she shed. Ask just ask pfriesen or newin62 or just about anyone who hangs around the board. They will know! It sounds like you did your research as well and don't anticipate any issues towards registration. Don't worry about what kind of cushions you put in your trailer - foam or rebuilding the current frames. Make it your own. You are saving a trailer from the Earth - Really. Cheers, Rod
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Jan 16, 2024 12:46:30 GMT -8
I like it too-a lot to work with here. It has a lot of interesting differences and looks to have been top of the line back in the day.
Enjoy the build.
|
|
newin62
Active Member
Posts: 167
Likes: 141
1962 Shasta Airflyte
Currently Offline
|
Post by newin62 on Jan 16, 2024 16:18:29 GMT -8
It looks like you're in my neck of the woods. I live in Toronto but my trailer and workshop are near Parry Sound. How do you like the two feet of snow we just got? Those lucky southern Americans don't know how good they have it!
When you're ready for Birch plywood, call Peacock Lumber in Oshawa. I searched at least 2 years for 1/8" Birch ply before I found them. Century Lumber Mill in Stouffville carries 3/16" which I used for my straight walls and cabinets. They were cheaper than Peacock but the veneer on the ply was paper thin.
|
|
|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 16, 2024 18:55:42 GMT -8
hey there newin62, as a matter of fact I just came in from the -12C cold (don't know what that is Fahrenheit lol). I had to clear the snow from the shelter i've been working under for the dozenth time. Walking up to the house I was googling "what temperature does PL Premium floor adhesive cure at". By coincidence, I learned it's good to -12C! lol
Yeah, i'd trade climates with Rod right about now!
Thanks for the suggestions on sourcing wood! I found another place called Monahan Lumber in Peterborough that seems to sell the same stuff as Peacock Lumber. Not sure if they're connected. They actually deliver around here once a week so I thought I'd give them a try. Hopefully it's the same stuff that you've used. It's hard to find birch plywood for less than about $60 a sheet. That adds up quick.
|
|
|
Post by Teachndad on Jan 17, 2024 20:46:12 GMT -8
David, Take a look at this restoration thread. vintagetrailertalk.freeforums.net/thread/4148/1965-aloha-project?page=1 It's highly detailed and one I have gone to often over the years for reference. In the restoration, he actually goes for (I think it was) Linoleum for a flooring material, not the more original but expensive Marmoleum. So, there are other options. Get a cup of coffee or a drink of choice and sit down and read through Greg's thorough restoration. He starts out raising the body off the frame. It was a minor trend some people including me were doing at the time. He switches gears and goes to a more traditional method and removes the walls in what becomes a frame off restoration. Hope this helps. Rod
|
|
|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 17, 2024 21:25:58 GMT -8
Hey Rod, cool I'll check that out! I've laid out the plywood for the floor and assembled the substructure. Essentially what you see is the floor upside-down at the moment. I will insulate this with extruded polystyrene, cover with 24" aluminum flashing (to protect the underside). Then the whole assembly will be flipped over before properly attaching the 5/8" subfloor with flooring adhesive and screws. The plywood has to be attached last or else it will be too heavy to flip! Once the floor is complete I'll roll the chassis under it and attach it with the carriage bolts. This is the plan I came up with... The chassis is still at the welding shop so i'm improvising as best I can. btw, you see the conditions I'm working in? I should be building a workshop, not a trailer but alas.
|
|
|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 17, 2024 21:30:04 GMT -8
btw, i have used structural screws to attach things together. You see brown deck screws in the photo but those were only for the non-structural blocking (they were what I had handy). I'm thinking the adhesive and floor screws are going to do most of the real work of holding things together.
|
|
|
Post by 1963astavillastamped on Jan 23, 2024 14:00:52 GMT -8
Floor is insulated... And I wrapped the underside with aluminum soffit material. I think this should protect the trailer from moisture while on the road but also when it's parked in a damp/shaded location. Here it is flipped over and ready for the sub-floor to be attached.
|
|