1956 Overlander - needs work - $5500

[faultytower]

Hi all,

Brand new to the forums here but doing my Internet homework before parting ways with a chunk of cash over an Airstream!

I'm currently looking at a 1956 Overlander: 1956 Airstream Overlander 26'

Owner says the door is there as well! If the story is true it sounds like the base is new and everything else may need work, I haven't looked at it yet. He also said he has another offer for $4000 but it's from TN and he doesn't want to store it for the four months the guy who made the offer requested. That still seems pricey for the condition that it's in but wanted to get your thoughts?

My brother and I are fairly certain we can do most of the mod work ourselves, the thought is to turn it into a tailgate rig for Seahawks and Sounders games.

I know we're in Seattle, so prices will be higher, just didn't want to get my pants pulled down over the price.

Any insight will be much appreciated.

Cheers,
Marty

[pbearsailor]

Welcome to the forums!

Looks decent, but a bunch of work left to do.

Not sure what he did with the belly pan--looks like something is still there beneath the C channel, but it doesn't look like the way most of us would do it.

I think I'm in the minority here on money issues. My feeling is that you're going to need to prepare for another $15K or so to do a restoration/renovation, so a few dollars on the purchase one way or another is not a big issue.

Read a bunch of the long threads and get a good idea of what you're in for.

Cheers,
Steve

[faultytower]

Thanks for the reply. Yeah, looking and reading around the forums I think he's trying to recoup his project money. Noble but it doesn't make it worth $4000. On the high end I would offer $1500 and settle between there and $2000. Time to keep looking around.

[pbearsailor]

Depends on what you want. 13 panel 50's trailers are desirable and he has done some work.

One thing I failed to mention in the other reply is that it looks like it has a complete set of the original Hehr standard windows that are extremely hard to source if missing.

Steve

[lonewolf1977]

Make him the offer...but to be honest, I'd at least offer the $2000. It *is* a 13 panel after all. Just tell him you are well aware of the thousands YOU are getting ready to put into it...obviously he no longer plans to dole out the cash for it.

[lonewolf1977]

Oh, and you can tell him that it's not "half way through the renovation." Maybe 1/8.

[65CV]

If the work is done well and he has documentation for it and the axle, I'd be surprised if the seller doesn't get 4K. Especially since the ad was publicized on airforums!

[faultytower]

We chatted and talked about it. He's firm on $4k, which is understandable. There's a lot to read on these forums and good advice, just a lot to take in while dealing with the timeline of a CL sale!

[65CV]

Start here

[calais66]

13 panel + new floor + new axle-- I think 4k is a bargain. Even if you are lucky enough to find another for $1500, it would take you nearly the difference ($2.5k) to get it to where this one is. I say pull the trigger.

[Mark Wiltrakis]

I'm with 65CV on this one. If the owner has put this much into the trailer already, a 13-panel Airstream, I'd think $4000 (or even $5500) is a very fair price. Whatever you pay for a trailer this old, look at your purchase price as only a small down payment. It's amazing how much money can disappear in a restoration project.
Good luck with your project!
Mark

[reinergirl]

Good thing I'm on the opposite end of the country....if that was in my backyard I'd have already paid the $5500 and snatched it home.

[Lance M]

If the floor, frame and axle were done correctly it is well worth $5,500. However, looking at the pictures, I see the belly pan is not installed. On 50s trailers, the belly pan was installed before the shell was attached. This could be a problem, but if all else is correct, particularly the method of fastening the shell to the J channel/sub-floor and frame, I still wouldn't have a problem with $5,500. A lot of work has been done. The nastiest and dirtiest work.
Go buy it. If you want a thirteen panel Airstream, you are going to have to pay. If you want any old Airstream, keep looking.

[57BB]

It's a bargain...if you're serious about wanting that era trailer they are much harder to find than you think.

[Colin H]

Originally Posted by Top

If the floor, frame and axle were done correctly it is well worth $5,500. However, looking at the pictures, I see the belly pan is not installed. On 50s trailers, the belly pan was installed before the shell was attached. This could be a problem, but if all else is correct, particularly the method of fastening the shell to the J channel/sub-floor and frame, I still wouldn't have a problem with $5,500. A lot of work has been done. The nastiest and dirtiest work.
Go buy it. If you want a thirteen panel Airstream, you are going to have to pay. If you want any old Airstream, keep looking.

ditto,
Colin

[65CV]

Marty --

Plenty of good advice here. What have you decided?

[HiHoAgRV]

If the decision is between $1500 or $5500, it's going to be bit of a shock when the final cost is tally'd....the $4k difference will be a small portion of the final cost.

I guess what I'm sayin', if a few thousand now is going to break the piggy bank, there may be a bigger surprise during the rebuild financials...

[Rocinante]

Perhaps it has been sold? "This posting has been deleted by its author."

[faultytower]

Thanks everyone for the great advice. In the ensuing madness that the time frame of a CL sale allows, along with doing my homework of a ton of ideas (trailer, RV, school bus, etc) and coming up with one of the fastest budgets I've ever accomplished over beers at the bar I told the seller that I was letting it pass.

I think for the aim of a tailgating rig the nostalgia of an Airstream was a big pull, but from what I've read around here they can be a touch on the pricey side to fix up to the point of beginning of specific build out.

This doesn't mean that I've passed on the idea altogether but merely that we decided that we needed more time to get our plan under us before we part ways with many thousand dollars to start this project.

Thanks all!