'61 Bambi full resto.

[Tinfoil Hat]

Good Morning,
This is my first post in this forum(or any forum for that matter).I'm restoring a 1961 Bambi for friend.I have never worked on an airstream before but have always wanted to.I would like to have input and advice from more experienced individuals on this massive undertaking.

[Tinfoil Hat]

The teardown has begun this week.This thing was the "project" of several people who did not realize the scale of the work needed to get this beauty back into road worthy condition.The interior will be salvaged(as much as possible)and re installed after the floor replacement and some ext. skin work.

[surfpod]

Hi Tinfoil Hat,
This is definitely a restoration. She'll be beautiful! Mine is a 70's rework. But, for what it's worth, you go to www.surfershack.com and see pictures of my Safari "full monte". I've had a lot of fun working on my AS. If owned this Bambi, I would replace it completely. And seal the wood. I think that is the weakest link in an Airstream. Good Luck!

[marzboy]

Originally Posted by Tinfoil Hat

Good Morning,
This is my first post in this forum(or any forum for that matter).I'm restoring a 1961 Bambi for friend.I have never worked on an airstream before but have always wanted to.I would like to have input and advice from more experienced individuals on this massive undertaking.

Awsome project! Hello and welcome! You have come to the right place as many of us have been in your position. I have just completed a massive shell off resto. Looking at your pics kinda brings back the excitement and pain. A friend I met on the forums said to me once.."you are eating an elephant sandwich, take small bites. Good luck we will be watching and cheering you on!

[Tinfoil Hat]

I've got all the interior lower skin off.Removed a giant sheet of plate aluminum from the rear to discover a hack repair.The bolts running through the C-channel and floor were missing in action from the wheel wells back.Now I'm trying to figure out the best method for rivet removal.

[purman]

Time to take the shell off!! easy on this small gal. my 28' was a little more interesting. I'm having flash backs to two months ago seeing your gal gutted..

Keep up the good work and keep us posted..

[Tinfoil Hat]

Thanks for the encouragement.Even though this one is tiny,it's a very daunting task to rebuild this beauty.I have checked out your projects and can't tell you how helpful your advice and pictures are.
Being a cabinet maker,all this metal work is a little out of the norm for me(can't wait to get to the interior).
I'm am lucky enough to have shop space w/air conditioning or this project would be waiting till fall.102 for a high today........yuk.
Today, I will be drilling rivets and prepping for lift off.Pics of the lift coming soon.

[AWCHIEF]

I love seeing these projects as they move along. I would bet there are hundreds of vintage Airstreams sitting around in back yards and shops that once the owners started the project gave up because it just proved to be too much for them. Please keep us updated on your progress.

[CaddyGrn]

Looks like a great project! We have a 63 Bambi and my husband restored it a few years ago... he has a long thread with lots of photos and how-to's you might find a few answers to things that come up in the thread: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...mbi-17925.html Other than that, my suggestion is to take a zillion photos of before, during and after. Especially as you disassemble things. Each was made a little differently so to reconstruct you will want to see what you have done! Looks fun! It is hard, but very rewarding if you keep up with it!