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?
Amazing job on the restoration! We have a 1963 Shasta Astrodome. Like the Astroflyte but with the rear restroom. Future plans include a full restoration.We live just north of Atlanta and I would love to see your Shasta in person. The McKinney Rally was a blast last year, we are planning to go back.
Jim Kreighbaumsays
Do you remember the seller of the retro clock? I found it a while back and cannot locate.
What a darling trailer! Good for you for actually getting to it, and not just talking about it. Having grown up with a dad who had (and still has) a fixer-upper antique car in the garage, I admire anyone who not only finishes a project of this magnitude, but does such a nice job, too!
It pleases me no end to see that someone would go to this much trouble. I feel like my heart is larger just looking at these photos! Super super great!
pam kuebersays
what a lovely message! my heart is just larger having read it!
Petesays
Thank you Maureen! (<:
Grama Robinsays
My husband and I used to have a 1946 Kit teardrop trailer I pulled behind my 1950 Plymouth station wagon, but let’s face it, that’s just a half a step above a tent, and I’m too -uh- experienced for roughing it! We bought a 1948 Silversides Greyhound bus about three years ago that was turned into a camper in 1959. That’s when I found Retro Renovation, as this mid-century stuff was new to me (our house stops at about 1950). It’s got shellacked wood cabinets built by a boat builder, boomerang formica countertops, two dinettes that make into beds and a bench that makes into bunk beds. There is a separate bathroom (decorated with acrylic seahorses with bits of shells) and separate shower, both with fake wood formica walls. It’s cozy and warm and it was so much fun to fill up with mid-century dishes and pots and appliances (a Dixie Wanderer gas stove) and games (vintage frisbee) and books (we found a first edition 1949 Babar Meets Father Christmas book under a drawer). I reupholstered the benches and made 40 curtains (19″ high), We take it camping, and to car shows, and to vintage trailer meets (those people are crazy – we fit right in). And it’s our guest house. For Christmas I have an aluminum tree with plastic ornaments, and lots of little fuzzy Santas to decorate it. It’s been a lot of fun, and we’ve met lots of people who are either into old trailers and cars, or wish they were. I’ve used lots of information here for inspiration for filling up the bus! When you’re though with your house (ha!) get a trailer or an old RV and have fun with that, too!
Adriansays
WOW!!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!! I have been wanting to do this type of project for some time. You have inspired me to do something like this! Thanks for the link and Pam, THANK YOU for a fantabulous website!
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.
Pete says
Thanks Doug!
You are welcome to come by any time. We live in Sharpsburg, Ga. near Peachtree City. I have a Facebook album of the entire restoration from start to finish. Check it out. https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1186698585812.2028249.1178720020&type=3
Pete
Doug says
Pete,
Amazing job on the restoration! We have a 1963 Shasta Astrodome. Like the Astroflyte but with the rear restroom. Future plans include a full restoration.We live just north of Atlanta and I would love to see your Shasta in person. The McKinney Rally was a blast last year, we are planning to go back.
Jim Kreighbaum says
Do you remember the seller of the retro clock? I found it a while back and cannot locate.
Thanks in advance…Jim
pam kueber says
Category: Other Rooms. Subcategory: Decorating Basics. Story: Stevotomic? https://retrorenovation.com/2012/03/07/atomic-clock-and-sign-art-by-stevotomic/
Pete says
Thanks Lois, I have something planned that weekend but if it falls through I’ll make the rally
Lois says
Hi Pete!
Since you are in the Atlanta area, here is a link to the thread on Vintage Shasta Trailer Forum about our 2nd annual rally coming up in Oct at McKinney Park on Lake Allatoona. We would love to have you (or any other vintage campers) join us, we had a great turnout last year and lots of fun.
http://vintageshasta.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=eastcoastvintagetrailer&action=display&thread=3927
Linda Emery says
Pete, that is a total beauty! Congratulations!
Pete says
Thanks Linda!
Laura's Last Ditch--Vintage Kitchenwares says
What a darling trailer! Good for you for actually getting to it, and not just talking about it. Having grown up with a dad who had (and still has) a fixer-upper antique car in the garage, I admire anyone who not only finishes a project of this magnitude, but does such a nice job, too!
Pete says
Thanks Laura!
Maureen says
It pleases me no end to see that someone would go to this much trouble. I feel like my heart is larger just looking at these photos! Super super great!
pam kueber says
what a lovely message! my heart is just larger having read it!
Pete says
Thank you Maureen! (<:
Grama Robin says
My husband and I used to have a 1946 Kit teardrop trailer I pulled behind my 1950 Plymouth station wagon, but let’s face it, that’s just a half a step above a tent, and I’m too -uh- experienced for roughing it! We bought a 1948 Silversides Greyhound bus about three years ago that was turned into a camper in 1959. That’s when I found Retro Renovation, as this mid-century stuff was new to me (our house stops at about 1950). It’s got shellacked wood cabinets built by a boat builder, boomerang formica countertops, two dinettes that make into beds and a bench that makes into bunk beds. There is a separate bathroom (decorated with acrylic seahorses with bits of shells) and separate shower, both with fake wood formica walls. It’s cozy and warm and it was so much fun to fill up with mid-century dishes and pots and appliances (a Dixie Wanderer gas stove) and games (vintage frisbee) and books (we found a first edition 1949 Babar Meets Father Christmas book under a drawer). I reupholstered the benches and made 40 curtains (19″ high), We take it camping, and to car shows, and to vintage trailer meets (those people are crazy – we fit right in). And it’s our guest house. For Christmas I have an aluminum tree with plastic ornaments, and lots of little fuzzy Santas to decorate it. It’s been a lot of fun, and we’ve met lots of people who are either into old trailers and cars, or wish they were. I’ve used lots of information here for inspiration for filling up the bus! When you’re though with your house (ha!) get a trailer or an old RV and have fun with that, too!
Adrian says
WOW!!!! I ABSOLUTELY LOVE IT!!!!!!! I have been wanting to do this type of project for some time. You have inspired me to do something like this! Thanks for the link and Pam, THANK YOU for a fantabulous website!
Pete says
Thanks Adrian!