Pete’s 1964 Shasta trailer — an Astroflyte — a gorgeous restoration
pam kueber - Updated: August 31, 2021
Retro Renovation stopped publishing in 2021; these stories remain for historical information, as potential continued resources, and for archival purposes.
Since pretty much Day #1 of this blog, readers have been hocking me to write about restoring vintage travel trailers. Just like remodeling a midcentury house, right? Except all the rooms — kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom — are all crammed into one small space, on wheels, and you get to go on vacation in it..
So here I am, finally, with a story — and it’s a fabulous one: Reader Pete shows us his 1964 Shasta Astroflyte travel trailer, which he gut-renovated inside and out. Wow, you must admit this baby has the va va voom goin’ on! Click on through to read Pete’s story…and to get to links of more photos chronicling the entire restoration process.
. Pete writes:
Hi Pam, .
About five years ago we (wife Cindy, daughter Charlotte and Lane) were in the North Georgia mountains near Clayton, Ga., and I saw this strange looking trailer parked in the Walmart parking lot. It had large silver wings on the back, and I thought it looked awesome. Being a fan of late 50’s early 60’s cars with fins (I have a 1961 Comet) I did a u-turn in the street and pulled into the Walmart to take a look. It was an early 60’s Shasta Airflyte. After marveling over it, my wife and I decided that one day we would get one of these..
After doing months of research on all types of vintage trailers, we decided that we had to have a Shasta with wings, so we found one on Craigslist in Virginia. It was not an Airflyte but a 1964 Astroflyte, which is just like the Airflyte but it has a cabover to sleep two more people, which we needed with our family of four. Living in Atlanta I didn’t go up to Virginia to look at it (mistake), but had it shipped down. I knew that it would be a restoration and would be in rough shape, but when the courior pulled up to the house and we walked in the trailer, we were horrified. It was totally trashed. Dead mice on the floor, infested with ants, and the biting stink bugs were all over the place. It stunk like nothing else and rotted wood was everywhere..
Renovation in progress. Look familiar to RR readers?
I thought, “I just spent $1,200 on this.” We talked about selling it, but I decided to give a restoration a try. I’m a mechanic at Delta Air Lines and like working of things, but I’ve never restored anything of this magnitude. I worked on the weekend shift, so I had four days off during to week to work on it. A year and a half and $6,000 later it was all finished as of June of this year..
We have camped in the North Georgia state parks about six times and LOVE the trailer. It really gets a lot of attention, and it is great, inexpensive activity to bring the family together. On Wednesday we take our longest trip yet to Disney World Fort Wilderness and are really looking forward to it.
The Shasta Astroflyte all set up at Disney World Fort Wilderness. Don’t try to tell me you don’t Wish You Were Here!
[Update: Photo live from Disney World, provided Friday, above. – Pam]
Restoring this trailer is the best decision we have made. It’s not perfect and I make plenty of mistakes but we enjoy it. I received a lot of help from the internet, especially Repairing Yesterday Travel Trailers.
What an amazing job, Pete — thank you. And I have to say, this is yet another example of: Disasters make for better stories. I love, also, how you talk about how the trailer brings the family together. It’s those trips in the vintage trailer that the girls will remember — not more toys..
How many readers have a dream to buy and restore a vintage travel trailer? (Me!) Or do you have one already?
Pete’s trailer reno is so beautiful. The trailer actually looks like a mini version of my Mom and Dads 1964 H.B.McGinnes Trailer that has two bedrooms, bath, kitchen and livingroom. They purchased it when I was a teen to put on a lake lot. It has now been passed on to me and I would like to try and bring it back to some of vintage style. I haven’t been able to find a picture of it anywhere in it’s original state inside and out. It was bought new and now has had an additional room added on just behind the front door. You can still see the green stripe peeking through the white paint. LOL ps. Pam I only just found your site and was up all night (last night) looking through your posts. I’m now a vintage addict.
pam kuebersays
🙂
Pete Whitleysays
Thanks Joan, Sounds like a neat trailer!
dwhite2762says
I love the little trailer. We just purchased a 1964 Safari Airstream and, boy, is it a hot mess inside so I was pleased to read that you got through your renovation ok. What was the biggest cost? I didn’t expect to spend 6000.00 on our renovation. Is that expected? We hoped to use salvaged appliances and we will try (as often as we can) to repurpose rather than buy new.
