Love and reality of Airstreams

[Kistler]

Lately got to look at a '59 Airstream....really not damaged outside...used as an apartment....on 120...and not as a tt.

What would be a reasonable price to pay for the shell, cupboards, very few "new" holes....like one for the cable TV I understand...

Brenda, my present wife, does not wish a project....there was no converter...no refrig...the furnace was newer but not where I think the furnace was once located.... I think the original plywood floor is intact...not squishy.

The electrical is a mess. As I said no coverter and then who knows what works...no 12 V water pump

How much would Andy in Corona charge me to renew this trailer?

[dmaiden]

I'm not an expert, but others here would tell you to take an ice pick and test the floor around the edges, by the door, bathroom, etc. They are prone to floor rot. Also, if the belly pan is missing or if you can take it down, you may want to inspect the frame for rust.

Again, not an expert, but I'd say in the $1-3K range, depending on condition and how bad you want it. It's only worth what someone will pay for it.

[overlander63]

1959's had no converter, nor any real 12 volt system at all to speak of. It should have a 12 volt air pump pushing compressed air into the water system for boondocking, and maybe a handfull of dual power (12 volt and 120 volt) lights scattered around inside.
The furnace should be located on the streetside in the kitchen area, usually under the oven or sink. Fridge should be on the opposite side. If this is the one I am thinking of, it is a California-built trailer with an add-on spare tire rack installed (at the factory? they did this for a while), and an oddly placed auxilliary battery at the bumper.

[InsideOut]

Professional restorer, rough condion...what's that saying "if you have to ask, you probably can't afford it!"

If you want it "like new" it will probably cost $30-40,000 unless you do some of the work yourself. Even still, that can run $10,000+ not including the cost of the trailer, ours did.

Shari

[A-Merry-Can]

i would say it depends on the trailer. i just recently passed on a 59 tradewind in tennessee for a 62 globe trotter. the tradewind had a great floor and perfect skin, but the belly was toast, and the frame had serious rust through. the trotter has a horrible floor, fair skin and belly, but a really solid frame. you have to pick your battles. both were $1K, but doing all the serious frame work up front would have made the trade wind a lot more expensive in the long run, plus from a pure value point of view, i think the trotter would be worth more, should i sell it someday...

...and i already have a trade wind! :P

hope that helps on pricing. as for restoring it, there's no telling. anyone who has worked on these will hardly ever quote a fixed price, because you never know what's under there until you get into them. i have found a guy south of atlanta that i plan on having work on the trotter for me. not the whole thing, just some of the things i don't want to mess with. he'll put in the new floor, and plumb the black and grey tanks, then i'll pick it up for the finishing touches. that's the fun part for me. not that i can't do the whole thing, i just don't have the time this winter.

jp

[CaddyGrn]

If the electrical is a "mess".... that could be key. To repair the electrical install newer systems, etc. It probably means a shell off total restoration. It is a worthy trailer ~ I'd go for it! But then we are redoing a 55 Flying Cloud... so we clearly have no sense!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis)