Any other 1961 Ambassador owners?

[yukionna]

Thanks to jcanavera, we now have an official folder in the Ambassador sub-forum for 1961 Ambassador trailers. Are there any other '61 Ambassador owners out there? Feel free to share information about your restoration work and photos of your trailer in this sub-forum.

We heard about our '61 trailer from a "little birdie" on the forum. We went and checked the trailer out in person and it was love at first sight! The trailer was used as a storage shed for the past 25+ years. It contained about 2,000 pounds of trash and debris so the trailer had sunk into the ground over the years. It took us two days to prep and remove the trailer. The trailer needs a lot of work but we are looking forward to it!

[flyfshr]

Congrats! Looks like you have a good candidate that you added to your fleet. How's the inside look? Judging from the photos, everything looks to be in place. How about some more pictures?

Brad
FF

[Ken J]

Cool - keep us posted on the progress with pictures.

[Safari Tim]

Looks like you have your worked cut out for you!

I have a 1960 Ambassador, not a '61 but close!

[LHall]

Originally Posted by yukionna

Thanks to jcanavera, we now have an official folder in the Ambassador sub-forum for 1961 Ambassador trailers. Are there any other '61 Ambassador owners out there? Feel free to share information about your restoration work and photos of your trailer in this sub-forum.

We heard about our '61 trailer from a "little birdie" on the forum. We went and checked the trailer out in person and it was love at first sight! The trailer was used as a storage shed for the past 25+ years. It contained about 2,000 pounds of trash and debris so the trailer had sunk into the ground over the years. It took us two days to prep and remove the trailer. The trailer needs a lot of work but we are looking forward to it!

Hello we just recently purchased a 1962 Ambassador, close to yours in age. Yours is the same configuration on the outside as ours. I have some pictures posted as well. I am curious about the spare tire bracked on the back bumper. Is that original or home made?

[Overlander & Sea]

What a great find! We have a '61 Overlander that was Ohio built. I'm there are many similarties between the two. We just replace the AC, which looks just like the one in your picture, and the orginal hot water heater, both were in working order. Can't wait to see the pictures of the interior.

[yukionna]

Originally Posted by lhall

Hello we just recently purchased a 1962 Ambassador, close to yours in age. Yours is the same configuration on the outside as ours. I have some pictures posted as well. I am curious about the spare tire bracked on the back bumper. Is that original or home made?

The spare tire on the back bumper looks to be home made as the rear license plate bracket was moved from the center to the left side to accommodate the spare tire. It is not a good practice to store the spare tire on the back bumper so we plan on removing it and locating it elsewhere up front. I also noticed that there isn't a rear storage compartment on this trailer.

[yukionna]

Originally Posted by Overlander & Sea

What a great find! We have a '61 Overlander that was Ohio built. I'm there are many similarties between the two. We just replace the AC, which looks just like the one in your picture, and the orginal hot water heater, both were in working order. Can't wait to see the pictures of the interior.

I will post interior pictures shortly now that the trailer is cleaned out. There was 2,000 pounds of debris stored in the trailer that took us a few weeks to clear out.

Do you have any photos of your trailer you could post?

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by yukionna

The spare tire on the back bumper looks to be home made as the rear license plate bracket was moved from the center to the left side to accommodate the spare tire. It is not a good practice to store the spare tire on the back bumper so we plan on removing it and locating it elsewhere up front. I also noticed that there isn't a rear storage compartment on this trailer.

The 61 on the vintage photo site looks the same as you discribed.

[yukionna]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

The 61 on the vintage photo site looks the same as you discribed.

On further investigation, I believe the vintage photo site has made a mistake -- that is a photo of a 1960 Ambassador. The serial number of that Ambassador posted to the 1961 Ambassador section of the website is: I 28 0 136 T, which identifies it as a 1960 Ambassador, not a 1961.

This is further verified when you look at the serial number format and ranges for the Ohio built 1960 and 1961 Ambassadors.

1960 serial range/format: 28 0 082 T to 28 0 195 T

1961 serial format: 28 1 NNN T

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by yukionna

On further investigation, I believe the vintage photo site has made a mistake -- that is a photo of a 1960 Ambassador. The serial number of that Ambassador posted to the 1961 Ambassador section of the website is: I 28 0 136 T, which identifies it as a 1960 Ambassador, not a 1961.

