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05-04-2003, 08:17 PM
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#1
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Did I just buy a '57 Cruiser??
Well, I did it again. While looking for a small vintage AS today,
I spotted this '57 26 footer within 20 miles of my home sitting
in a yard and obviously unused for a long time. Out of curiosity
I stopped and asked the owner if he would consider selling it.
Long story short, I bought it for next to nothing and he even towed it to my storage spot.
My question is this: The nametag says Airstream Custom and the title doesn't show a model. The Ohio plant was still using the Cruiser name in '57 while the California plant had switched the name to Overlander.
So can I safely assume this is a Cruiser?
I'll snap some better pics of the trailer and the nametag and post them tomorrow but I'm chomping at the bit to know just what I have and how scarce it may be.
BTW, the shell and running gear are in pretty good shape but it's missing a few "minor" amenities such as the fresh and black water tanks, toilet, bathroom sink, fridge and furnace but at least the original drop-leaf table is intact. The PO did install an all new wolmanized 1/2" plywood floor and 1/4" underlayment 10 years ago but the plywood should have been 5/8", yes?
Rog
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05-04-2003, 08:43 PM
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#2
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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This just in.......
My daughter snapped a couple pics after it was delivered to her yard (my right-priced storage lot). She just now e-mailed them to me. Here's the trailer:
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05-04-2003, 08:46 PM
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#3
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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And.....
The nametag:
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05-04-2003, 09:14 PM
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#4
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4 Rivet Member
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 414
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IT LOOKS LIKE A ....
1958 Custom ...
Click Here
DMC
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05-04-2003, 09:43 PM
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#5
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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RE: '58 Custom
Yep, very similar except that my '57 is clearly longer (haven't tape measured it) and titled as a 1957. Was "Custom" a model name
or an indicator that it was not a production model?
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05-04-2003, 10:43 PM
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#6
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Side note
While I was dickering price with the guy on his Airstream lawn ornament, he said "There are a lot of people who belong to exclusive Airstream clubs. They even have their own campgrounds that only allow Airstream trailers and they go around looking for old Airstream trailers to restore."
I slowly shook my head in disbelief that such a thing could be true, glanced at the mounted deer heads nailed to his garage wall and said "Well, this trailer might make a good deer hunting cabin but it needs a lot of work, how flexible are you on the price?"
Nuff said.
Rog
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05-04-2003, 10:48 PM
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#7
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Rivet Master
1959 22' Caravanner
Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,197
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From what I have read, in those years, a "Custom" tag with no model tag means just that. It's not a normal airstream. It was special ordered and built to customer defined specs. It may be the only one like it.
__________________
1959 22' Caravanner
1988 R20 454 Suburban.
Atlanta, GA
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05-04-2003, 11:09 PM
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#8
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Custom built?
I don't see anything unusual about it. Rear twins, side bath etc.
It seems odd that anyone would have paid a premium when very similar production models were available. It might be interesting to trace the history. The WBCCI decals have been removed but the leftover imprint clearly reads "6337".
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05-05-2003, 09:41 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1959 22' Caravanner
Atlanta
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,197
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Re: Custom built?
Quote:
Originally posted by Rog0525
I don't see anything unusual about it. Rear twins, side bath etc.
It seems odd that anyone would have paid a premium when very similar production models were available. It might be interesting to trace the history. The WBCCI decals have been removed but the leftover imprint clearly reads "6337".
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It doesn't mean it cost more. It may have cost less. It may have been built as a "Park" Model with no blackwater.
__________________
1959 22' Caravanner
1988 R20 454 Suburban.
Atlanta, GA
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05-05-2003, 09:52 AM
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#10
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4 Rivet Member
1953 25' Cruiser
Canton
, Mississippi
Join Date: Oct 2002
Location: 1953 25' Cruiser
Posts: 324
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Re: Re: Custom built?
Quote:
Originally posted by 59toaster
It doesn't mean it cost more. It may have cost less. It may have been built as a "Park" Model with no blackwater.
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I have a 1953 Cruiser and it never had any holding tanks. I don't think this was a standard option back then. You were supposed to dig a "gopher hole" under the drain, then fill it back in when you left the camp site if there wasn't a sewer hook-up..
