Black Oliver

[Katjo]

I knew there was a red Oliver but I didn’t know there was a black one. Does anyone know it’s whereabouts? Hull number? Did Oliver make any other colors besides the red one and a black? Were they the only two prototypes? 

[topgun2]

Last I heard - the black one was down in the Lone Star State but I believe that it was sold.  Don't know the hull number - maybe #35?

There was at least a partial blue one.  The picture of the red one below was taken shortly after it was produced.  It has since been restored by its current owner.

The "problem" with producing these colored Ollies had to do with the time that it took to get every last speck of color back out of the area and machines used to produce them.  It was VERY time consuming.

Bill

 

Edited December 11, 2022 by topgun2
added detail

[SeaDawg]

We saw the red and blue ones back in 2008, before they headed west. Very cool, very expensive to build. 

Jellybean's 2nd or 3rd owner (red trailer) is still on the forum once in awhile. Their trailer looks great!

[Katjo]

2 hours ago, topgun2 said:

Last I heard - the black one was down in the Lone Star State but I believe that it was sold.  Don't know the hull number - maybe #35?

There was at least a partial blue one.  The picture of the red one below was taken shortly after it was produced.  It has since been restored by its current owner.

The "problem" with producing these colored Ollies had to do with the time that it took to get every last speck of color back out of the area and machines used to produce them.  It was VERY time consuming.

Bill

 

That is so interesting and makes sense about getting the color out of the machines. 
I think it’s pretty cool that they even matched the color on the A/C and roof components. I see there is a blue top and black bottom one in one of the photos. 
I wonder how many color ones were made? 

[Katjo]

1 hour ago, SeaDawg said:

We saw the red and blue ones back in 2008, before they headed west. Very cool, very expensive to build. 

Jellybean's 2nd or 3rd owner (red trailer) is still on the forum once in awhile. Their trailer looks great!

It’s so unusual to see and I bet it’s beautiful in person. I would love to see it! 

[topgun2]

55 minutes ago, Katjo said:

I see there is a blue top and black bottom one in one of the photos. 

Nope - its just the lighting - all black, all red.

I don't know all the details on the restoration of the red one - but - I do know that there was sun induced fading on a fair amount of the Oliver - not the fiberglass though.  Things like the air conditioner, roof fan, etc. were sun faded but now look great.

55 minutes ago, Katjo said:

I wonder how many color ones were made? 

You can see them all in the photos above - with the exception of the white ones!

 

Bill

[Katjo]

@topgun2 Oh wow! It does look blue in the light. It’s great that someone restored the red one. So unique! I’m guessing the black one was difficult to stay clean and not show scratches, black is tricky but looks beautiful when shiny and new! Ceramic coating would be beautiful on these color Oliver’s! 
Thank you for giving me some history on them, so unique! 

[Mike and Carol]

The red Oliver (aka Jellybean) is owned by Brandi Shaffer and her husband who live here in San Antonio.  She has posted pics, they’ve done quite a bit to restore it.  Mike

[SeaDawg]

I remember only seeing two colored trailers... the red I loved,

The other, deep blue, maybe blackish, in 2008. One had a route 66 interior fabric,  the other cards, gambling, etc. fabric, as I recall . Destined for a Vegas show. We only peeked inside, didn't really pay much attention. My memory could be wrong,  and the lightingin the factoryin the early days wasn'tgreat, either. 

I'm thinking I saw them when we picked up, February 2008, but I could be wrong. Could have been January,  2008, when we ordered ours..It's a long time ago, and I  was (likely) more interested in my own trailer.

The red one I loved. My favorite color. I  do remember telling my husband if I owned it, I'd put spot decals on it, and name it ladybug. He, of course, laughed. 

We still love our white/absence of color 2008.

Steve/scubarx might remember better. He lives closer to the factory, and spends more time there. He was in the office, ordering, when we picked up in February,  I think, that's when we met.

[Katjo]

2 hours ago, Mike and Carol said:

The red Oliver (aka Jellybean) is owned by Brandi Shaffer and her husband who live here in San Antonio.  She has posted pics, they’ve done quite a bit to restore it.  Mike

That’s so wonderful that they restored it! 

[SeaDawg]

Brandi and her husband have done a lot of work with Jellybean. (Red trailer.) She's on Facebook more than here, but I  am always interested in following her progress. She is very creative and artistic.  Jellybean looks great!

[Katjo]

10 minutes ago, SeaDawg said:

I remember only seeing two colored trailers... the red I loved,

The other, deep blue, maybe blackish, in 2008. One had a route 66 interior fabric,  the other cards, gambling, etc. fabric, as I recall . Destined for a Vegas show. We only peeked inside, didn't really pay much attention. My memory could be wrong. 

I'm thinking I saw them when we picked up, February 2008, but I could be wrong. Could have been January,  2008, when we ordered ours..It's a long time ago, and I  was (likely) more interested in my own trailer.