This is further verified when you look at the serial number format and ranges for the Ohio built 1960 and 1961 Ambassadors.

1960 serial range/format: 28 0 082 T to 28 0 195 T

1961 serial format: 28 1 NNN T

I think you are correct. I did not look at the VIN on that unit, but it does seem to be in the wrong section.

The setup in the rear does seem to match yours. I wonder if that was a popular modification done by the owners or was it an option from Airstream?

[61Ambassador]

Hi!

We just got a 1961 Ambassador Twin. It is in very good condition, but is missing the water pump, water heater, AC, stove, heater, and the tub was removed.

Work I want to do: get water pump installed, fix trailer brakes, build upper bunks above twin beds, get vintage awning, new tires, put electric mini-fridge where stove was (we cook outside over fire or electric griddle), AND I want to get that mirror shine!

I love this site! Great ideas and helpful hints!

[LHall]

That is a great looking Ambassador, glad to see another one on here. We have a 62 and absolutely love it. We have already put over 3000 miles on it this year. FYI unless it has been converted, your water pump is a Grover air compressor. Your trailer originally had a pressurized tank and water system. We are still using the original compressor and it works well. Feel free to let us know if you have any questions that we may be able to answer about your trailer.

Congrats on your find.

[JW60]

I have just bought my first "AS" a 1961 Ambassador at the ripe old age of 63. I would be proud to be a member of the Ambassador club, usally I am at the ambassador club at the airport when I am flying. I will post pic's when I get home with it this weekend. Congrats on yours.

[61Ambassador]

Long time - no log in. Glad to see you all on here. I got the water pump in, but have a leak so am working on fixing that... trying to locate some old AS parts for bunk beds... if not, a good friend of mine is ex-Amish and can help me with it. I believe John can do just about anything... the man is amazing with tools!

Then, we will be ready to camp. I have a portable AC. We got the mini-fridge in it. The awning and other parts can come one at a time as we can afford them. Having a family of 4 kids + the wife and I makes the restoring part hard. We're more concerned with just having the trailer waterproof and semi-cool so we can sleep in it. When we camp, we cook outside over a fire and spend most of the time outdoors on trails or bikes.

Talk to you all later and Happy New Year!

Keith

[61Ambassador]

Congrats on the new ambassador!

and...

Welcome to the Club!


I hope to start doing restoration work on mine very shortly. Waiting on my tax return as money is TIGHT right now. With my 4 kids and my wife and myself - that $31K doesn't stretch real far. ) So, the tax return is a god-send... pay off credit cards and have some left over for fixing the camper up and taking some time off to go camping this summer with the family.

We used to tent-camp, but a good friend had this old AS sitting up in his woods and said we could have it IF we wanted it. IF???? I have always wanted one since I was a little boy and here I got one free!!!

It has some dings and dents and scratches... but it doesn't leak and the electricity and original Fridge works. I am considering taking the original fridge out though and selling it...

Any ideas on how to get the lock in working order? There's a broke-off key in the lock and the original keys are long gone. Could a locksmith drill out the lock and put in a new tumbler?

Thanks!

[Amadon]

Just purchased my 61 Ambassador. Hope to bring it home next week. 120 miles away.

[mrdes8]

Hey gang, so a '61 Ambassador club huh? Cool! So, Sometime in Dec of '14, Sat morning drinking coffee and browsing Craigslist and hey, here's a new Airstream and it's only a few miles away, let's call and go see it just for fun.
(Already had a SOB 33' and a 76 Argosy 24 1/2 way back together but what could it hurt?) Lady had just had it left to her by her brother and had no idea what it was or anything. We talked a while and I told her all kinds of people would be around with offers and promises and so on. I wrote a check and said here is what I'll pay, when the dust settles and you want to be done just call and we'll do the deal. We're talking out of state title, death certificate, all kinds of stuff. Half time of the super bowl 2015 she calls and says the trailer is mine.
Drug it home March of 2015. Sept 2019 it came down off the jack stands after frame repair, floor replacement, axles and soooo much more.
More to come and hopefully some pics. Stay strong...

Mark D