I've finished restoring my '63 Tradewind

[Grand Master]

I purchased my Tradewind last November and have spent the last 10 months restoring her to near original condition allowing for upgrading some mechanicals to take advantage of technical improvements.

This is a nostalgic project taking me back to my days as a child when my parents traveled in Airstreams. This floorplan is my favorite of all the designs Airstream ever made. It was available in both the 24' Tradewind and the 26' Overlander. It is very liveable with adequate storage to travel comfortably.

Attached are a few photos.

I have restored, replaced, or added the following:
Polished & clearcoated exterior (P&S Trailer Service)
Zolatoned interior (P&S Trailer Service)
Refurbished original rockguard and replaced corrigated fiberglass with gray lexan
Painted wheels to match tv (2008 Jeep Grand Cherokee diesel)
Refinished all original woodwork
replaced plastic counter edging with aluminum
Cork flooring (Trafficmaster Allure vinyl floating floor)
New Foam cushions
New upholstery & drapes (Arlene Fowler)
new Suburban furnace
new Suburban water heater (original Bowen shroud retained)
Charge Wizard
new water pump
all new plumbing
new toilet (replaced septic dump valve)
all new window gaskets
rescreened all windows
added AC
2 new Fantastic fans
new Dometic gas/electric refrigerator
restored all the original light fixtures
... and hundreds of little details too numberous to list.

Everything works like new (or better)

I have restored this trailer to look like I remember my Dad's '62 Overlander. Fortunately, I remember minute details about 1950's and 1960's Airstreams that were of great help in this restoration.

Mike & Mary Brumback
WBCC #1200 (my parent's original number from 1955 - 1987)

[millvalleyca]

Wow!
Mike and Mary that is a beautiful trailer. It looks nicer than our 2008 CCD!
Congratulations on your restoration.
Dennis

[soldiermedic]

Great work, do you have a blog of all the work you did?

I am redoing my 53 Flying Cloud right now, so I know where you have been.

Steve

[al66pine]

Grand Master

Terrific job.
Well done inside and out.
Now hit the road in it.

[DEITZ645]

Grand Master,
All I can say is WOW!!! What a beautiful Vintage Airstream. You can walk proud, you did a fantastic job.

Do you want to do one for me???

[65CV]

Grand Master-

It looks terrific! It must feel great to type the word "finished". I look forward to it someday.

What a great number -- and the history behind it.

Congratulations.

John

[Air Hamel]

STUNNING !!! That gives me motivation to work harder on mine. I love it, I want ours to be as original as possible like you did. I have one question though, how did you attach the spare on your frame there? Mine was there at one time, but the only thing left is marks from the spare, lol. Thanks and go enjoy for many years to come, as my mom always says when I get a different vehicle or rv.

[gypsygirl1]

Great work on your '62.... Happy travels and enjoy all your hard work. We just took our first little trip in our 59 Tradewind after spending several months last winter working on it. Not sure when that word 'finished' will ever come, but the rewards are the admiring looks from people as we pass by. Good luck to you and enjoy! !

[NoMoSOBs]

Wow- great job on the resto. I have the older sister- a '61 that looks almost identical. A few questions if I may:

1) What size refrigerator is that, and what if any modifications did you have to do to get it installed in the original spot? (Mine vents the coils INside the trailer)

2) Same questions for the water heater- also what did you have to do to reuse the original shroud?

3) Where is the battery on your trailer? Mine is in a little compartment where your spare is.

Thanks & have a great time using it!

[47WeeWind]

Beautiful trailer, Grand Master! Very well done. The center gaucho - double bed is also my favorite floor plan from the 60's. Have fun with it.

[utee94]

Beautiful trailer. I have a '63 Overlander and your interior is very similar to mine, though yours is in completely restored condition of course. Mine has the center twins instead, which is a good functional layout for me, but I love the styling on the center gaucho model that you have.

Anyway, would love to see more photos of yours, maybe details on the exterior and the bathroom?

Thanks for the look!

-Marcus

[moosetags]

Really, really nice. you did beautiful work.

[3Ms75Argosy]

Oh, is that what my trailer is supposed to look like? I showed it to my wife... she couldn't believe these could be the same trailer!! Your's looks fantastic!

Great job, and welcome to the forums!
Marc

[crispyboy]

WOW, WOW and WOW AGAIN!!!!
That is one nice restoration job. You have went above and beyond and it really shows.
I hope you have a shed to store that trailer inside when your not using it.

[mandolindave]

BUT, I personally think that you are never done with a trailer or a house.
I can't help but think that you will find something that needs tweaking, repair, or upgrading within the next year. Maybe that's what makes ASing fun?

[Sixty3TW4US]

Absolutely Fantastic A+ Workmanship. My 63 TW has the middle twin beds. Can you provide some pics of the shower/bath area, also the exterior street side?

[Area63]

Clearly, 63's rule....but you already know that...
This floor plan is very similar to my 1963 Overlander, or what was left of it when I got it. It is jut a little shorter in the front/galley area.
It looks like you did a fantastic job. Congratulations!

[76sovereign]

Great job U guys!

[Silver Threads]

Very nicely done Grand Master! Also a beautiful job as usual Arlene!

[63Silver]

Grand Master,
AWESOME!! It looks great. I know another 63 that could use some of that elbow grease on the exterior. Did you change the axles too? What did you use? More pictures please...

63silver