But your results are beautiful. I can’t wait till we are camping.
Pete Whitleysays
Thanks! I would say the reupholstering the seats and the torsion axle where the most expensive but all of little things really added up.
Pete Whitleysays
You can do it for A LOT cheaper than I did. I have boxes of hardware that I didn’t use, I whole bunch of extra wood, etc. Plus, I replaced things that didn’t really need it(axle)because I wanted new.
dwhite2762says
Thank goodness. I’m worried about finances, tounge weight, my husband divorcing me on this….you know.
pete Whitleysays
Here is a Facebook link to the entire restoration if interested. Thanks for the nice words! (<:
The Facebook link to the full photo series didn’t work – can you repost?
Carla Colemansays
A little over a year ago, I bought a 1948 La Cosse Vacationer travel trailer that I am working on restoring. It was in really rough shape when I got it but it has been a lot of fun. I also enjoy finding and making things for the trailer – like a non-working 1948 table top radio that I found on ebay, gutted and fitted up with an MP3 player inside!
My family bought this in 1965. Oh what luxury it seemed to be then. On our first trip, the wind tipped it over on the highway and almost took the car with it. It was destroyed, rolling off the highway and into a field.
That was a sad memorym, but thanks for the wonderful memories of all these great items on your website.
tammyCAsays
Wow, what a beauty…incredible transformation work! I love the colors and the warm, snuggly wood interior. I’m always looking at the cute vintage campers on the Internet…quite a few of the bloggers I follow have their own and they are adorable. Alas, all I have is the PBS video on vintage Teardrop campers & one of my fave movies, “the long, long trailer”. 🙂
Jensays
Oh, this is a delightful post and I squealed when I saw those Shasta wings roll up in my reader, Pam! What a beautiful Shasta. The interior is gorgeous! Pete did a great job on this one. Clearly it is a labour of love! I hope the family has many, MANY happy trips in this beautiful trailer. They’ve earned it.
Hubby & I have LONG wanted a vintage RV and are continually keeping our eyes open for one. I grew up camping, actually, though my parents have progressed from a small RV to an enormous thing that requires an extra-large space in the campground. (I should note that it was maybe four RVs ago that they named one “The Last Resort”. Yeah, right.)
For those looking for one, a few tips from my dad, who has been helping us in our own search. DEFINITELY go see it first. In person. Or send someone you trust! No excuses. And if there’s any water damage, back away and don’t come back without someone you trust who knows a lot about RVs. Often just a little water damage can mean a complete stripping and rebuilding. Pricey, and you can’t really tell how bad the damage is without removing the paneling. Find out how much your vehicle can tow and figure out the tow weight of the trailer! Common sense, but easy to forget when you’re staring at a cute RV!
pete Whitleysays
Thank you Jen!
Andreas Jordahl Rhudesays
Love the camper! It would be so fun to have one like it to add to my collection of vintage wooden and fiberglass boats from the 1950s and 1960s!
Pete Whitleysays
Thanks! I LOVE vintage boats. Would love to see some pictures of your collection.
Cindy Peterssays
Boy, does that bring back great memories (& some not so great!). My parents took my brother & me on a trip from Minnesota through California & the Southwest in a similar one in 1959. They rented it & towed it with a black ’59 Chevy (aka ‘Batmobile’). I got the bunk in the overhang – the layout was a bit different – we had to close Mom & Dad’s bed to get into the bathroom but otherwise, much the same. I remember a flat tire on the trailer in the wilds of Wyoming, a less than graceful entry to Salt Lake City when the trailer brakes failed AND the old Donner Pass road was a real trip! We were down to 14 MPH by the time we made the top – Dad had to get out & walk around because his right leg was shaking so bad from pushing the accelerator nearly through the floor! I was actually a great trip but it cured my Dad of RVs for life! Not me however – at 63, I have an ’89 Allegro Class A but more often tow my 1977 Scamp 13′ behind my Windstar. ‘Shutterbug’ never fails to attact attention no matter where I stop! Fabulous restoration job – I’m very impressed! Cindy Peters
TappanTrailerTamisays
Awesome awesome awesome trailer and restoration Pete! I always joke about having 5 different houses to decorate, but I could just as easily have 20 different trailers! There were so many manufacturers after the War, that you could have a different trailer / model / brand for just about every day of the week.
