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SpitFireRX · 08-14-2014, 11:12 AM

Hello Airstream Army!

Found this on Craigs list ,and its in my neighborhood!
1972 Airstream For Sale

This is South Florida and if its been sitting uncovered for 12 years then there will be leaks and water damage. DUH

Can anyone guess the Length or any other things from the pictures? i think im going to look at it today or this weekend.

I've never owned a trailer but i have just recently read "restoring a dream" by tim shephard.

i must keep telling myself this is not the only airstream on earth!

my planned use will be traveling (With SO and 5lbs dog) to state parks and possibly full timing when/if we buy property in the future.

ive never been inside a AS before so im not sure what length we would prefer, MY SO has stayed in a AS for a few weeks before, guessing it was a 31ft.

thank you all!

perryg114 · 08-14-2014, 12:15 PM

Looks like a pig to me. If the price is over $1000 then it is too much.

Perry

**Janet H** · 08-14-2014, 12:18 PM

Lord that Airstream looks unloved! Aside from the mold, rot and leak concerns, it's worth considering that any pre-1974 trailer is not going to have a grey tank so you will need to be prepared to carry a blue boy along.

SpitFireRX · 08-14-2014, 12:32 PM

Says 1400 & open to offers, I would be doing a full modernization.

CBWELL · 08-14-2014, 01:09 PM

I there is one 0 too many in the price!! Some things are best left alone, and this looks like one of them.

ericpeltier · 08-14-2014, 01:17 PM

Oh wow. Not sure it's worth it.

Minno · 08-14-2014, 02:37 PM

It's not a 31 foot Sovereign - not enough windows on the port (non-door) side. Maybe it's a 29 or 27 foot model. It does look unloved, and would require a lot of work and money to put it back into usable condition. But, if you're up for doing a complete, major remodel, then go look at her and make an offer. Costs you nothing to go look.

A few things I noticed from the pictures:

The rear hatch is sealed with foam insulation. So is the roof fridge vent.

The rear window is sealed with some black stuff. Probably to try and stop it from leaking.

The door latch has been removed, and it looks like a sliding hardware catch was installed. If you want to replace the latch with an original style, that will cost about $450.

There are a few pretty good dents in the front panels. You may be able to straighten them somewhat, but if you want the dents totally removed, you'll need new panels. This can run $300 to $600 each plus shipping. That's just for the panels. Installation would be more.

There are no good pics of the rear corner panels on the street side. They may be dented as well.

If you do go look at it, walk around the entire floor and feel for spongy spots. The rear section of the floor under the bathroom is almost guaranteed to be rotted and will need to be replaced. Which means gutting the bathroom.

I'm not trying to scare you away, just want to make sure you look at her objectively. We spent 6 years remodeling Little Girl ('72 Sovereign), and a boat load of money. We did all the work ourselves. Took 6 years in part because we both still work full-time, and it's impossible to work on her in a Minnesota winter since she sits outside.

Good luck!

Chris

Belegedhel · 08-14-2014, 02:41 PM

All a matter of how big of a restoration project you want to sign up for. Or should I say "do you want to camp in the trailer, or just work on it for the next few years?" I'm still rebuilding the '73 Globetrotter I bought 3 years ago on the Florida panhandle, and it looked about as bad as the on in the ad.

mikextr · 08-14-2014, 03:29 PM

The fact that the trailer is close to your home and has a good title adds value to the trailer. Make sure that the title is in the seller's name and not an open title.

bwoodtx · 08-14-2014, 04:14 PM

This trailer would need to be redone from top to bottom. Others have done this. A good bath and it will look different to you.

That being said, my top offer-$500.

Good luck.

aceflys · 08-14-2014, 04:22 PM

What it would cost to make that nice is way more than what the trailer will be ever worth! You would be way better off buying a nicer one to start with. You can thank me later!