The red one I loved. My favorite color. I  do remember telling my husband if I owned it, I'd put spot decals on it, and name it ladybug. He, of course, laughed. 

We still love our white/absence of color 2008.

Steve/scubarx might remember better. He lives closer to the factory, and spends more time there. He was in the office, ordering, when we picked up in February,  I think, that's when we met.

Spots on the red would be so fun…lady bug!!

Wonder where the black one is now? 
I love the white as well and would have still chosen white if given the choose but it’s pretty cool to see these two colors especially knowing at least the red one has been lovingly restored. 
The black is a bit too morbid looking for my taste but I still think it’s fun to see those different colors. They would definitely stand out in the sea of white at the Oliver Rally…lol 

[Katjo]

4 minutes ago, SeaDawg said:

Brandi and her husband have done a lot of work with Jellybean. (Red trailer.) She's on Facebook more than here, but I  am always interested in following her progress. She is very creative and artistic.  Jellybean looks great!

Jellybean, what a perfect name for it! 

[SeaDawg]

Indeed, I'm really glad the red one, jellybean,  was adopted, and named,, by such great owners, @Bshafferalong the way. 

The very few of us who are still  original owners (15 years later) have mostly kept up, and added mods.  I'd say refreshed, as opposed to restored, as the frame and hull as are as good today, as they were on 2008/9. Brandi and her husband have had to catch up, but they've done such a beautiful job.  Jellybean is not only adorable,  but a great little piece of Ollie history  . (And, so very cute.)

(Ps A good number of the original owners of 2008/9 are still friends.  It's an amazing kind of thing. Just got off the phone with Ollie friends in Minnesota.  They are hull #30something. We sail and/or camp together, every year. The original lower 48, like me, Pete, Scubarx, are still hanging in there.)

You never know what life brings, but it's often really great, if you are open to opportunities.

I  could write a much longer post on how my life has been enriched by camping, especially camping with our Ollie, and the friends we've made along the way, but I'll save it for another day, and another thread.... 

[Katjo]

@SeaDawg Yes, I agree “refreshed” is a better choice of words. 
I think it’s wonderful many of the “lower 48” are still original owners and friends. 
I love hearing stories about the Oliver from owners that bought back when they started producing them and the fact that you still have your Ollie’s just attests to its quality. 
I also love seeing those photos of recent owners picking up their new Oliver’s, it’s such a happy day, seeing those smiling faces! 



 

[Steve Morris]

I'm probably mis-remembering, as I tried reading just about every post on this forum back in June when I joined. Wasn't the black trailer converted (poorly) to a truck camper for a while, and then sold and put back on its frame? I tried looking for photos, but was unsuccessful.

[ScubaRx]

1 hour ago, Steve and Deb said:

I'm probably mis-remembering, as I tried reading just about every post on this forum back in June when I joined. Wasn't the black trailer converted (poorly) to a truck camper for a while, and then sold and put back on its frame? I tried looking for photos, but was unsuccessful.

It was not the black trailer, but I agree it was cobbled together and butt ugly.

[Raspy]

As far as I know, there was only one black one made, and it is sitting in my neighbor’s yard in Smith Valley, Nevada.  It has been out here for years.

BTW, I have posted about this several times and even mentioned it to Scott Oliver.

[topgun2]

1 hour ago, ScubaRx said:

I agree it was cobbled together and butt ugly.

Perhaps its in the eye of the beholder - but (pun intended) - the new owner has done a very nice job of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.

 

[Steve Morris]

2 hours ago, topgun2 said:

the new owner has done a very nice job of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again

That's the one. I just misremembered the color. Thanks for the reminder.

[ScubaRx]

4 hours ago, topgun2 said:

Perhaps its in the eye of the beholder - but (pun intended) - the new owner has done a very nice job of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.

 

 

 

I do agree that the current owner has done a magnificent job of reconstruction. I wonder who moved the body back onto the frame. I am well acquainted with that procedure.

[Katjo]

WoW!! I guess that was one way not to worry about towing capacity! That was a long way up and down that ladder! The new owner did a great job bringing it back down closer to earth!😂

[SeaDawg]

7 hours ago, topgun2 said:

Perhaps its in the eye of the beholder - but (pun intended) - the new owner has done a very nice job of putting Humpty Dumpty back together again.

 

And, that is an amazing restoration. 

Great job!!!

[ScottyGS]

The "Bean" .... before she was the bean.   These were taken in June of 2016 on our factory tour after picking up #145.  Oliver was doing some kind of work on the trailer.  Probably getting her ready for sale before the Shaffers  found her.    Oliver may have gotten the restoration ball rolling but they did the rest, including the pinstriping etc.  Very unusual Oliver to see.  

[Katjo]

Thank you for sharing the photos!

So unexpected seeing an Oliver in color!