It’s his fault this time!

[MsRivet]

The first Airstream was my fault. MrRivet was at work and I found my dream Airstream (‘04 28’ International) online at a dealer just over an hour away. Airstream #2 I acquired about the same way he was at work but it was a risky Craig’s list find. It was a successful purchase (‘48 Liner) and only thirty minutes from the house. So now we had both a usable Airstream and a project Airstream.

Now let’s move forward to present time. MrRivet has retired and I was at work. He was working on Airstream #2 when he gets a call last week. So this time it’s his fault and this is what has followed him home ...



Airstream #3 now sits in our yard as well. It’s a 1963 Safari. It’s a hot mess but it’s his hot mess. The ‘48 Liner will take a sideline for a few days while he is assessing the hot mess of a situation and getting at least a few layers of crud off. It had sat in a nearby forest since 1976 unmoved. It was a true rescue mission! The best we can tell the owner, at the time, was last inside it in 1984. A time capsule. Left as it was with anticipation of returning to his hunt camp the next winter.



Now we will see how much good a wash does!

[Del Gurney]

Uh oh! Have you seen a doctor regarding
This case of Aluminitus?
I had a lovely 25’ ‘05 Safari- so I restored
A wreck of a ‘65 26’ Overlander. AND just
as I finished that, I fell into a ‘72 24’!!
Sold the Safari and scrapped the ‘72 for
Parts and will have to keep the Overlander for
Another year while waiting for the DMV to
Issue a clear title!!! I totally profited on the
The Safari and doubled $ on scrapping for
Parts on the ‘72—-ah but I may have too
Much in to the Overlander time and $ to
See much profit—— but I’m having fun and
Keeping busy!!!!

[MsRivet]

It’s definitely a problem of Aluminitus!!! MrRivet couldn’t help himself and started cleaning a little spot. If time allows today The Hot Mess should receive it’s first bath!

[ROBERT CROSS]

....it'll be fine.😂

We LOVE the '63 Safari.👍

Our's is behind the GW.😎
Bob
🇺🇸

[rsementi]

Keep us posted with pics!

[kittmaster]

can't wait to see it cleaned up

[kidjedi]

"The best we can tell the owner, at the time, was last inside it in 1984."
Wondering if the inside looked like a dystopian, government controlled, gray space or was just overflowing with Rubik's Cubes and Toto records. :-D

[helwigc]

Good luck on your purchase, you could have a diamond in the rough. Looking forward to seeing the pictures of the interior and exterior after cleaning.

[LucysMama]

TV show idea - zombie trailers! I would watch!

[MsRivet]

Yesterday while I was at work MrRivet worked all day on his Hot Mess in the driveway. I really wish I had been there to supervise. I’m hoping it will be fine?! Hmm ... TV show idea?? I’ll pitch that to my Producers and the Studio before I finish my current project this week!



It’s starting to look promising ...



Wow ...



Wait for it ...





I think he did find MY diamond!!!

Interior pictures and what we found in there coming soon.

[centennialman]

That is so cool! Good job getting the crud off....can't wait to see the interior pics.

[LDM]

Great find

[kittmaster]

Wow, ship it!

[dbj216]

I was surprised all that crud came off the hot mess. I fear the tropical lush Florida climate worked hard to return this trailer to dirt and bauxite.

The 63 Safari is a worthwhile project, just like the Liner is. MrRivet will have many enjoyable hours renovating these two old Airstream trailers.

David

[LucysMama]

Fantastic work! This is very exciting, I am so happy for you (and your Airstream for being found) Wally is smiling down at you for sure! By the way if anyone drives around Tampa be sure to check out the new Airstream dealership where the Airstream "ranch" used to sit off the I4. They have quite a nice tribute to the Airstream history including a statue of Wally Will try to post pics

[AFTER TAXES]

Originally Posted by ROBERT CROSS

....it'll be fine.😂

We LOVE the '63 Safari.👍

Our's is behind the GW.😎
Bob
🇺🇸

Mr. Cross knows..........LOL

[MsRivet]

Here it is. Untouched since 1984. I will tell the story as best I can guess from what we found.



Since no one had keys we had to pop door pins to gain entry. Carpet had been laid on top of two layers of flooring. The carpet hung out from underneath the door making a perfect wicking of water to the interior.



Best I could tell the previous owner closed it up at the end of winter in 1984. Experation dates on food items gave us this hint. Everything packed and stored for his return the next winter. Tires, ladder and even his work pants lay patiently waiting his owners return.



He was married and had at least one daughter. None of them came from Michigan for the winter as he only kept one lawn chair on hand at his hunt camp.



He was a simple man. A loner. Liked a little Crown on occasion and kept the property and Airstream neat, clean and tidy.




I think I would have enjoyed getting to know him. Hanging out getting details of his life. What was his story and why? I have questions.

[ROBERT CROSS]

This is one we will follow...
So many flashbacks looking inside...👍

Bob
🇺🇸

[dbj216]

Thank you kindly for the "as found" photos of MrRivet's hot mess. Completely his fault. However, a real time capsule. I can only imagine the slow degradation of the interior of this trailer over the years. And I can only imagine the "old trailer smell" inside. Moisture is the bane of our Airstreams.

Well, another "full monte" for you folks. No rush, finish the Liner first. It will be fun to see it come apart, and how you design and build the new 1963 Safari.

David

[MsRivet]

To sit on my driveway. The plan is to get up at the crack of dawn tomorrow and get The Hot Mess moved to the backyard. It’s too exposed and easily accessible on our driveway. MrRivet is having to rig a temporary gate on our back fence line to get it back there. Since the new frame to the ‘48 sits in the way belly-up unable to move we will need to come in from the back. Did I mention we live on a bike trail?



We did not realize until The Hot Mess got home that there was not only a toaster oven in a box but a brand new right off the shelf electric grill with the sales information tag still attached to it sitting nestled in a box waiting for the first meal to be prepared on it. By the way someone took the toaster oven from our garbage on garbage day. Ewww!!!


One of the two Byam hooks in the bathroom.



The gas light with globe attached ready for a late night read.



Baby Moon wheel caps stored safely out of the way in hopes of one day hitting the road again.



The previous owner loved his morning cup of coffee. He enjoyed a cup of tea on occasion mid afternoon. He took pride in cooking a pot of beans and brauts or the best darn good pot roast in his crock pot.

He also prepared the coach as best he could before departure. He would lay oil soaked rags over the hubs and even laid out bars of soap about to help keep rodents at bay. Well the rodents ate what they could of those bars. I felt a bit intrusive on the move. I didn’t judge. Only soaked it in and imagined what his time there would have been like.

AFTER TAXES - Thanks for the exterior photo. We have hopes of what he might look like if he decides to keep The Hot Mess.

LUCYSMAMA - We do not live far from the ‘ranch’ property and plan to visit it soon. We often wonder what would Wally think? We try to honor him by saving and restoring. We also ask in sticky situations ... what would Wally do?

ROBERT CROSS - Thanks for the interior pictures. It answered a few questions and made us want to ask more. We will be in touch.

DAVID - We are so glad to share. It’s been a trying past few weeks. We had to put one of our young 3 year old black labs to sleep on Christmas Eve, I got a toilet for The ‘48 for Christmas and new tires and rims for the ‘04 and now this Hot Mess in the driveway. The interior smell is way worse than the ‘48 due to the wet carpet. You can smell it well before entering. The Florida humidity was not it’s friend. We will take your advice and slow the roll keeping the ‘48 Liner our priority.