E. Boudreault RV found and restored a ‘73 Ford F-350 Super Camper Special and a matching ‘73 American Road Truck Camper. What began as a casual conversation turned into a mission to recreate one of truck camping’s most iconic pairings. ‘73 is back. Can you dig it?
Some things are special on their own, but become much more significant when they’re paired with something else. What is James Bond without his Aston Martin? What is Jimi Hendrix without a Fender Stratocaster? An iconic duo rarely has icon potential without the second half.
In 1973, Ford Motor Company and Starcraft RV set out to create exactly that—a purpose-built pairing designed to push the limits of truck camping. The American Road camper was decades ahead of its time, featuring a molded fiberglass shell, basement holding tanks, and a self-contained floor plan that still holds up today.
To carry it, Ford engineered the Super Camper Special package for the F-350. It featured a longer wheelbase with a split driveshaft, reinforced frame, dual fuel tanks, upgraded electrical systems, and integrated tie-downs directly from the factory. Two industry-leading manufacturers designed a truck and camper as one off-the-shelf package.
But the timing couldn’t have been worse. The American Road launched amid the 1973-1974 oil crisis, resulting in a collapsing stock market, rising inflation, and high unemployment. Expensive and ahead of its time, the American Road struggled to find buyers. Fewer than 1,000 American Road units were ever built before production ended in 1974.
Today, that rarity makes American Road campers both extremely uncommon, and historically significant. That’s what makes this story next to impossible.
More than fifty years later, one of these campers found its way to the team at E. Boudreault RV. Then came the second half: a matching 1973 Ford F-350 with the Super Camper Special package. Each half was still in use, still intact.
What followed was a full-scale, in-house restoration to bring both truck and camper back to their original 1973 glory. Not as separate pieces, but as the iconic duo they were always meant to be. We talked with Marco Bouldreault, Co-Founder of E. Bouldreault RV, to get the full story.
Video slideshow by E. Boudreault RV
How did you find such a rare and iconic truck camper?
We met the owner of the American Road camper, André, at a show in Quebec in 2024. We talked for a while and he proudly showed me photos of his setup. We told him that if he ever wanted to sell it, I’d be interested.
Ford American Road on the cover of Camper Coachman in March, 1973
About a year later, he showed up at the shop with the American Road on his early 2000’s F-350. He had some health problems and decided it was time to let it go. We bought it that same day.
Do you know much about the history of this specific camper?
I know that the original owners, Jeannine and Bernard Côté, drove down to Detroit, bought it new, and owned it for thirty-seven years. The Côtés only lived an hour from us, so the camper has spent its whole life in Quebec. Based on the condition, I suspect they stored it inside during the winter.
Original owners, Bernard and Jeannine Côté
After Bernard passed away in 2010, Jeannine sold it to the second owners, Nicole Baillargeon and André Marceau. What’s incredible is that it was still being used right up until we bought it, taking trips throughout the United States and Canada.
Original ’73 Ford American Road photo from Bernard and Jeannine Côté
When André came to sell it, he was actually coming back from a camping trip. We ended up picking it up at his house the following week so he could unpack.
Nicole Baillargeon and André Marceau’s dually Ford American Road setup
Was the camper in decent condition?
It was in pretty good shape for being fifty years old. Structurally, it was solid. The interior needed a complete restoration. The wood was rotting, the fabrics were worn, and the systems needed updating. We wanted to modernize it where it made sense, but keep the vintage 1970s look.
“We wanted to modernize it where it made sense, but keep the vintage 1970s look.”
Did you find the matching 1973 Ford F-350 after purchasing the camper?
Yes. One of our parts guys told me about the Ford F-350 Super Camper Special package and how it was designed with Starcraft RV. We knew we had to find that specific truck.
“We knew we had to find that specific truck.”
After searching for a few weeks, we found the exact 1973 Ford F-350 on Facebook Marketplace in British Columbia. I called right away and put down a deposit. We were going on a delivery in the area, so we went to see it in person and ended up trailering it back to Quebec.
