Just bought a 1966 Sovereign!

fugarwe · 01-24-2007, 07:53 PM

Greetings all,

I just bought a 66 Sovereign (pic in the avatar). I've owned a 63 Avalair 22 footer for a couple of years. Also have a 73 Starcruiser Starcraft motorhome (think refrigerator box on wheels).

The 66 is on a site now, has been since 98. Moving it home in the end of March. It's in fair used condition. The belly pan under the black water tank is torn because the previous owner got frustrated when he was pushing the portable black water tank under there and he ended up shoving it and tearing the pan. The black water tank is sinking down now, and there is some rust evident. It's obvious to me I will be repairing that area, and have been reading up in the forums about it. It SEEMS to not have any sag, but with jack stands under it who can tell? After reading here I realize I should have popped out the stands, here's hoping it's solid. I only have 1500 bucks invested so far, so I figure I've got that much in parts. Only one window isn't original.

I think I'll be reading here for a loooooooong time!

Thanks to the forum admin for inviting new people to post, or I wouldn't have.

John

tgregory13 · 01-24-2007, 07:57 PM

welcome! and by the looks of it i would make sure the heater works..... Brrrrrrrr looks cold in MN.... atleast its easy to keep the beer cold..

ALANSD · 01-24-2007, 08:48 PM

an avalair? what is that?

fugarwe · 01-24-2007, 10:56 PM

An Avalair is basically a copy of the 1963 Avion and the 1963 Airstream. They even copied the names and put them both in there. They are painfully rare.

Here is one that got restored that is a twin to mine, just two years older. It was also on a site, and had been lived in recently. Needs a few repairs, but in pretty good shape all told.

Avalair

**moosetags** · 01-24-2007, 11:19 PM

Welcome to the Forums and good luck with your project.

Wabbiteer · 01-25-2007, 02:29 PM

Yes - good luck with it, which flavor of sag are you concerned about?

a quick check is the sight-line down the side rivet seams and looking at fender flares for excessive bow & also missing-loose rivets around the entrance door and interior partitions at ceiling, if the frame has been abused just being up on stands will not erase all the telltales but meerely minimize them. If you have rear sag from water damaged flooring or missing-bent-rotten floor at outriggers tie-points... be gentle on the ride home!