Serro Scotty

Serro Scotty

Manufacturer Information

Serro Scotty trailers were built from 1957 until April, 1997, when the plant in Irwin, Pennsylvania burned down. The plant later reopened in Mt. Pleasant, Pennsylvania, but never again to make travel trailers. Today, known as Mobile Concepts by Scotty, they manufacture fire safety “houses”. Due to their easy availability, low cost, and the increasing population of retiring baby boomers, there has been a resurgence of popularity for these small trailers that can be towed by even a 4-cylinder, and stored in the family garage.

Years built

Serro Scotty trailers were built from 1957 until April, 1997

History

  • 1956: John Serro, recently retired as a car salesman, builds a 16 1/2′ trailer in his garage that no one wanted to buy.
  • 1957: Serro introduces a 10′ teardrop trailer. 225 of them were built through 1960. This trailer was called the Sportsman, Jr.
  • 1958: The 13′ Sportsman, Sr. was added. Later to be called a “Gaucho”. This trailer really took off.
  • 1959: A 12′ rear-door model is introduced. This model lasts only 2 years.
  • 1960: Sportsman, Jr. (teardrop), Sportsman, Sr. (13′) and a 15′ model are offered. Last year for the teardrop.
  • 1961: three 13′ models were offered: Mattress, Gaucho, and Front Kitchen, as well as two new 15′ Front Kitchen models, Sportsman 15 and Scotty with Potty 15. Wings were an option.
  • 1962: This is the last year for the 15′ Front Kitchen!
  • 1963: The Bristol, OK plant opens and the trailers are now offered in aqua and white as well as polished aluminum. Scottyland, a 230 acre campground, at that time, solely for Scotty campers, opens.
  • 1964: Only aqua and white trailers are now available. The “split-level” 15′ HiLander is introduced.
  • 1965: The HiLander is restyled to move the “Sun Deck” forward of the door for easier entry.
  • 1966: The “Front Kitchen” becomes known as the Tonga. Also, the Royal Scott, a 17 1/2′ one-piece fiberglass trailer was built. It proved too expensive and too heavy and was never manufactured.
  • 1968: A new plant opens in Ashburn, GA. This is the last year for the Tonga model.
  • 1969: Only the 13′ and 15′ Gauchos are offered, along with the 15′ HiLander The trailers move to the 60″ wide front and back windows.
  • 1970: Most of the Scottys offered have jalousy windows in the door.
  • 1971: Most still have jalousy windowed doors, and the interiors move from the blue spatter to a fake woodgrain.
  • 1973: A tan panel is added to the lower front of the trailers, in addition to the aqua and white. An 18′ model of the HiLander is offered, commonly called a “Trunkback”
  • 1975: A new model called the JS715 replaces the 15′ Gaucho model. This model had optional top bunks above the back gaucho and the dinette (JS=John Serro, 7=sleeps 7 & 15=length). Also offered were the 13′ Gaucho, the 15′ HiLander, and the 18′ HiLander.
  • 1978: Trailers now have a tan and bittersweet stripe down the middle of the sides are now used with the aqua.
  • 1979: First year for no aqua to be used on the Scotty. Also the first year for the jagged stripe down the side, using tan, bittersweet, orange, and black. Lots of new models introduced this year – the 12.5′, 13.5′, 16′, 16.5′, 17′, 19.5′, 24.5′, 26.5′, 28′ and 32′.
  • 1980s: Trailers are more boxy shaped and Serro offers a full line of trailers, all the way from 13′ through 50′ park models.
  • 1982: A new 13 1/2 model is introduced. The door is located behind the axle and the kitchen is in the rear. It has a bathroom!
  • 1985: By this year, the name Regalia is introduced.
  • 1990: The 1990 Scottys are top of the line.
  • 1995: Serro adds motorhomes to the mix.
  • 1997: Serro plant burns to the ground and Serro stops manufacturing travel trailers. Scotty is still in business in Pennsylvania but is now known as Mobile Concepts by Scotty. They now make Police and Fire Safety trailers.

Scotty Specs

**1958** Model Length Width Height Weight Sleeps Cost Sportsman, Jr 10′ 4′ 5’3″ 750 # 2 $495.00 Sportsman, Sr. 13′ 6’3″ 6’4″ 975 # 4 $795.00

**1959** Model Length Width Height Weight Sleeps Cost Sportsman, Jr 10′ 4’2″ 5’3″ 750 # 2 $495.00 Sportsman, Sr. 13′ 6’4″ 6’4″ 975 # 4 $795.00 Sportsman-12 12′ 6’4″ 6′ 925# 2 or 3 $695.00

**1960** Model Length Width Height Weight Sleeps Cost Sportsman 10′ – 6′ 665 # 2 $495.00 Sportsman 13′ – 6’4″ 975 # 4-5 $795.00 Sportsman 15′ – 6’4″ 1300 # 4-5 $995.00

**1961** Model Length Width Height Weight Sleeps Cost Sportsman 13′ 6’4″ 6’4″ 975 # 4-5 $795.00 SM-Front Kitchen 13′ 6’4″ 6’4″ 975 # 4-5 $825.00 Sportsman 15′ 6’4″ 6’10” 1300 # 4-5 $995.00 SM-Front Kitchen 15′ 6’4″ 6’10” 1300 # 4-5 $995.00

**1962** Model Length Width Height Weight Sleeps Cost Mattress 13′ 6’4″ 6’4″ 975 # 4-5 $775.00 Gaucho 13′ 6’4″ 6’4″ 975 # 4-5 $795.00 Front Kitchen 13′ 6’4″ 6’4″ 975 # 4-5 $840.00 15′ 15′ 6’4″ 6’10” 1300 # 6 $995.00

**1969** Model Length Width Height Weight Sleeps Cost Gaucho 13′ 6’4″ 6’11” 975 # 4-5 $795.00 Gaucho 15′ 6’4″ 7’2″ 1300 # 5-6 $995.00 HiLander 15′ 6’4″ 7’6″ 1525 # 6-7 $1165.00

**1979** Model Length Int.Width Int.Height Weight Sleeps Cost Scotty Lite 13′ 74″ 72″ 992 # 3-4 – HiLander 15′ 82″ 76″ 1990 # 6-7 – 16 Custom 16′ 90″ 76″ 2140 # 6-8 – 16 Deluxe 16′ 90″ 76″ 2400 # 8 – 18 Deluxe 18′ 90″ 76″ 3010 # 6 –

Pictures

 

Some owners

Mark and Kathy Bailey 1966 Scotty 13 ft gaucho model

Tammy Spangle 1967 15 ft Scotty Hilander model tammyspan@yahoo.com

Eric and Nicole Keiffer 1961 15ft Front Kitchen and 1972 HiLander scotty@keiffer.org

Clubs/Links

http://www.nationalserroscotty.org/ The website was created in 2004 and The National Serro Scotty Organization formed in 2005. With members in nearly every state and in Canada, Denmark and Germany, campouts held throughout the United States, and a National Rally held each summer – where it all began, in Pennsylvania – this group has become the primary source of information for anyone restoring and/or rebuilding their Serro Scotty or other small vintage trailers. It is also a way to connect to, and communicate with, fellow owners and campers.

http://www.serroscottycamperenthusiasts.com This yahoo group was created in 1997 by a man named Alan Colwell (RIP) so Scotty owners could connect.