Teen finds his way into a … 'Time warp into the 1950s'

By BRIAN WALKER

Staff Writer

POST FALLS — Even at 17, Austin Paul fits in with phuddy duddies.

The Post Falls teen will be among those displaying their vintage trailers at the free fifth annual Phuddy Duddy Cruisers show from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday at River of Life Friends Church, 3263 E. 12th Ave., Post Falls.

Last fall Paul bought his 1954 Aloha "Canned Ham" trailer for $150 from a friend to finish restoring. He'll pull it behind his 1966 Chevy pickup that he's been tinkering with since he purchased the vehicle with his lawn-mowing money at age 13.

"I enjoy hanging out with older people who have been doing this sort of thing since they were in high school," Paul said. "They're able to share a lot with me about history that I wouldn't get anywhere else."

Paul has been driving his truck to the rally since it started, but this will be the first year that he'll pull up with a work-in-progress vintage trailer.

"It won't be the prettiest one because it's not finished, but it will show people all the work you have to do when you find one," he said. "I'm able to share it with other kids my age who don't have a way of seeing anything like it."

Garages of vintage enthusiasts absorbing as much as he can on restoration ideas and techniques isn't your typical teen hangout.

"I'm pretty unique in that way," he said. "Every once in a while kids my age will join me for events such as Car d'Lane, but I'm not aware of someone else my age who drives an old vehicle that pulls an old trailer."

Paul cruised in Car d'Lane this summer for the first time.

"I like to be a part of something of days gone past," he said.

Vintage rally regular Linda Shinn said Paul has been a welcome addition to the Phuddy Duddy bunch.

"The past couple years Austin has gleaned as much car fix and repair information that he can from his senior friends," Shinn said. "Members invite Austin to come over to help work on projects."

Paul helped Shinn paint the outside of her 1963 Aristocrat.

"It is such a pleasure to work with Austin," Shinn said. "He is so willing to get his hands dirty and work on his projects."

Paul said he has also learned a lot from his parents, P.J. and Kelli, who pull a 1978 Airstream trailer. He said his love of history was passed down from his grandfather, who purchased a Model A when he was 12.

Paul, who will be a senior at Classical Christian Academy in Post Falls this fall and plans to become a firefighter, is going for the hot rod theme with his trailer.

"Custom moon disk hub caps, 1950 Pontiac taillights — little touches like that," he said. "But I also want to keep it pretty original to the ’50s — oiled plywood wall decorated with ’50s memorabilia."

Paul needs to put on more finishing touches such as electrical work and rope molding, but it's all a labor of love.

Paul said he has spent "many full days" on the project, but doesn't have an estimate of hours.

Among the antique decorations he has found is a juice press for his table.

Paul has slept in his trailer and, when he wakes up, there's the feeling of yesteryear.

"When you look up at the birch walls, you feel like you're in the ’50s," he said with a smile. "It's a feeling you can't get anywhere else."

Paul said he'll ease his way into the trailer show circuit, but he envisions a day that he'll become a "tin can tourist" traveling around the country with his old truck and trailer.

"It's a way for me to create a time warp into the 1950s," he said.