For those of you who are hip to vintage trailer and camper lingo, my “clue” given on the RetroRoadmap Facebook page was pretty easy:
But here’s the big reveal for everyone – if all goes well this week, RetroRoadhusband and I will soon be the proud owners of a vintage 1964 Serro Scotty Sportsman Camper!
I have been eyeing this cute little camper for years on my way to the grocery store and right before Christmas I noticed a small handmade For Sale sign on it. It has been in the same family for 15 years and they’re looking to upgrade to a larger vintage camper.
I was smitten by its small size, condition for it’s age and cute little aqua stripe! The thing that impressed us the most was the fact that the camper’s interior has many of it’s original features, including the cheery red cushions, aqua sink and rounded mirror.
So while we’re not campers, nor sportsmen, and currently don’t even have a car to tow it with, we’re adding this cool camper to our collection, to work on and learn all about – so very excited to welcome this little guy into the RetroRoadmap family!
Larry Cultrera
January 19, 2011 at 10:09 amthat is so cool! Get a trailer hitch on the new car!
Aubs
January 19, 2011 at 10:55 amHOLY MOLY, BATMAN! This is awesomely exciting! So stoked for you guys! 🙂
Amy
January 19, 2011 at 11:27 amThat is SO cool!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 19, 2011 at 1:03 pmI got a few additional comments over at Facebook about this cute lil camper so I thought I’d add them to the thread:
Craig F said:
That little trailer makes me happy and sad, Mod Betty.
My parents and I had a lot of adventures in one exactly like that when I was a little guy. I remember a lot about it, even though we only had it for a few years. The cushions, the fold-down table. We had a little screenroom for it, too.
Best of luck with it. I’m glad to see it went to someone who can truly appreciate it.
And Larry Cultrera added:
I am thinking the name “Serro” is related to the former Serro’s Diner on Rte. 30 in Irwin, PA. In fact one of the last Diners to have that name was in Greensburg, PA and after they closed it, it was moved to the Scotty Trailer property adjacent to the PA Turnpike with a large for sale sign on it.
Pam
January 19, 2011 at 1:30 pmWoo Hoo! Hope you are willing to share some time in the RetroRoadster with others than RRH at some point. : )
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 19, 2011 at 5:22 pmYou know it!
Gunnar
January 19, 2011 at 3:56 pmA Shady Dell to call your very own!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 19, 2011 at 5:21 pmGunnar – I know, I’m positively swoony with the thought of it!
thevintagetraveler
January 19, 2011 at 7:42 pmYEAH!! for you. Can I say how jealous I am? Lizzie
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 20, 2011 at 7:56 amLizzie – perhaps once we get good at traveling with it we’ll come down and visit you!
thevintagetraveler
January 20, 2011 at 12:20 pmThat would be SO much fun!
Glenn Wells
January 20, 2011 at 7:02 amBeth, you need to visit this web site (if you haven’t already):
http://www.scottytrailers.com
There’s a small photo under “Scotty History” with what looks like the Serro’s Diner sign. The connection to Serro’s Diner is never explained, but there were ten children in the Serro family – there has to be one!
As a diner fan, I also like the Serro Scotty “tag” – and the fact that it was never removed or damaged since 1964!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 20, 2011 at 7:56 amGlenn – thanks for the link, I’ll have to look for the diner sign. There are a couple of “tags” on the diner,–oops I meant camper! 🙂
nancy kroes
January 21, 2011 at 9:53 amHey, be sure to visit the National Serro Scotty Organization site at http://www.nationalserroscotty.org – we’re the biggest and best site for vintage Serro Scotty trailers.
The other link provided already takes you to the new Serro Scotty site. Bill Kerola bought the right to use the Serro name and start building new trailers in the old look back in 2007.
The NSSO group holds a National Scotty Rally every July in PA, where Scottys began plus other camp-outs around the country.
LOVE your blog – do you mind if I add a link to if from the Scotty Newsletter site: http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/newsletter ?
Nancy Kroes
NSSO Owner and Admin
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 21, 2011 at 10:03 amNancy! Thanks for getting in touch and making us feel so welcome! We’re excited to learn everything we can about our cute lil camper and meet folks who have them as well. I’ve already seen the link to the Rally site, and while we may not be ready to participate officially this summer, I’m thinking a RetroRoadmap worthy excursion out there to meet some Scotty folks would be right in order! Would be thrilled and honored if you would add a link to RetroRoadmap to your site – I would like to think that your readership would appreciate the vintage retro and cool old places I’m trying to highlight, and may have some of their own they could add to the map as well. Perhaps we’ll meet in July! So much fun to look forward to 🙂
Jen
January 21, 2011 at 7:52 pmWow…Congratulations! I came over from Flickr…What a peach! My husband and I finally just bought a vehicle with which we can tow, and we would LOVE a sweet vintage RV like this and have been on the lookout since. There are some amazingly cute ones out there, and yours is darling, too! I’m so excited for you!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 22, 2011 at 10:31 amThanks so much for swinging by the Retro Roadmap to check out our cute lil camper! We haven’t seriously been looking for one but this really fell in our lap, so we couldn’t say no – even tho we don’t have anything to tow it with-! Thanks for being excited about it, I’m sure it will featured in many photos in the future!
