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My original 1947 "teardrop"
camping trailer ..
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Once upon a time??
A Bubba story.
I first seen a “teardrop” camping trailer
in a post card and discussed them with some friends on the west
coast over the years.
After some research I knew I just had to have
one and - WOW - on my way home through a nearby neighborhood
from a friend's house “there IT was”. IT was a original,
untouched, rotten, “beautiful” teardrop trailer made by KIT
manufacturing in California August 1947 (according to the tongue
mounted serial tag)!
Three years later the owner getting pretty
tired of me by now, sold me the trailer and to my house it went.
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Image 14
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Image 17
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Image 19
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the pictures for a larger image. |
Images 14, 17 & 19
show the original trailer with the rusty support rods for the
side room (a very rare find) and rotten fiberglass fenders
(considered hi-tech for the 1947 year)
Research shows it was a Deluxe with two doors,
ice box, water tank and two burner stove with propane tank still all
there .
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Image 65
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larger image. |
Image 65 shows the original
chassis after reconditioning and paint. Torsion axles finally took
grease and new 16 inch 510 tires were located.
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Image 106
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Image 123
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Image 128
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Click the pictures for a
larger image. |
After careful disassembly image 106 shows the new box (from the ground up) taking shape.
All new wood and image
123 shows the new .032 aluminum skin attached to the box.
Image 128 shows new doors fitted with top skin
attached.
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Image 172
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larger image. |
Image 172 now shows what we
now call the “box” with door trim and drip moldings, etc.
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Image 183
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larger image. |
Image 183 shows the new
little jewel sitting on the chassis with (the find of the year) original
style repo fenders. (made from the original molds)
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Image 211
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larger image. |
Image 211 shows the finished
rear galley ready for final rear door fit.
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Image 230
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larger image. |
Image 230 show the trailer
really taking a shape with red fenders to match tow vehicle and rear
door assembly.
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Image 849
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Image 854
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Click the pictures for a
larger image. |
One year later (from start to finish) and images
849 and 854 show the trailer set up for the weekend in
Dayton, Ohio at Kilcare Speedway for racing and car show.
BTW, the little trailer sleeps two very
comfortably (lacks just a couple of inches on width being a full
size bed) and is a big time attention getter.
We have enjoyed sharing the interest of this trailer so much with
others that we have gone into production of replicas.
Visit our Gasoline Alley
Trailer Works site at PTSnoozer.com
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