Looking to purchase a 1969 ambassador

[ZonedOut]

I am looking to purchase a 1969 ambassador. Please let me know if it's a good deal. The shell is in good shape, Windows need to be replaced some are plexiglass and they leak. She is gutted, and has some water damage to rear and under Windows. Belly skin is intact. There is rust damage to frame that is visible under door and at the rear. They are asking 1500$. I have time to work on her and am handy enough to tackle the Reno.

[Hittenstiehl]

$1500. Sounds fine to me body looks pretty straight.

[Greg1410]

That seems like a great price even if it was in bad shape.
Greg

[ZonedOut]

I think I am going to go with it. 1500 sounds like a good price to me. Another plus is its local, 30min from home, and the seller said he would tow it to me. Going to pick her up in the morning, wish me luck..

[dbj216]

The 1969 was the first year of the new body style. My son has a 69 Globetrotter 21 foot that I have done quite a bit of work on.

Unique to the 1969 are the square corner front wing windows. Those babies are really not available anymore. You can get plexiglass, and you can get 1970 "double corner" wing windows where you have to scab in a piece to form the bottom corner. Also all the opening windows have unique to 69 window levers. I find them a bit awkward to use.

It looks like this old trailer is an "international" trim level where it might have had more amenities before it was gutted.

I refurbished my 66 Trade Wind 24 foot and like you, enjoy working with my hands. I figure I have 1000 hours in it and about $18,000 total. The Ambassador is bigger, more work, and more cost. Keep in mind the longer trailers like mine, and like this Ambassador, are not worth as much renovated as the shorter, cute ones like the bambi, globetrotter and safari. But the longer trailers are much more comfortable for long distance traveling.

$1500 is a good buy for someone who wants a project trailer. I like to say a good shell is worth $5000. The fact this one has window issues would subtract from that. The subfloor, frame, axles can all be renewed.

Start thinking about how to tow this project trailer home.

David

[HiJoeSilver]

$1500 sounds like a great price for a starter. Looks like it's in pretty good shape and a good mostly blank slate to start.
I like that door hinge.

[Kevin245]

The frame needs to be investigated. Elephant ear patches above the bumper indicate frame repairs were made or at least attempted.

[HiJoeSilver]

Probably some rear end droop. Since its gutted, you should probably plan a shell removal before you get into really renovating the interior, to be sure you've got a good foundation. Just something to plan on. That will let you fix the rear end, check the rest of the frame, and get a nice new floor in there. Just something to take into account/plan for.

[ZonedOut]

She's mine! Picked her up this morning. Paid 1500, and towed her 30miles home, no issues, towed just fine. I plan on lifting the shell and pulling the subfloor and belly pan to sure up the frame and axles. Going to start a new thread and document the renovation, y'all get ready for some pics... On a side note, down the road from the one I picked up is a 1976 Excella 500 for FREE. Haven't looked at it yet, the frame is messed up and not towable per the previous owner, also no title. Wonder if it's word getting that one on a flat bed to use for parts. Are the 1976 and 1969 interchangeable?

[Melody Ranch]

Front corner windows are impossible to find....there are two types, by the way. Truthfully, you should have all those replacements on hand before you commit or else you could be stuck.