1948 Airstream on American Pickers

[JFScheck]

1948 Trailwind Airstream was part of this evening's American Pickers TV Show on the History HD channel.

The guys found it in Arizona and paid $8,000.00 for it...

American Pickers — Season 3 Episode Guide — History.com

[ddstech]

Saw it. Amazing untouched condition.

I didn't think they were too far off on pricing it.

[batman]

What a great find.

[PINKBIKE]

What killed me is how mike was lusting over one that old for years and years,Saying I gotta own one... I love em so much,and he then flips it immediately....to be expected I guess.

[jbbaldwin]

I watched the episode as well... I believe if I stumbled upon one I would have to keep it!

[Benjo]

The Airstream part of the show starts up around 35:00.

[cojer]

i saw that!!...why can't i stumble into deals like that. when he offered the guy 8 i told my wife if he gets that thing for 8 i'm going to hunt him down and kick his butt.....loading up the caravel as we speak

[DaveFL]

Originally Posted by cojer

i saw that!!...why can't i stumble into deals like that. when he offered the guy 8 i told my wife if he gets that thing for 8 i'm going to hunt him down and kick his butt.....loading up the caravel as we speak

Originally Posted by Rollerboy

What killed me is how mike was lusting over one that old for years and years,Saying I gotta own one... I love em so much,and he then flips it immediately....to be expected I guess.

Length of ownership and possesing something of value has different meaning for most AS owners. Not the first item he has told the seller he was enamored and personally wanted it, but in reality his business is to flip it. He along with others in the business is why you can't find the deal, they go to places most of us would bypass. This item was put in the hands of a reseller and placed out of viewing by the average person.

[bredlo]

Originally Posted by Rollerboy

What killed me is how mike was lusting over one that old for years and years,Saying I gotta own one... I love em so much,and he then flips it immediately....to be expected I guess.

I notice this too all the time on this show... but Mike's "gotta have" emotion is intertwined with his "gotta sell" emotion, I think. It's very different than my visceral reaction to stuff like this, as I could never run a business like his - I'd want to keep everything!

[bredlo]

Oh, and since no one has mentioned it yet, I will: our very own Dale "PeeWee" Schwamborn acted as consultant on this episode (as he did with the show's Bowlus segment last season) by providing the historical photos and information for their little "silent film" clips that describe the object in question.

It's great to see not only Airstreamers celebrating Dale's knowledge and collection of family treasures, but people outside our community as well.

[Rhonda]

The pipe frame should be in good condition considering it's location but I would take that in consideration before I would pay a flipper's price for the trailer.

[airdreamers]

I think as a picker, Mike likes everything. Not easy to keep everything though.

Don't forget it is a TV show and it is theatrix. But it is grest to see an Airstream sighting. We will continue to watch to see the end result of the SALE??

[68 Overlander]

Who is Steve, the expert that came and appraised it? I saw the rerun tonight. Nice find.

[oh2bcarefree]

Saw it last night on the re-run! I was surprised they didn't give more info on the trailer since they research everything prior to going on air. I too wondered who "Steve" was.

Since the episode is now over 6 months old, I wonder if he still has it...

Tina

[Strandsky]

Here's the answer as to who Steve is:

Us on American Pickers

[ZoominC6]

We watched that episode with great interest when we saw the Airstream. I couldn't help being envious and wondering if I could have undertaken a remod had I found it first. Dreams are fun.

[newroswell]

We just watched that episode last night, and I can't believe they towed it all the way out to CA on those old tires and I think they were surprised they made it also. What a nice Airstream.

[overlander64]

One of the comments that they made about the performance of the Sprinter towing the Vintage Airstream took me by surprise. They mentioned averaging 9 MPG on the trip from Iowa to California with the Sprinter/Airstream combination. As light as the 1948 Airstream was, I would have expected the towing economy in the low teens rather than single digits. My Suburban with the 7400 VORTEC would have averaged around 12 MPG with an Airstream of that size on a similar route and my '75 Cadillac Eldorado would have averaged around 9 MPG with an my Minuet which would be heavier than the 1948 Airstream by a few hundred pounds.

Kevin

[DKB_SATX]

Kevin: Did they mention how fast they were driving? If I recall correctly from previous posts you keep your towing speeds in the low 60s, they may have been towing 70+.

[newroswell]

Frank made the comment that the trailer was 9200 lbs also... NO way is it half that.