"You can't make it shinny"

When we bought the Silver Streak, David, the previous owner, was quick to tell us that this trailer was not the kind of trailer you can polish.  The aluminum was different than aluminum on Airstreams.  As soon as we got home we started searching the internet for information that would help us deal with the 40 year old finish.  All the while believing with all my heart that there was an easy answer.  For days we scoured the internet following leads to message boards that sounded hopeful but all of them ended with the same conclusion,

"You bought an ugly trailer now be okay with it".

But I wasn't okay with it.  I tried everything everyone else tried and more.  Nothing could break through that bullet proof layer of aluminum.  Although aged and oxidized, the finish was still hard as diamonds and it was not going to be polished no matter what I did.  I did appreciate it for what it was but I was having a hard time looking at it.  It looked like something issued by the army and used for total utilitarian purposes.  Very industrial and very masculine.  The SS was originally purchased by a gentleman that used it for hunting and fishing trips.  I speculate that he mostly used it as a private getaway at home when he needed some place to go.  When David was going through his newly purchased SS  he found a coffee can in the trunk that contained $4500.00.  Can you believe it?  He immediately contacted the lady that sold him her late husbands trailer and let her know what he found.  She was delighted and thanked him for his honesty by giving him back $2000.00 dollars.  Now isn't that a great story ?

1970 Silver Streak