I don't know what year they started installing black water tanks. My 1963 Overlander (now sold) only had a black water tank.
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05-05-2003, 10:26 AM
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#11
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4 Rivet Member
1955 30' Liner Commodore Vanderbilt
Wayne County
, Michigan
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 421
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Congrats!
Great find! Ought to be interesting to figure out what a "custom" is.
Question, are you sure it's a '57? Seeing the picture you posted of the serial number tag, I didn't see a 7 in it. Correct me if I am wrong, but I thought part of the 50's era serial sequencing included a digit for the year? Our '55 has a 5 after the O.
__________________
Jason & Veronica J.
S.E. Michigan
1955 Commodore Vanderbilt 30'
"Hawley"
TAC Member MI-6
2008 Chevy Silverado Ext. Z71 w3.73
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05-05-2003, 01:03 PM
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#12
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Re: year of make, tanks, etc.
I'm going to strip enough paint from the tongue to read the serial number there, then call Airstream to verify the year and model.
The PO, who was not the original owner, said he removed and discarded both the fresh and black water tanks along with the toilet, bathroom sink, fridge and furnace.
When asked why, he replied "They were shot".
Apparently his intention was to totally repair or restore the trailer but he lost interest after installing the new floor.
I spent most of my spare time last year in repairing and refurbishing the '60 Overlander which I just sold. I have no desire to invest this summer in a trailer that I don't plan to keep. I bought it because I'm an avid fan of vintage Airstreams and the price on this one was too good to walk away from.
It would be a nice project for anyone who has the ambition and
wherewithal to restore it.
I'm still determined to find a small vintage AS to suit my needs. I'll
probably clean this '57 26 footer as best I can and offer it for sale as is.
Rog
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05-05-2003, 01:21 PM
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#13
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Rivet Master
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 949
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Re: Side note
Quote:
Originally posted by Rog0525
"Well, this trailer might make a good deer hunting cabin but it needs a lot of work, how flexible are you on the price?"
Nuff said.
Rog
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Good work!! So how much did you get it for since you were only gonna use it as a huntin' cabin?
Chas
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05-05-2003, 02:19 PM
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#14
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Well, Chas....
Since he didn't seem keen on "Airstream club people" I shifted
the subject a bit. At least maybe now this old gal can rejoin the
proud ranks of "60% ever built are still in service today".
As for the price, I'll just say that it was just slightly more than
was paid for that first "original Airstream jack stand' on Ebay.
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05-06-2003, 06:41 PM
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#15
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5 rivets, 1 loose screw
1966 20' Globetrotter
Saginaw County
, Michigan
Join Date: May 2002
Posts: 1,555
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Airstream replied but still a mystery
Airstream's email reply:
Quote:
Dear sir, In the 1950’s we built a 26’ trailer called a overlander. I have never seen a trailer with a custom Airstream tag before. I really do not have any info to pass on sorry. Rod
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I guess Rod hasn't seen the '58 Custom that airstreamcaravel referred to either.
I don't mean to beat this horse to death but I'd really like to know
exactly what I now own.
The numbers on the tag are 042250 and on the title they are 04225. The tongue has plates welded over both sides of the tongue where I think the serial # was stamped, apparently left over from a previous hitch installation. The former WBCCI # is 6337.
Any suggestions on how I might properly ID this trailer?
Thanks.
Rog
P.S. I added 3 photos. Click the photos button if you want to see.
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05-06-2003, 08:42 PM
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#16
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Vintage Alum. Enthusiast
1959 24' Tradewind
Phoenix
, Arizona
Join Date: Feb 2002
Location: I currently do not own a 2nd Airstream
Posts: 4,360
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Nice and at a great price too. Kewl ! I'd like to learn more of its history as well including was makes it a Custom.
Brad
__________________
4CU 2699 / AIR 10 / TAC AZ-1
I'm haunted by aluminum.
Charter Member of the 4 Corners Unit.
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05-06-2003, 09:05 PM
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#17
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Rivet Master
Austin
, Texas
Join Date: Oct 2002
Posts: 949
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Anyone,
I'm not up on the real old vintage units but I bet those relatively long single axle babies can really wag you around, am I correct? How well do they pull?
Chas
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