Worth fixing or not.

chapparel · 10-30-2006, 11:05 AM

Hi There, New member here and I am looking at an 1963-64 Safari left to fall apart in field since 1965. Lot of things missing. Door has been removed but is inside the trailer. Inside most everything is there but in terrible condition. Veneer is coming off all cabinets. Someone during the life of this trailer has lived in it and trashed a lot of it. Floor appears to be in pretty good condition from a very limited examination. Tires are shot, one ven in roof is gone and has been exposed to elements. What do you think, is it worth fixing if I could purchase for $1000.00 or less?

**Stefrobrts** · 10-30-2006, 11:17 AM

Hello, and welcome to the forum!

In that condition, it sounds like a LOT less than $1000 would do the trick, in fact some people would pay you to haul that away!

Anything CAN be restored, it all depends on if you are up to the challenge, and have the time and bankroll to tackle it.

Got any pictures? We LOVE pictures!

Jim & Susan · 10-30-2006, 11:21 AM

Welcome to the forum. Got any pictures? A general rule of thumb is that if the floor, frame and windows are in decent shape, ya got something to work with. Axles will probably need to be relaced, along with a lot of the interior. Others will chime in with more (read better) advice.

Jim

**CanoeStream** · 10-30-2006, 11:39 AM

Hello chapparel -- and welcome to the Forums!

You will need a new 2-way fridge (110v & LP) if you wish to camp under a mix of conditions. Adding the fridge to axles, tires, probable hot water heater & furnace replacements, I am seeing $4-6000 in expenditures just to satisfy installed equipment basics. Then materials for you to remake cabinets, new plumbing & electrical ... Whew!

It sounds like plenty of chance for water to get inside if a vent and the door were removed. This lack of care has probably resulted in other water intrusion problems. This sounds like a huge job -- maybe even a shell-off restoration. I'd suggest doing some research in Classifieds here. I'll bet you could avoid 2/3d's of the labor time and find a unit with cabinetry intact and much of the equipment still in working condition -- and probably for a fair amount less than your new materials and equipment price list. The Safari will probably still be sitting there long enough for you to research your options.

Take a look at the Vintage Airstream Photo Archives and their Price vs. Condition page.

dmreilly10000 · 10-30-2006, 12:08 PM

Unfortunately, sounds like it may be good for parts only. If it had not been open to the elements, maybe. But the way you describe it, it will cost a fortune and extreme amounts of labor just to get it to the point where you could find another one for just a little more $$. I would pass on this one. Canoe stream's post above is very good advice.

If water has been running down the interior walls, the steel frame "outriggers" are probably rusted out. On this forum, you will find that most older trailers have some hidden damage, mostly from water. And that is with trailers that look good and have not been open to the elements for decades.

Run away! Run away! from this one.

Noel · 10-30-2006, 01:41 PM

Voice of experience here, wish I had asked these guys before I took the leap on my 63 Overlander. What seems like a bargain at first glance many times isn't. Aluminum doesn't rust, but wood floors surely rot under the best of conditions and you'll really be suprised what waterlogged insulation in the belly pan can do to a steel frame over the course of 43 years. Read and research before you spend. It's much less expensive.

MarkR · 10-30-2006, 01:50 PM

it's a good thing I don't know where it is because I'd probably "pop for it" . . . which is why I don't want you to tell me where it is . . . so where is this poor trailer?

InsideOut · 10-30-2006, 02:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chapparel

Hi There, New member here and I am looking at an 1963-64 Safari left to fall apart in field since 1965. Lot of things missing. Door has been removed but is inside the trailer. Inside most everything is there but in terrible condition. Veneer is coming off all cabinets. Someone during the life of this trailer has lived in it and trashed a lot of it. Floor appears to be in pretty good condition from a very limited examination. Tires are shot, one ven in roof is gone and has been exposed to elements. What do you think, is it worth fixing if I could purchase for $1000.00 or less?

PRO

1. "Floor appears to be in pretty good condition..."

CON

1. "left to fall apart in field since 1965"
2. "Lot of things missing"
3. "Door has been removed"
4. "most everything is there but in terrible condition"
5. "Veneer is coming off all cabinets"
6. "trashed a lot of it"
7. "Tires are shot"
8. "one ven(t) in roof is gone"

IMO, if you were to deduct $75-$100 for each of the CON items above, maybe it'd be worth that. Each of those items will cost you at least $75-$100 to fix. BTW, I seriously doubt you will find the floor is in "pretty good condition" once you get into it with a door & roof vent missing -not in place doing their jobs, keeping moisture out.

'63-64 Safari's are not that hard to come by...and in better condition. If it were a rare model or had unique history, maybe it would be worth it, but unless you have lots of emotional attachemnt to that particular trailer...keep on looking.

Price vs Condition

Shari

**CanoeStream** · 11-02-2006, 10:31 AM

One other thing about building cabinets. It is necessary to build just as light as Airstream installed or it can affect load capacity of your trailer. The other option is installing higher capacity axles, new or beefier frame, etc.

Just was listening to VAP #28 and an owner was going to help a cabinetmaker friend and was still going to be charged $5000 for a complete rebuild of all cabinets. That is probably of restoration quality, so an owner/refurbisher can make other choices too.