I have always loved Shasta Wings – but be careful Pete, I have heard of wings being stolen right off of trailers. Some Shasta owners do not leave them on except when traveling for that reason.
Anyone on here who wants to see more vintage trailers – Tin Can Tourists usually has a calendar of events, and there are Vintage Trailer Rallies (camping weekends) and most rallies have one day open to the public so you can go look (drool, swoon, otherwise be in serious lust) at all the trailers in attendance. Very fun!
My 1971 Red Dale trailer is currently in storage, complete with all its original wood work, linoleum, laminate counter tops, etc. – but alas, remodeling the house comes first.
Since pretty much Day #1 of this blog, readers have been hocking me to write about restoring vintage travel trailers. Just like remodeling a midcentury house, right? Except all the rooms — kitchen, bathroom, living room, bedroom — are all crammed into one small space, on wheels, and you get to go on vacation in it.. 
So here I am, finally, with a story — and it’s a fabulous one: Reader Pete shows us his 1964 Shasta Astroflyte travel trailer, which he gut-renovated inside and out. Wow, you must admit this baby has the va va voom goin’ on! Click on through to read Pete’s story…and to get to links of more photos chronicling the entire restoration process.
Pete writes:After doing months of research on all types of vintage trailers, we decided that we had to have a Shasta with wings, so we found one on Craigslist in Virginia. It was not an Airflyte but a 1964 Astroflyte, which is just like the Airflyte but it has a cabover to sleep two more people, which we needed with our family of four. Living in Atlanta I didn’t go up to Virginia to look at it (mistake), but had it shipped down. I knew that it would be a restoration and would be in rough shape, but when the courior pulled up to the house and we walked in the trailer, we were horrified. It was totally trashed. Dead mice on the floor, infested with ants, and the biting stink bugs were all over the place. It stunk like nothing else and rotted wood was everywhere..
We have camped in the North Georgia state parks about six times and LOVE the trailer. It really gets a lot of attention, and it is great, inexpensive activity to bring the family together. On Wednesday we take our longest trip yet to Disney World Fort Wilderness and are really looking forward to it.
Restoring this trailer is the best decision we have made. It’s not perfect and I make plenty of mistakes but we enjoy it. I received a lot of help from the internet, especially Repairing Yesterday Travel Trailers.
joan massey says
Pete’s trailer reno is so beautiful. The trailer actually looks like a mini version of my Mom and Dads 1964 H.B.McGinnes Trailer that has two bedrooms, bath, kitchen and livingroom. They purchased it when I was a teen to put on a lake lot. It has now been passed on to me and I would like to try and bring it back to some of vintage style. I haven’t been able to find a picture of it anywhere in it’s original state inside and out. It was bought new and now has had an additional room added on just behind the front door. You can still see the green stripe peeking through the white paint. LOL ps. Pam I only just found your site and was up all night (last night) looking through your posts. I’m now a vintage addict.
pam kueber says
🙂
Pete Whitley says
Thanks Joan, Sounds like a neat trailer!
dwhite2762 says
I love the little trailer. We just purchased a 1964 Safari Airstream and, boy, is it a hot mess inside so I was pleased to read that you got through your renovation ok. What was the biggest cost? I didn’t expect to spend 6000.00 on our renovation. Is that expected? We hoped to use salvaged appliances and we will try (as often as we can) to repurpose rather than buy new.
But your results are beautiful. I can’t wait till we are camping.
Pete Whitley says
Thanks! I would say the reupholstering the seats and the torsion axle where the most expensive but all of little things really added up.
Pete Whitley says
You can do it for A LOT cheaper than I did. I have boxes of hardware that I didn’t use, I whole bunch of extra wood, etc. Plus, I replaced things that didn’t really need it(axle)because I wanted new.
dwhite2762 says
Thank goodness. I’m worried about finances, tounge weight, my husband divorcing me on this….you know.
pete Whitley says
Here is a Facebook link to the entire restoration if interested. Thanks for the nice words! (<:
https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1186698585812.2028249.1178720020&type=3
Chris Shaffer says
The Facebook link to the full photo series didn’t work – can you repost?