SpitFireRX · 08-14-2014, 04:28 PM

Just spoke with him on the phone, had a death in the family that's the reason for selling. He's got 4 trailers two of them are airstreams. Said it's 22ish feet and the other is 30ish. Gonna see them Friday or this weekend

aquinob · 08-14-2014, 04:41 PM

That trailer is a showcase of ham handed and inept repairs and general neglect and abuse. At 1000 bucks or so, its really a parts trailer and the parts that are usable may be quite minimal. As Chris mentioned, it has had water intrusion in the rear as evidenced by the black gunk around the window and the foam around the hatch. Lots of ugly paint on the inside and large dents in some of the panels. Gotta wonder why the owner couldnt at least spend a couple of hours cleaning off some of the mold and mildew on the outside, but that just reinforces the long term neglect.

I think there is a sweet spot in cost on these 70's and earlier trailers. Probably its somewhere around 5-8000 or so and you should be able to get one that has reasonably good bones that can be used initially and then improved over time. More than that and I would start to expect that some or all the work has already been done. Less that that and you are pretty well looking at a shell off full monty. And of course even if you do spend more, you can be in for some surprises, just ask Milllertime about his Florida rig.

BTW, thats an Overlander, 27 foot, I know it well.

SpitFireRX · 08-14-2014, 08:07 PM

Thank you for all the advice!

perryg114 · 08-15-2014, 06:06 AM

It is no worse than 99% of them that have been cleaned up to look pretty on the outside. They are all pigs from that era with rotten frames and floor etc. At least you know you won't be saving much of this one. Most of the time the eager buyer will pay $5-10k on one that looks better but when they get into it, it will be the same amount of work that you are facing. A total rebuild is a total rebuild.

Perry

millertimeUS · 08-15-2014, 07:52 AM

Lol..... So much truth spoken here..... Frame should be back from welder next week

.

Expect extensive frame repairs, new floor, mice condos in the walls, etc.

Sent from my iPhone using Airstream Forums

76 'Airstream Tradewind

adonh · 08-15-2014, 08:20 AM

Its not what you pay for it, even if they paid you just to haul it off. The cost starts from that point forward as you start the repairs and refurbishing. The axles, brakes tires will need to be placed. Rear bath model you can bet on rear frame separation, costly. Floor rot I would bet as well. Water lines and fixtures will need to be replaced as well as all of the appliances and AC. At this point you have not even started on the fun things such as making pretty. How do I know this I did the same project on my 1976 Sovereign that I bought in 2000. I started out keeping a tab of the cost, but that was depressing so I stopped doing that. Today mine is completely refurbished from top to bottom inside and out. But I would never do a project like that again. Good luck if you decide to rescue this poor Airstream.

SpitFireRX · 08-17-2014, 02:59 PM

He hasn't gotten back to me yet about a viewing, been browsing eBay and CL.lemme try my see what you guys think of this.
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...258411&alt=web

As the description says all he's done is polish,rig the shower, install plywood flooring and A/C. Doesn't say anything about the frame. I feel like if the frame/floor and shell are solid I can deal with paying around this cost.or does this smell of polished turd?

Totoro · 08-17-2014, 03:49 PM

For a total frame-off restoration, I'd say go for it. Dented front panels? Big deal! Pull the dents, and it will probably look fine. Power washers work great too.

Landshark · 08-17-2014, 04:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpitFireRX

He hasn't gotten back to me yet about a viewing, been browsing eBay and CL.lemme try my see what you guys think of this.
http://pages.ebay.com/motors/link/?n...258411&alt=web

As the description says all he's done is polish,rig the shower, install plywood flooring and A/C. Doesn't say anything about the frame. I feel like if the frame/floor and shell are solid I can deal with paying around this cost.or does this smell of polished turd?

I would worry about the lack of interior photos. What is being hidden by no photos? You need to know what condition the interior is in before even bothering to go look at it, I would think. Polished turd a definite possibility! (Love the terminology!)

Vivian