On the fence on this one /help please

[deelind]

I believe this is a 68 safari, mold issues but I haven't seen it. It's 1.5 drive, guy wants $800.

[Kevin245]

Airstream started using frontal wing windows in 69 but they had 3 square corners instead of two. This and the single hinge door should put this unit in the early 70's.

Good Luck,

Kevin

[deelind]

good to know the right year. Is it worth $800?

[azflycaster]

Looking at the windows and door hinge, it is a 70, 71 or 72.

[azflycaster]

How much time and money do you want to put into it?

[deelind]

Meant to write that it's a 1.5 hr drive away.

[deelind]

under $2500 (?)

[deelind]

But I guess as the years go on I'd like to spend what it takes to get it awesome, but wondering if this year and model is worth it. New to airstreams though always admired them.

[Melody Ranch]

Those windows and frames are EXPENSIVE and hard to find. The floor under the missing window will be trashed/rotted too.

[Tom Nugler]

My guess is that’s it’s a 69 or 70.
In addition to the broken out window and inevitable floor rot, what’s up with the ceiling panels in the last pic?? They appear to be missing.
On my TW they are one piece panels front to back. Someone trying to stop up roof leaks? That's a real pain. You may find more damage than you want to deal with.
Then again, for $800 bucks it might be a way to get your feet wet in the ocean of Vintage Airstreams. Do you know some one with some trailer experience to take a look with you? Can you do most of the work yourself? That $2500 can get eaten up pretty fast if you're farming the work out.
Take the drive and take a look. I’ve seen worse.

Good luck,
Tom.

[Dave Park]

$800. If it has a title, buy it.

The missing window is inside in the last photo. You know you'll have to do all the standard repairs/replacements. Then, you'll have a trailer that's truly YOURS.

IMHO.

If you don't want it, there are dozens of people here who would like the number from you. I'm in Texas, but I'd drive that far for it - IF it has a title.

[deelind]

And if it doesn't have a title- does that matter a whole lot? Perhaps I should get it, pull it out of the boonies, clean it up a bit and resell if it seems too much work.

[deelind]

checked out the title situation seller said he never had a title did reg it from 1997 to 99.

[bwoodtx]

I would pay $800 in a heatbeat. Know going in that you are gonna put some money in it. A bonded replacement title is not hard to get. Costs a little time and money. I have done it on three of my six. Good luck!! enjoy the treasure to be.

[deelind]

Can I tow this with a Toyota Highlander? btw, my husband doesn't get the lure of these things and not very supportive of this idea lol. Thanks for helping me out everyone and interested to hear all the opinions and advice.

[Rhonda]

It looks like the same layout of the trailer I just got. If I am not mistaken it has an L-shaped couch with a sink next to it and a small bathroom in the back. It is an awesome layout. The pictures you have posted are very scary looking though and if everyone is not on board about restoring it then it is probably not worth it. It will require alot $ and effort to get her on the road again. Here is a few pics of mine. It needs alot and I am sure when all is said and done there will be more than $2500 invested!

[Frank's Trailer Works]

All right, Negative Nancy here...
The trailer you are looking at was built in early 70's, I believe it is a 1974 due to the upper vista view window. The 1970 were not a great era in Airstream construction and you will not only be dealing with those flaws, but the ones created by the front taking a good smack. Not only is that "D" window out and it taking on weather, but that area back to the door always rots out due to the crappy windows next to the door. Not even going into the way the water is encouraged to go under the plywood in the back.
The street side front corner has a huge dent on the lowest segment ($485+ trucking fees for just that panel, no labor) and the whole "d"window frame looks rolled in on the next two segments above it. The middle window looks to be twisted due to the side window being curled back. All that can be fixed, but it is major surgery. I spent 42 hours replacing the very same segments and fixing the ribs in a 73 as my last job, so I know what that exact repair takes.
If it were me, I would pass even if it had a title. You do not have your husbands support on this and unless you very handy your $2500 budget is going to be gone very fast. You would serve yourself much better by taking the $800+ $2500 and buying something more camp ready right now.
There are much more than $800 in parts there however. If you bought it and cut it up, you would make a good profit.

Most people here are Polly Annas about these trailers. They say you can fix anything. You can, it is true, but budget and ability are not always there. The husband not being on board is a big trike too...

Just my thoughts. Do as you wish.

[Shacksman]

I'm with Frank on this one. I do repairs in Ontario, on Airstream trailers. This one will use up $10,000 with all the hidden problems you'r going to find and take years if you do it yourself. Many people take on jobs like this only to find themselves way over their head and eventully give up. Do yourself a favor, buy it and sell it right away to someone on the list that wants it for $1000 and use the budget to find a better prospect that can be used as you do it over.

[Stefrobrts]

I agree, you might turn it around for a quick buck (or not if the title situation trips you up), but for a first timer, with an unenthusiastic husband, I would keep looking for a great project.

Personally, and maybe this is just because this is the way I did it, I would look for something that you can use right away. If you plan on spending $800 + $2500 just go looking to spend that $3300 on something you can go camping in and work on between trips. That's what I did and after a couple trips my husband was totally on board, and now he says buying the trailer is the best idea I ever had! Then we spent another $6k fixing things up, but we did it over a few years so it wasn't as painful

I've seen a lot of newbies jump feet first into a massive project (Airstream, classic car, even vintage house), get overwhelmed, burnt out, and bail on the whole project and swear to never look at a (Airstream, classic car, vintage house) ever again. So it depends a lot on your skill set, confidence, and the depth of your pockets, but I'd love to see you find the perfect first project and have it be a success

[Rhonda]

The mold looks pretty scary too!