Carla Coleman says
A little over a year ago, I bought a 1948 La Cosse Vacationer travel trailer that I am working on restoring. It was in really rough shape when I got it but it has been a lot of fun. I also enjoy finding and making things for the trailer – like a non-working 1948 table top radio that I found on ebay, gutted and fitted up with an MP3 player inside!
Sheila says
My family bought this in 1965. Oh what luxury it seemed to be then. On our first trip, the wind tipped it over on the highway and almost took the car with it. It was destroyed, rolling off the highway and into a field.
That was a sad memorym, but thanks for the wonderful memories of all these great items on your website.
tammyCA says
Wow, what a beauty…incredible transformation work! I love the colors and the warm, snuggly wood interior. I’m always looking at the cute vintage campers on the Internet…quite a few of the bloggers I follow have their own and they are adorable. Alas, all I have is the PBS video on vintage Teardrop campers & one of my fave movies, “the long, long trailer”. 🙂
Jen says
Oh, this is a delightful post and I squealed when I saw those Shasta wings roll up in my reader, Pam! What a beautiful Shasta. The interior is gorgeous! Pete did a great job on this one. Clearly it is a labour of love! I hope the family has many, MANY happy trips in this beautiful trailer. They’ve earned it.
Hubby & I have LONG wanted a vintage RV and are continually keeping our eyes open for one. I grew up camping, actually, though my parents have progressed from a small RV to an enormous thing that requires an extra-large space in the campground. (I should note that it was maybe four RVs ago that they named one “The Last Resort”. Yeah, right.)
For those looking for one, a few tips from my dad, who has been helping us in our own search. DEFINITELY go see it first. In person. Or send someone you trust! No excuses. And if there’s any water damage, back away and don’t come back without someone you trust who knows a lot about RVs. Often just a little water damage can mean a complete stripping and rebuilding. Pricey, and you can’t really tell how bad the damage is without removing the paneling. Find out how much your vehicle can tow and figure out the tow weight of the trailer! Common sense, but easy to forget when you’re staring at a cute RV!
pete Whitley says
Thank you Jen!
Andreas Jordahl Rhude says
Love the camper! It would be so fun to have one like it to add to my collection of vintage wooden and fiberglass boats from the 1950s and 1960s!
Pete Whitley says
Thanks! I LOVE vintage boats. Would love to see some pictures of your collection.
Cindy Peters says
Boy, does that bring back great memories (& some not so great!). My parents took my brother & me on a trip from Minnesota through California & the Southwest in a similar one in 1959. They rented it & towed it with a black ’59 Chevy (aka ‘Batmobile’). I got the bunk in the overhang – the layout was a bit different – we had to close Mom & Dad’s bed to get into the bathroom but otherwise, much the same. I remember a flat tire on the trailer in the wilds of Wyoming, a less than graceful entry to Salt Lake City when the trailer brakes failed AND the old Donner Pass road was a real trip! We were down to 14 MPH by the time we made the top – Dad had to get out & walk around because his right leg was shaking so bad from pushing the accelerator nearly through the floor! I was actually a great trip but it cured my Dad of RVs for life! Not me however – at 63, I have an ’89 Allegro Class A but more often tow my 1977 Scamp 13′ behind my Windstar. ‘Shutterbug’ never fails to attact attention no matter where I stop! Fabulous restoration job – I’m very impressed! Cindy Peters
TappanTrailerTami says
Awesome awesome awesome trailer and restoration Pete! I always joke about having 5 different houses to decorate, but I could just as easily have 20 different trailers! There were so many manufacturers after the War, that you could have a different trailer / model / brand for just about every day of the week.
I have always loved Shasta Wings – but be careful Pete, I have heard of wings being stolen right off of trailers. Some Shasta owners do not leave them on except when traveling for that reason.
Anyone on here who wants to see more vintage trailers – Tin Can Tourists usually has a calendar of events, and there are Vintage Trailer Rallies (camping weekends) and most rallies have one day open to the public so you can go look (drool, swoon, otherwise be in serious lust) at all the trailers in attendance. Very fun!
My 1971 Red Dale trailer is currently in storage, complete with all its original wood work, linoleum, laminate counter tops, etc. – but alas, remodeling the house comes first.