My 1965 17' Caravel ----> Time Capsule---> Just Purchased

[groovzilla]

All,

After negotiating with seller for 3 months I just towed my new to me '65 17' Caravel home.
It is truly a time capsule. Excellent original condition and clean like new.
Seller took great care of it and it was kept in heated shop and hardly used.
Exterior aluminum skin and interior really nice.

Hardwood cherry floors(not cheap laminate)where installed over the original 12x12" tiles - Floor is floating on foam so flooring can be removed if wanted.

In 2015 seller took it to Airstream Adventures NW dealership and had $5K worth of servicing; no leaks but roof and windows re-sealed, wheel bearings and brakes rebuilt, propane system tested and new regulator/pigtails and some leaky lines and connections replaced, some electrical sorted, new power cord, new battery and tires.

My 1963 19' Globe Trotter has a pal now

Regards from Seattle

[funhouse]

Beautiful! Isn’t it wonderful that it’s in such good condition after all these years? Have fun with it!

[Minno]

Beautiful!

Kay

[bobhaven]

Absolutely beautiful!
We've had our '65 Caravel for about a year now, and love it!
Enjoy!

[groovzilla]

Thanks everyone!
After some camping trips in the Caravel we decided to keep my 1963 19' Globe Trotter and sell the Caravel. The Caravel just a little too small to be really comfortable for 2.
My Globe Trotter is a much better size for the 2 of us and has a front dinette which we enjoy for eating/word games and occasional drinking - Only a 2' larger model but you can really feel the difference inside

Sold the Caravel to a nice couple who drove up to Seattle from San Diego and towed it home.

Here's a photo of our 19' Globe Trotter pulling out of the driveway last week,

All the best!

[dbj216]

I was just going to say the Caravel is cute, but man is it small. Kinda like a beagle puppy; cute and small. A Caravel is like an aluminum tent as they say.

I think you did the right thing. Actually the 25' length seems rather ideal for an Airstream. My old 66 Trade Wind was a nice size in my view.

David

[groovzilla]

Agree the 25 & 26' length's are nice but they get a little to big to maneuver which is why the 19' seems to be perfect for us.

Like music, to each his own!

here's the interior remodel I did on my 1963 19' Globe Trotter - I had to have a dinette and the layout works well. Cushions in photos are temporary and fabric hot glued - nice zippered same color will be finished soon.

I enlarged the toilet area by cutting back and angling the closet door - Original layout was way too tight - I'm just finishing up bathroom floor covering.

Also added propane on-demand hot water tank.

All the best!

[dbj216]

You are exactly right, to each his own preferences.

Thanks for the photos of your 63 Globetrotter. My son has a 69 Globetrotter 21' that we have done some work to. We made a U shaped dinette up front and rebuilt the fridge cabinet. We also replaced the above floor black tank and toilet. His is a wet bath that saves space, but isn't my preference. Here are a couple photos of his trailer. It is the first year of the new body style.

David

[SilverWind]

The cabinets in our 68 Caravel were reproduced from the originals. We upholstered the cushions with tough faux leather.

[groovzilla]

Originally Posted by dbj216

You are exactly right, to each his own preferences.
Thanks for the photos of your 63 Globetrotter. My son has a 69 Globetrotter 21' that we have done some work to. We made a U shaped dinette up front and rebuilt the fridge cabinet. We also replaced the above floor black tank and toilet. His is a wet bath that saves space, but isn't my preference. Here are a couple photos of his trailer. It is the first year of the new body style.
David

**that's a nice big dinette sleeper - i made our pull out side seating a large double sized bed when both cushions are in place. as we get older sleeping comfort is important. when i was younger i could sleep in a tree upside down but now have to have several pillows and lots of space.
nice work on the fridge cabinet looks great!
*when i get the bath floor finished i'll upload the before and after photos of the bath layout. not sure if you are familiar with the 63 GT layout but toilet area very tight and uncomfortable. the angled closet wall makes a huge difference and doesn't really eliminate much storage room.

[skyguyscott]

Originally Posted by dbj216

My son has a 69 Globetrotter 21' that we have done some work to. We made a U shaped dinette up front and rebuilt the fridge cabinet.
David

While I do enjoy my 69 Caravel, I sometimes wish for the 69 Globetrotter for the wee bit more extra space and dinette; that would be just about perfect for me. Yeah the wet bath isn't ideal, but you get used to it.

[groovzilla]

Originally Posted by SilverWind

The cabinets in our 68 Caravel were reproduced from the originals. We upholstered the cushions with tough faux leather.

great that you replaced cabinets with original style. if there one thing i can;t stand are home depot cabinets in a vintage airstream.
very nice work!!
there's a guy on this forum who removed all the original GT windows and installed white home depot vinyl windows. along with a lot of other remodel upgrades that just destroyed the trailer.
nice to see people remodeling staying very close to original style.

*---->i would have preserved the natural wood cabinets in my 63 GT but previous owner painted them blue and white - horrible to even think about.
here are before /after photos of some of the cabinets during the resto - i made the fridge cabinet.

[ghageysh]

That is beautiful We just got ahold of one that is missing its entire kitchen. I have a really dumb question - do you know the rough dimensions of what is there? My husband wants to go as close to original as possible and I was leaning toward building around modern replacements -

[Lcrupper]

I have an original 65 Caravel and would be tickled to send measures and photos if you still want them. It at a dealers now but should have it back sometime this month

[Peter417]

Originally Posted by Lcrupper

I have an original 65 Caravel and would be tickled to send measures and photos if you still want them. It at a dealers now but should have it back sometime this month

Another person from KS, Excellent. Will you be at the vintage rally in IA May 7th?

[docflyboy]

If your Caravel doesn't make it to Iowa later this week, meet us at Weston State Park next month. PM me. Would like to see your Caravel. Jerry

[jwschnettl]

I am in the final stages of finishing the restoration (and mild modification) of my '65 Caravel. I have many or the original parts available. You must pick them up if you want them. I don't know how to ship a front gaucho
I am located in Canton OH.
Available are:
- Front gaucho with original mattress and upholstery in avg. condition
- Side gaucho with original mattress and upholstery in avg. condition
- 3 burner range, oven looks new inside, gas tube on one burner has leak *
- white porcelain enamel sink with faucet both good condition *
- one of the front folding table sections with leg and wall support hardware *
- lots of original cabinetry hardware (hinges, latches)
- low mile (purchased from Inland RV 2019) Dexter 3000# axle with never adjust electric brakes - has no shock mounts *
For asterisk marked items make me some kind of reasonable offer.
Photos of the items available on request. I will be at the Lebanon International Rally. I could deliver smaller items at the rally.
Sorry for the upside down images. I'm not sure why they got twisted up.
John S. WBBCI #14118

[groovzilla]

Nice woodworking!
I stood on my head to look at the upside down photos u posted

You can find a photo app on internet and rotate your photos or rotate them in windows program in the future.

[jwschnettl]

Thanks. Learning how to deal with all the curves is the hard part!
The funny thing about the photos is that they looked normal in Windows 10 file explorer. I originally shoot them with my iPhone which produces a .heic photo file. That is an Apple format. To do anything with them I use an app to convert them to .jpg format. My guess is there is something from that process causing them to act "funny" at times.
This is the outside this March in New Orleans.
John S. WBCCI: 14118
1965 17' Caravel pulled by 2020 Ford Ranger (with factory tow pkg)

[docflyboy]

Nice woodworking on your '65. Where did you purchase the yacht style catches for your cabinet doors? Sent you a pm, and I will also be at Lebanon with my Caravel. Jerry