What is the Ford Super Camper Special package?
The Ford Super Camper Special was developed specifically for truck campers. It had two fuel tanks and a longer wheelbase with a split driveshaft for better weight distribution. Ford added front and rear sway bars, heavy-duty leaf springs, and upgraded the size of the disc brakes to handle the extra payload. The Super Camper Special package also included a larger alternator and a split wiring harness to power the camper’s battery system. Ford even integrated tie-downs into the frame right from the factory.
Everything was built by Ford specifically for hauling a camper. I couldn’t believe it was all still there when we arrived to see the truck.
I wish there were more camper-specific options from truck manufacturers today. What condition was the truck in?
Very good. We could have driven it home, but the ride would have been rough without a camper in the bed.
In British Columbia, they use sand instead of salt in the winter, so the frame only had surface rust. Even the brake lines were original. It had about 89,000 miles (143,231 kilometers) on it.
Before we get into the restoration, what made you commit to a project of this magnitude?
We wanted to show what our shop is capable of. We sell campers, but at our core, we’re a repair shop. Whether it’s a small fix or a complete rebuild like this, we can handle it. This project was something everyone in the shop had a hand in.
“Whether it’s a small fix or a complete rebuild like this, we can handle it.”
What did the 1973 Ford F-350 restoration involve?
The goal was to make it look like it did in 1973. We did a full frame-off restoration. Everything came apart. The frame was sandblasted and repainted. The body, drivetrain, and interior were all restored. Everything was done in-house—paint, mechanical, fabrication—except for the upholstery.
What was done to restore the exterior of the American Road camper?
The fiberglass was in decent shape but had some cracks. After repairing the problem areas, we then sanded, prepped, and repainted the entire camper to match the truck. After the paint was done, we polished and waxed it the same way it would have been done when it came off the line fifty-plus years ago.
The original doors and windows were in great condition. The exterior running lights are original as well.
The colors match the truck perfectly. What did you do to restore the camper’s interior?
The interior is where most of the work took place. We completely stripped and rebuilt nearly everything inside the camper. Stripping a camper down to the bare walls let us have complete control over the look and finish.
The plumbing lines and fittings needed to be replaced, though we were able to save the original tanks. We replaced the icebox with a 12-volt refrigerator. We kept the original stove, sink, and furnace.
Visually, we wanted to stay true to the original design and floor plan. We made the cabinets by hand to match the style. The countertop color and fabric pattern aren’t exactly the same, but when you step inside, it feels like the 70s.
You definitely accomplished that. How long did the entire project take?
The truck took just over a month, and the camper took us about three months. We did the full restoration during the 2024/2025 winter when things are slower.
Everyone worked on this project during their spare time. It became a rallying project for our team. We were all excited to be a part of it.
It must have been something seeing the completed truck and camper come together for the first time.
It was a great feeling. Everyone in the shop contributed, and you can see that in the final result. We’re very proud of it.
What kind of reactions do you get when people see it?
People love it. The first show we took it to, people couldn’t get enough of it. We hear a lot of people say, “Wow, how did you do that?” It also brings back memories for people. A lot of them grew up around campers like this.
Is it just a showpiece, or do you plan to use it?
It’s been a show vehicle for RV and vintage car events so far, but it’s fully functional. We’re planning to take it camping this summer.
I’d love to see photos of this setup in the wild when you take it out. Would you ever consider selling it?
Maybe. It would take the right buyer. As a complete package, it’s very special.
What should people take away from this project?
Anything is repairable. No matter what condition your camper is in, we can bring it back to life. It takes time and investment, but it’s possible.
We’re open year-round, which is rare in Quebec. The best way to work with us on a large scale project is to leave your camper with us through the winter. We’ll have it ready to go when spring arrives.
E. Boudreault RV’s Rig
Truck: 1973 Ford F-350 Super Camper Special
Camper: 1973 Ford American Road Camper
If you can’t get enough of the Ford American Road, revisit our previous feature, The Ford American Road Restoration From Hell. It’s a doozy.