Adam
January 31, 2011 at 3:14 pmVery cool! Congrats. I’m jealous … even though I, too, don’t own a car and couldn’t pull this thing anywhere. It would just be fun to sit in parked in the backyard. May you have years of Retro Roadtrips with it.
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 31, 2011 at 5:05 pmAdam – thanks for swingin on by the RetroRoadmap and for the well wishes. Yep, at the moment I’m considering the camper one of our bigger lawn ornaments here at the Hacienda, right next to the pink flamingos and bowling balls :-). I think I’ll be happy to sit out in/near it and pretend I’m vacationing!
Nancy Kroes
January 31, 2011 at 6:50 pmAh, consider attending the Second Annual Winter Camp-in (anywhere you are). You can eat a meal in your Scotty, camp out over night or just take pictures of you with it. Then submit them to me and I put together a slideshow. This was a very fun event last year with folks joining in from all over the country. More info on this year’s here: http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/campouts/camp-in2011.html and check out the video of last year’s here: http://vimeo.com/9688666
Hope to *see* you there!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
January 31, 2011 at 8:03 pmooh Nancy that sounds like a fun idea! Thanks for forwarding it to me, I’ll share it with RetroRoadhusband right now!
Dave
February 5, 2011 at 11:45 amVery cool! Welcome to the non-camping, non-sportsmen, don’t-have-a-car-to-tow-it-with, vintage camper loving club. That was exactly what happened to us with our 1968 Kencraft camper. Had to buy the car to go get the camper in Pittsburgh from Wisconsin. Purchased on Ebay sight-unseen. We LOVE it. All the best in your new adventure and awesome website!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
February 5, 2011 at 7:22 pmDave- thanks for welcoming us into the “club”! makes me feel so much better that we’re not the only folks to do something a bit cart before the horse – or in this case – vintage camper before the car. SO glad you love your camper, I know we will too! Totally digging your website as well – LOVE yer bathroom shots, can’t wait to delve in and see your other cool stuff- thanks so much for swinging by the RetroRoadmap!!
Dave
February 7, 2011 at 1:14 pmMod Betty
Here is a link to our blog with pictures of our camper if you care to take a peek…her name is Aqua Betty
http://vintagelivin.blogspot.com/2009_08_01_archive.html
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
February 7, 2011 at 1:27 pmDave- Aqua Betty! I love it! (crossing name off of potential camper list)-
I’m envious of your original wood interior and aqua accents, and what a great job on the replacement cushions and headboards. Truly an inspiration -thank you so much for sharing! It reinforces that we’d making the right decision 🙂
Mark
February 8, 2011 at 9:33 pmLet me know if you decide to sell that trailer, I restore them and I’m always looking for one to restore. I will give you a lot of money for it!!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
February 8, 2011 at 9:41 pmMark – always good to know someone who does restoration! Currently we’re smitten with the idea of owning it, but will keep your info handy if we ever change our minds.
Ramble on Rose
February 23, 2011 at 9:38 pmWhat a great camper! I’m searching for one now to fix up–can’t wait to see what you do with her!
Katen
April 17, 2011 at 7:30 pmHi!!! I too am glad to see I’m not the only person out there that wants a retro trailer but doesn’t have the car yet to haul it!! There is one down the street from me and everyday I hope I’ll see a for sale on it but so far not yet 🙁
Good luck with your new baby!!
Mod Betty / RetroRoadmap.com
April 17, 2011 at 8:23 pmThank Katen! Yeah, we feel a bit silly not currently having anything for it to trail behind, but just knowing it’s in our garage is a nice feeling! Now that the weather’s nicer we may just go out there and hang out in it!
Paul
March 2, 2012 at 6:28 pmCool! Now you and RetroRoadhusband can travel around the country like Lucy and Desi in the “Long, Long Trailer”… except you’ll be in the Short, Cozy Trailer. I have to admit, I’m just the teensiest bit jealous. Are you gonna paint the RetroRoadMap logo on it? If you do, let me know so I can come photograph you and RetroRoadhusband next to it.
Mod Betty
March 2, 2012 at 7:20 pmPaul = we probably won’t paint the logo on her but when she’s ready for her closeup you’re more than welcome to photog! I’m sure we’ll share the progress here on the site!
JenniferT
May 30, 2012 at 7:56 pmMy husband’s grandparents passed away and left one of these sitting in their yard. I am trying to find someone who will WANT it and restore it before his family sends it to the scrap yard. If anyone is interested, please e-mail me at [email protected]. It is located near Cumberland MD, and would need some serious restoration, but I’d rather see it fixed up or even used for parts to fix up another than as scrap in a salvage yard.
Mod Betty
May 31, 2012 at 4:55 pmHello Jen – I have forwarded your message to Nancy at the NSSO, hopefully she’ll help find a home for your trailer, or at least the parts!
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