Is it 1955 or '54?

[hiyosilver]

Hello, I am new here & found a wealth of friendly information I really appreciate. We are looking at, actually in a few hours purchasing, what I'm pretty sure is a Flying Cloud but I'm not sure of the year & any input would be appreciated. It has the "whale tail" or "dutchmans cap" back & recessed but not wedding cake style tail lights. Also the lighted licence plate frame, if we are recalling correctly. It measures at 19 feet along the side not including the hitch so I'm thinking it would be a 22'. It also has the original Dixi stove, pristine inside the stove, not the trailer, fridge, a little tiny bathroom of a toilet in a closet, no bathroom sink & square tile flooring that looks to be original as well. The beds are there but very scary looking! Only thing missing seems to be a couch of some sort but the sides are still there.I could be off on the year, tell me if I'm wrong please, don't hold back but be nice.
The question for our more knowledgeable friends out here is what would be a fair price in its rough, unpolished, unrestored, all original & unloved for many years but otherwise fine (in the eyes of the beholder) condition?? are these fairly rare trailers? we've never seen or heard of the whale tail before. Thanks!

[flyfshr]

There should be a metal ID tag near the door riveted to the outside skin. This will have the serial number on it and I believe the year of manufacture. If there isn't a year then post the serial number, that would certainly help identify your trailer. We look forward to seeing pictures.

FF

[RichardT]

Sounds like a 55 California built Flying cloud. I have a lot of pictures of mine at http://photos.yahoo.com/richtrich along with some other trailers check it out and compare, sounds like mine.
Worth? In the millions!

[InsideOut]

You will find lots of helpful info on this website: Price vs Condition

Also, pictures in the Photo Archives

Without pictures or serial number, my guess would be that it's a '54 CA made. The rectangular lights are older & the round recessed lights would be newer. I don't think 'wedding cake' style lights were introduced until later.

Good luck & congratulations!

Shari

[hiyosilver]

OK, we bought it for $2000, no pictures yet, but it does look to be all original, including the spiderwebs, new tires & wheels but we grabbed the orig. split rims too...I finally have a serial number!! It's 7741 ... any help?
Oh & we can't get into the trunk, dang it, ideas?? Of course theres no key, heck there isn't even a front door handle - minor details

[summerkid]

What's the exterior like?

[hiyosilver]

The exterior is pretty clean - only one very minor dent in the right front lower corner, about 6"x6" & could be pulled out by a suction cup. A few scrapes here & there that are only surface deep - probably would polish out like nearly new.
In bit of extra research on my part, it looks to be a 1954, the first year of the whale tail, recessed lights & lighted license plate. It has the double LPG tank holder as an option too. This page has the identical interior layout of what is sitting in our yard right now and I'd say close to the same exterior condition as well...the unpolished one down the page, not the beautiful on at the top
http://www.vintageairstream.com/arch...54FC/54FC.html

[summerkid]

Oh, that's wonderful. Those whaletails are among my absolute favorite models. I've been looking for a '57 especially, with no luck. And any year is tough these days because they all got beat to hell over the years.

You got a great, great deal, probably, and definitely a great, great trailer with the potential to be truly spectacular.

[hiyosilver]

Yea, I'm looking forward to seeing the diamond under the rough. The guy we bought it from, as far as you can believe what one is told nowdays, told us that he was only the second owner & that the original owner only towed it 1000 miles in its lifetime. It was supposedly barn stored, but then used for a migrant worker family housing. It was under a carport cover but has some fading of a few of the lenses & reular age cracking. We are in the Central Valley of CA & the heat is not nice to plastic products. I'll post some "before" clean up pic's when it's not so hot outside to go take them!

[47WeeWind]

Serial number 7741 appears to be a 1955 22' Flying Cloud as best I can tell. Congratulations on your purchase! .

[flyfshr]

What a beautiful trailer. Where do you guys find these things?

FF

[hiyosilver]

OK, now I'm confused...Fred how does one find information on the serial number? And is it the body length or total length including the tongue?

Thanks for the encouragement on our "find" it was, literally. We heard there was one sitting & trying to find it also found 2 others in the same neighborhood!! A very large one & another painted white. Never know what you'll find - "trolling" neighborhoods is what we call it. True stuff Richardt
Another hint Flyfishr ... be willing to annoy people by knocking on their door to ask if stuff is for sale, this one was not until we asked. Same with our 65 Silver Streak, our 74 Cardinal, 76 Six Pac camper & a funny little 60's homemade kind of very large teardrop that someone traded us a bag of grain for their cow for!!!
Yea, were vehicle poor at out place!

[Ken J]

Thats how I found my 59 Traveler - in someones back yard - bugged them for three years.

As far as the back access panel and no key - thats pretty easy, access the door from the inside of the trailer, the lach is held on by a screw, just remove the screw and the door is open, take lock off - get new key or new lock.

Ken

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by hiyosilver

OK, now I'm confused...Fred how does one find information on the serial number? And is it the body length or total length including the tongue?

Hiyo:

You found the best current information on serial numbers on RJ's Web site:

http://www.vintageairstream.com/arch...54FC/54FC.html

I was looking at an older 2001 serial number list that was more vague but showed s/n 7717 as a 1955 trailer, hence my best guess above that your s/n 7741 is also a 1955 model. The VAC doesn't have firm beginning and ending serial numbers for 1950s model year trailers, so everything presenty is an educated guess. As we gather more numbers we can refine our estimated beginning and ending serrial numbers. Airstream serial numbers presently are more "art" than "science".

Model length is rounded total length from ball hitch to bumper, which gives a salesmen "more" trailer to sell.

[ChromeHome]

"Oh & we can't get into the trunk, dang it, ideas??Of course theres no key."


Another option is to take the trailer to a locksmith. They can probably pick the lock. The locksmith should also be able to file a new key to fit (if they are experienced in that area). I just recently did this on 4 compartment door locks on a 58 wanderer.

[LeeMo]

I found the Airstream Inc. Technical Assistance Office to be very helpful in finding historical information about my rig. Here's their e-mail address: tech@airstream.com They usually respond in a few days. Give it a try.

[hiyosilver]

I will continue to take all advice & follow up on it soon. I spent the day getting pictures taken & this baby published on the web for all to see in her (his?, no her) present glory, right now I'm going to go take aspirin for my computer monitor headache... I hate when that happens! If you'd like to take a peek this is where you'll find the page:
http://home.earthlink.net/~nanstuff/
I'll be waiting anxiously for impressions, advice, screams of horror .....

[flyfshr]

What a great trailer and such good shape. As you say "just a little cleaning." What do the wall sconces look like? I couldn't see any in the pics. You also have the original moon hub caps, Those are keepers.

FF

[InsideOut]

Great 'before' pictures...can't wait to see her all cleaned up!

Thanks ~

Shari

[Ken J]

Looks to me that under the dust and cobwebs, you have a very nice trailer - should be a very easy restoration.

Ken