New member and unsure what I just bought!

[Lindav]

Hi All!

I just bought a 30’ major fixer upper. I was told it is a ‘58 Sovereign but not sure. Plate by where the door “should” be (more questions on that too) is O5083. Any thoughts about this?

And about that door. I don’t have one. Is it at all likely that I will
find a salvaged door? Or does anyone know how I go about getting one custom made? I live in Toronto, Canada.

Thanks!
Linda

[Hittenstiehl]

Well you've come to the right place for all these questions. Welcome

So if you attach a couple of photographs of the entire trailer and then one of the decal by the door (that isn't there) people will be able to give you some better answers. photographs can be attached similar to an attachment in a document with the paperclip or the little image of the mountains. If the photos are too big they will turn sideways so if you need to make them a little smaller that would help you post them in the correct orientation.

You will find here that people often start a thread (in the correct year and title of your trailer subcategory) designated to themselves and keep that running for ever and post their updates and progress there.

As for a door it is highly possible you will be able to source a replacement door from a similar age trailer. People sell trailers that are damaged and maybe the door is still intact or people have a second trailer that they're using for parts and some people can just build a door from scratch.

What is your long-term goal with this trailer? Traveling with it? Stationary on a property, use it as a guest room? Get halfway through and sell it as a project gone weary.

:-) that happens a lot.

Either way glad to have you in this educational fun filled money sucking hobby forum.

[dbj216]

Welcome from Colorado: Folks here will need some photos to help you determine what you bought. It would take a while to find a door assembly, maybe with the hinges from a salvaged 58 Sovereign. However, you might get lucky.

David

[Shacksman]

Originally Posted by Lindav

Hi All!

I just bought a 30’ major fixer upper. I was told it is a ‘58 Sovereign but not sure. Plate by where the door “should” be (more questions on that too) is O5083. Any thoughts about this?

And about that door. I don’t have one. Is it at all likely that I will
find a salvaged door? Or does anyone know how I go about getting one custom made? I live in Toronto, Canada.

Thanks!
Linda

From the archives that looks like it would be a 1958
http://vintageairstream.com/photo-ar...f-the-road-30/

[Lindav]

Hoping these pics come through... this is the diamond in the rough I’m trying to identify.

[Hittenstiehl]

Pictures came thru great. Body looks good and a fun project ahead. That number on the door placard is your serial number (like a VIN number for your trailer).

Yours is s California built versus Ohio. Follow the link that Shacksman put in and see a small write up about the series of serial numbers and trailer from the Airstream Archives pages.

Now you could start a thread in that trailer year and model category and post your updates.

[66Overlander]

The serial number O-5083 confirms you have a 1956 30' Sovereign of the Road built in Ohio.

Used Airstream doors do show up for sale occasionally, but you need to be diligent about searching various Airstream related websites and Facebook pages, of which there are many. A door from a different year might fit or might not fit. You'd want a door from close to 1955 as the further away in either direction the door dimensions and styles definitely changed.

Airstream doors varied with some opening in either direction (left or right), often in the same year. Looks like your trailer originally had a door that opened "left" (i.e. the hinges were on the left (rear) side of the door when facing it from the outside. This allowed the door to open all the way when the windows ahead of it were open without crashing into them. Doors opening in this direction are often referred to as a "suicide" doors. A door that opened the opposite way might be able to be fitted to your trailer, but would create the potential crash condition with the windows.

Good Luck!