We had not really been serious about buying an old Travel Trailer until I found one in Florence Oregon; a perfect one owner trailer that looked like new inside and had never leaked (really)! Unfortunately for us that trailer sold the day before we could get down to look at it.
Being the people we are we set out on a mission to find a comparable trailer....Not long after we decided we really wanted a vintage trailer (because they have so much character wink wink!) and being impetuous and impatient human beings we NEEDED to find one soon!
Well we were not successful in finding another pristine specimen and soon found ourselves looking at any and all old trailers within the State of Washington where we live. Instead we found a 1959 Fireball that looked pretty good in the pictures and had a great floor-plan...it had never been painted, had a full Birch interior, the original appliances were present.... all good things for us.
I contacted Gregory who gave me a complete, more then honest description of everything that was wrong with this trailer. I thought that perhaps he really did not want to sell it because he made it sound completely awful- He and his wife Barbara are great folks and we really enjoyed getting to know them as we pondered the purchase of Katrina.....
I nearly passed on it as I inspected it; I already have 2 uncompleted projects that I need to finish and as cool as the trailer is it was more of a project then I really wanted to take on.
Lori is responsible for the purchase really, so we call it "her" trailer.... she was just so excited about it and her beautiful smile as she pondered cooking in that very cool retro kitchen sold me... I came out of the inside of the trailer after looking at all the dry rot once more having made the decision to pass on this one. There was my wife with Barbara smiling ear to ear.....right there in front of the seller she blurts out (in her most excited little kid at the candy store way) "WELL WHAT DO YOU THINK?" sealing our fate at that very moment..... I really thought she wanted this trailer badly and did not want to disappoint her.... I started the second guessing my decision , maybe it's not as bad as I think...yeah I can get this thing knocked out in a couple of weeks....and well here we are posting a blog about it....she is still enthused about it although from time to time wonders if we bit off more then we can chew.
Gregory was kind enough to pack the wheel bearings, put decent tires on it and deliver to a friends shop where we will be doing the restoration...... we took possession on August 28th 2010.
Next: The laughter and taunting of friends and family.
