The Doorknob on Wheels aka the C-Layton

Introducing our 1966 Layton!

So we were back on the parts search, and found a little toaster shaped trailer for sale a bit more than an hour away. From the photo in the ad, we could make out a cool Bargman doorknob. After all, the Hanson needs something to keep the door closed better than a carbiner! The price was right, so we figured we should at least check it out. 

I have to say the first impression wasn't good. This was no canned ham. Once inside, we found that the interior was unappealing. Dark brown paint and really ugly paneling, no fridge, no table. It was pretty beat up and filthy too. 

the stove

 BUT, it did have that door latch, as well as a turquoise two burner stove with hood and matching sink. And incredibly, a bathroom with fully enclosed shower and toilet. All of this in a 14' trailer, that seemed much larger on the inside. It was growing on me ever so slightly, but my eye was still on the parts.

Should we buy it? Even though it was only $100, the verdict was sharply divided. Yes I thought it was ugly, but I saw it as a good parts acquisition that just happened to be enclosed in a trailer. Clayton pretty much hated it.

I reasoned with him that we could use the appliances and the door knob for the Hanson and then sell the trailer if we wanted to. After all, a reproduction of that latch was more than the price for the entire trailer! And admittedly, at least one of us is a sucker for a blue stove. I mean come on, it definitely had its good points. Begrudgingly, Clayton agreed we could take it on the condition that it was ONLY for the parts. We were definitely NOT keeping it. 

We had to come back the following day with tires so we could haul it home. Another trip in the dark of course, with hazards on since the tail lights didn't work. We weren't filled with excitement on the drive home, yet somehow the trailer did seem a little nicer, once it was on tires and it was ours.

The next morning, we saw that it was actually a pretty cool trailer. Very toaster like and built like a tank. It started growing on both of us within a matter of minutes. By the time the 'before' photos were taken, we had discovered we didn't hate it after all! 

So on Day One, Clayton started working on it immediately. Ironically, it has become HIS project. So I have officially changed its name from 'Doorknob-on-Wheels' to the 'C-Layton.'

street side

curb side

back end

the door knob and nameplate

Clayton has started to remove a lot of the nastiness already, tearing out the old cabinets and preparing it for the rebuild. Already it looks so much better! We're excited about the possibilites for how we're going to redesign it. The C-Layton is NOT going to be a restoration project. It's going to be our whatever-we-want-it-to be trailer.

the kitchen

progress!

the blue stripes

One thing we do know is that we are going to strip it down to bare aluminum. We will repaint the original stripes in blue, and keep the rest of it shiny. It's going to look awesome!