The (not so long) Long Long Trailer

Merc Cruzer

Merc Cruzer

Well-known member
Rather than a 1953 36 foot New Moon it is a 1959 Shasta. No I didn't buy, it is sitting in a local parking lot, it is just for sale and quite rough and I don't need another project right now. If this had been used instead of the New Moon they wouldn't have had to use the Lincoln for the climbing shots.
 

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Now that is truly funny......you are more talented with photo shop than I could ever hope to be. Since we have gone this far, though I would post a few picture of the inside. Lets just say it needs work.
 

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Remember everything looks better in a picture. The upside is that everything appears to be there, and I do love that vintage of trailer. Watch a few episodes of "Flippen RV's", they seem to have a handle on the restoration process of these vintage trailers.
 
They featured beautiful woodwork back then, but few survived the ravages of time. Hence
the high prices they command these days. 25 years ago, you couldn't give them away!
 
Back in the 50s, Smith-Miller toys made the unit pictured below to capitalize on the popularity of the movie. The trailer and the car were sold separately. I got the trailer as a gift when I was a kid and still have it. I never played with it much so it's almost mint. Never got the car - wish I had one.
 

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tubman said:
I'll bet the trailer is a lot harder to find than the car if you're looking for one.
Click to expand...


Haven't looked that seriously but from cruising eBay, seems the reverse is true - the car appears to be rarer. Since they were sold separately, I'm guessing more trailers were sold originally.
 
CHuDWah said:
Back in the 50s, Smith-Miller toys made the unit pictured below to capitalize on the popularity of the movie. The trailer and the car were sold separately. I got the trailer as a gift when I was a kid and still have it. I never played with it much so it's almost mint. Never got the car - wish I had one.
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You can have one...and it's only (US $2,419.53) and comes with a spare trailer. Thanks for the info, I have never seen the toy before.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Sm...w2sZbMoM4&_pgn=2&_nkw=smith+miller+toys&rt=nc
 
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Merc Cruzer said:
You can have one...and it's only (US $2,419.53) and comes with a spare trailer. Thanks for the info, I have never seen the toy before.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Smith-Miller-MIC-Lincoln-Capri-With-Long-Travel-Trailer-1953/232864243290?hash=item3637ca5e5a%3Ag%3A0ZsAAOSw2sZbMoM4&_pgn=2&_nkw=smith+miller+toys&rt=nc
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Yeah, I grabbed the picture off that listing - it's been on eBay before. Seller is dreaming on the price - notice there have been no takers. I probably could get the real thing in at least restorable condition for that money - 1/5 of the asking price would be more realistic for the toy. The cars come up for sale once in a while - I may get one yet. That may be why I didn't play much with the trailer - didn't have anything to pull it! ;)

BTW, the pix show the top comes off the trailer to show the interior - the top also comes off the car to make it a convertible. Smith-Miller was in business for 10 years in the 40s - 50s and made a line of diecast trucks, mostly in 1/16 scale. The car and trailer was one of the last products and something of a departure from their usual line. It's a neat toy, especially given the movie connection.
 
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To me it's odd that they made that model of a '53 Lincoln to go with the long trailer. Seems like at least 90% of the car scenes in the movie showed the Mercury.


Sal
 
scicala said:
To me it's odd that they made that model of a '53 Lincoln to go with the long trailer. Seems like at least 90% of the car scenes in the movie showed the Mercury.


Sal
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I have yet to find a model of a 53' Mercury anywhere. 50' and 54' yes but no 52' or 53'.
 
wga said:
Flyte Camp buit trailer on ebay:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/1961-Holiday-House-Geographic-Vintage-Travel-Trailer-Restored-by-Flyte-Camp/183355437328?hash=item2ab0d5f110%3Ag%3AOCcAAOSwmSZbLDzz&_sacat=0&_nkw=vintage+trailer&_from=R40&rt=nc&_trksid=p2380057.m570.l1313.TR12.TRC2.A0.H0.Xvintage+trailer.TRS0
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Way cool! Late-50s/early-60s design was heavily influenced by the great interest in the space programs of the time - that thing just screams spaceship. Wish I had a spare quarter-mil.
 
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And I though cars were expensive to restore. Too cool for words. For those of you that didn't click on the link.

Restoration: the definition is to "takes back to their original state"...like your wallet when you first bought it...it was empty!
 

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