I need help!! I have my eye on an airstream Bambi's but it seems to be priced too high or maybe I'm wrong.
It is a 1962 16' bambi. The selling price is $10.000. It has two soft spots, one by the door and the other in the bathroom. It does not have the original stove/fridge but has been replaced with a newer model. Also the propane water heater does not work. The cabinets have been painted but other than that in good shape. There is a tear in the shell panel over one of the wheel wells. Someone tried to fix it by riveting it. One other thing, it has been sitting for 6 years and needs some attention before it can be pulled.
We have not gone to see it due to the distance. So the info I have is from e-mail correspondence.
I need help!! I have my eye on an airstream Bambi's but it seems to be priced too high or maybe I'm wrong.
It is a 1962 16' bambi. The selling price is $10.000. It has two soft spots, one by the door and the other in the bathroom. It does not have the original stove/fridge but has been replaced with a newer model. Also the propane water heater does not work. The cabinets have been painted but other than that in good shape. There is a tear in the shell panel over one of the wheel wells. Someone tried to fix it by riveting it. One other thing, it has been sitting for 6 years and needs some attention before it can be pulled.
We have not gone to see it due to the distance. So the info I have is from e-mail correspondence.
Do you think $10,000 is a reasonable price?
Thanks,
Jenni
The Bambi is very sought after and that will certainly drive the price up, but if the floor is soft and there is shell damage then the cost of repair should be taken into consideration. Floor replacement, cabinet refinishing, plus repairs otherwise would certainly run you another $10K, IMHO. Having been through that process recently, I'm being ultra conservative on that number.
These old trailers are very cool, but are speciality items. If you're not handy buyer beware. Move onto something that has been mostly done and you're just putting curtains in.
Doug
__________________
65' Globetrotter 'The Otter'
56' Caravanner 'The Broomstick'
I agree...seems high for the condition to me. Bambi or not ~ but then, someone will probably buy it at that ~ seems the name "Bambi" gets people all excited ~
Do yourself a favor, read the whole webpage to b\put the numbers in context. Doug is right on target with the estimated $$$ on a restoration including body and floor work, if anything a little low.
Shari
__________________
Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
Thank you all for you input. I checked out the site TB gave me and the price vs. condition page and according to it, the trailer is priced too high. I will try and offer them a lower price. I think they will decline it because as Shari (InsideOut) puts it people see Babmi and they get all excited!!
Jenni,
I agree with the others on this. I had looked at another '61 Bambi going for 8,000 before I bought mine. It was most likely worth the price as it was all original and had only one owner. Everything appeared in good order, shell also. Yours sound more like the one I purchased for just under $4000. And had I know then what I know now I might have only paid a little over $3000.
I am, however quite pleased with mine. i have not had to redo any floor. Yay!
Good luck and keep searching. There is one out there for you.
Oh, and the tear in the wheel well probably means it needs a new axle, (can't get tire out easily and tears wheel well) which after 40 plus years should be replaced anyway.
__________________ May your Travels be Many
In the Journey that is Life
Quite possibly the tear above the wheel well is from a tire blowout. Could be from a bad axle or just a worn out tire. I agree with all above, the price is too high, Bambi or not. It will require some work on either your or a professional's part and these fixes will take time and money.
If this is the one in Seattle, it's been listed off and on for a while. I think they might be asking a bit much, but it all depends on how badly you want it, and your confidence in your ability to work on it's problems. Bambi's don't come up for sale all that often, so it's all a matter of how bad do you want it.
I had a Bambi a few years ago. It was darned cute, but my Caravel was a much better layout. I ended up selling the Bambi after only a few months when i realized we would never choose it over the Caravel. That extra foot of length made a big difference!
Not the same, but I rant into an original 57 Bubble last Sunday that has an asking price of $10,000. It was hand polished in a shop, but it needs an awful lot of work to be ready. This person gave $8000 for it, and spent $2,000 in gas to retrieve it. There are a few cracked windows, holes in the body that need to be patched, new cabinets needed on the interior, etc.
Some people just don't want to budge from what they have in them. It all depends on circumstance. Find someone down on their luck, and the price drops lower.
Stephanie,It is the one in Seattle. She sent me more pictures, showing the things I listed in the first post (tear, replacement fridge, painted cabinets ect.). We could do the work but doesn't seem worth it for that price. I think it is way too high and we just found a caravel for really cheap. So hopefully I can buy the Caravel instead. Wish me luck!!Jenni
Good luck! We LOVE our Caravel, in fact last year we had the opportunity to sell it and buy a beautifully redone TW that we knew was excellent in every way - and we passed. We just love the Caravel too much!
Good Luck...Jenni We first started wanting a Bambi...they are "cute". I do agree
Caravel might be your better choice. We could NOT locate a Bambi or a Caravel when we were searching.
We found the 20 ft Globetrotter and are very happy. You will find one at a price you want to pay and you will enjoy it. If it is an Airstream....you will "love it". Have fun searching. Aria