The original small home has always been, and will always be, a vintage mobile home.
Design is a bit different, of course, but the overall concept of a ‘small home’ is the same: A fully equipped home within minimal square footage that can be towed without specialized equipment.
Here’s one of the original small homes, a 1953 Silver Star, in all its restored vintage mobile home glory!
In 1953, an average household income was around $4,000. A new site-built home cost just over $17,000 and a new Ford to park in the driveway would run you between $1,500 and $2,500. A top-of-the-line mobile home only ran between $3,000 and $6,200. What a great deal!
From what I could find, the Silver Star was a home manufactured by Star Mobile Homes. The umbrella company was based out of Union City, MI and produced several well-known mobile home brands such as Duo, Elcar, Kozy, Pan-American, Terra Cruiser, and the innovative ‘M’ System.
Below is a part of an advertisement for Star Mobile Homes that I found in a 1954 magazine that mentions all the various models:
The exterior is great on this restored vintage mobile home but the real jewel is the interior.
Star Mobile Homes ran ads for other Silver Star models during the mid-1950’s and mention features such as private bedrooms, 7-foot ceilings, ‘walk-thru’ bathrooms, and interiors paneled in light-toned ‘Swedish Modern’ Mahogany:
The original small house , this is a 35′ 1953 vintage Silver Star camper. Updated electric, plumbing and new air conditioner. All the wood interior and windows are original restored. New wood flooring and carpet. New upholstery, curtains and counter tops. Original screen doors and lighting fixtures. This is an extremely cool old camper with porthole windows in the doors and the vintage stove / oven works great.
Ready to enjoy or just show off. Used her at the lake from time to time.
Even the furniture is period perfect for a vintage mobile home!
Not only is the interior in perfect condition, the features in this home have been carefully matched to closely resemble the originals. The light fixtures, counter tops, stove, and sink are all perfectly restored.
The dinette seating is beautiful.
The bathroom is in great condition, too!
I love this vintage mobile home because it was carefully restored by an owner that obviously understood the early 1950’s decor. It’s a simple, yet ultimately sophisticated, home that should be cherished for years.
If you are interested in this vintage mobile home please click here to be taken to the Craigslist ad. Please note that I have not communicated with the sellers at all and have no association with the home.
Thank you so much for reading Mobile and Manufactured Home Living!
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