I'm brand new to this forum, but figured this was the best place to come for advice in buying my very first Airstream. I'm looking vintage and need a smaller, lighter weight model in order to trail it behind my SUV.
I found a 1970 Globetrotter (21') described as "as is" but ready to roll, in need of some buff to polish and a little TLC. She's offered at $22K, but seller is open to reasonable offers. What do you guys think?
I'm looking to do a total interior reno, and don't have details on the true condition of the shell or subfloor, but from the looks of it...seems pretty solid.
Welcome to the forums.
22 thousand sounds like a lot considering you'll be redoing the Interior.
I've have heard that with a vintage Airstream the purchase price is just the down payment. Very true with mine.
Good luck with your project.
I sure hope you didn’t go ahead and buy it. $22,000 for a 47 year old trailer is way, way too much to pay unless it has already been completely restored with new everything and the owner has the documents to prove it. I hope you will take the time to read more about full restoration jobs, the time it took, the tools it takes and the right skills and o do the job and the final costs. Even if you do all the labor a full restoration can easily run $50,000 and take a couple of years to do. Please don’t jump into a purchasing a fixer-upper before you do lots of homework first.
I done mean to rain on your parade but I really hate to see someone get in over their head on a project they weren’t quite prepared to finish. Full restorations are awesome and it can be done but it is not an easy job to do which is why we all love to see the old ones getting the love and attention they deserve. Just like a fully restored 1970 Corvette is cool to see on the road because we can appreciate all the time and money it took the owner to complete, older Airstreams are awesome to see for the same reason. However, all to often good intentions end with a gutted, rusty hunk of metal in a field somewhere.
Definitely haven't jumped on anything -- consider this forum part of the research! :P
If shell is free from rust, exterior in decent shape and subfloor in good condition, and I plan to redo in interior....what would a good offer be? I have a feeling this seller knows his $22K asking price is a total long shot.
Agree that under $10,000 might be ok if there isn’t axel rot or frame rot. Triple check the rear end for damages as most of that decade has a lot.
There is a very similar thread on here about a 1976 model who is getting the same advice that you might want to check out.
1991 25' Excella
2011 19' Flying Cloud
Santa Ynez
, California
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,185
Good luck finding one for $10K in todays market.
Agreed $22K is a bit steep, 12 months ago I almost bought a 69 Globtrotter in nice original condition with one small dent in the shell for asking $12.5 but someone beat me to it, I have been looking country wide since and not seeing much although a 67 Globtrotter just came up less than an hour away...$29.5K.
It has come to "how bad do you want" it scenario in some cases.
I think that trailer (although I cant open the small pics?) could be in the $15-$18 range.
__________________
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Will Rogers
1991 25' Excella
2011 19' Flying Cloud
Santa Ynez
, California
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,185
Quote:
Originally Posted by 1973Argosy
Way to much for an "as is" trailer. That trailer should probably be in the 5 to 7500.00 range.
This is laughable in Ca.
Since my search has begun approx 2 years ago I have seen one trailer under 25' for $7600 and was a pile complete with replaced panels using pop rivets. Every thing else has been north of $12K and only one at that.
An Argosy MIGHT fetch those numbers but I see them above that too here on the West Coast.
__________________
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Will Rogers
1991 25' Excella
2011 19' Flying Cloud
Santa Ynez
, California
Join Date: Jan 2017
Posts: 1,185
To the OP that trailer has been on the market for several months starting around $30 if I remember correct? Not a realistic seller.
You would really need to look at it close, frame condition? floor rot? etc. and go from there.
Shell condition is a big factor for me and would put the frame/floor condition in that decision. Making some new cabinets or replacing some appliances are one thing, a shell off to repair frame deterioration is another.
__________________
Good judgment comes from experience, and a lot of that comes from bad judgment.
Will Rogers
1959 18' "Footer"
1957 26' Overlander
Three Rivers
, California
Join Date: Feb 2015
Posts: 248
It's true that to actually buy one in restorable shape you will be paying 10K and up.
The shorter and older the more you will pay.
I looked for years and they just kept going up, finally bit the bullet at $15 k for a 59' 19 footer and halfway done restoring.
Seen some deals between now and then but they go fast and if not local it is hard.
Be prepared either way to spend some do-rey-me.
Did find a deal on the 57 Overlander for $2500 but had to drive immediately to Oregon...and I mean immediately, sight unseen in person.
It is pretty good but still some compound panel dents...straighter body the better, at least the compound panels.
Flat panel damage not so bad.
Feel the burn baby.
Don't do it. I just paid $6k for a 1976 31' Excella that MEPd are 100% ready to go but the inside needs cleaning and rear twins put back together(was made into king by PO). The exterior is dent free and all zipDees are in great shape. It does need axles too.
I'd keep looking. Deals are out there if you have patience.
hi, I have a 1964 26' Overlander. It lives on it's own 3 1/21 acre campground in upstate n.y. I have electricity running to it for heat and would love to share it in some way.
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