Newly acquired 1955 Flying Cloud (I think?)

[A2F]

Hello,

First time poster and Airstream owner here. I just purchased a 1955 beauty! I'm extremely excited, but also feeling a little overwhelmed after looking at the wealth of information available. For the most part... where does one start?! haha

So I'm fairly certain it is a flying Cloud whale tail.. but I could be wrong. The serial number on the title (I am the second owner.. how cool is that?!) matches the one by the door and is only 4 numbers.. not very long in comparison to the ones I've researched. Also, when I registered it, I accidentally put that it was a 20' trailer. Later I found paperwork that stated it is a 22', does this need to be changed with the DMV or is it okay as is?

So I know this would be the perfect restoration project for a purist as everything is in excellent condition and all original.. including curtains, but (don't scream) I want to modify it a bit. Really just give it a face lift but not necessarily keep everything period specific. A gutted Airstream just seemed too daunting so I was excited to find this one. My question is... where does one start? The floor around the door is rotting so I would like to remove the interior and replace the whole floor. That way you can get to the tanks and the frame (as I am sure it needs work) and also be in position to check the wiring. Fortunately I have a bf who is very handy... however, I think he would like to do as little restoring as possible. BUT I think you HAVE to remove some interior walls to check the electrical, which I feel HAS to be done, right? I mean it is old... so I would think a safety hazard? Well anyway, I figured if I can convince him to go that far then we should be able to inspect all the pieces while putting it back together. Only problem is that we only have weekends to work on it and it is stored about 40 min away. Am I looking at a project that will take years to finish at that pace??

Oh! And do most people put new numbers on (not sure if I am seeing a very worn sticker or just the residue from them) the front and back?

Until him and I can get on the same page and the weather clears up I will happily be pinterest-ing away and scribbling in my notebook.

If I do plan to get rid of things (such as original curtains) should I see if anyone wants them before tossing? I plan to keep as much in tact as possible to not compromise the trailer in case someone else in the future decides they want to make it literally look like it came from 1955... but there are a few things that I do want to go. It does come down to personal taste, right?! lol

Oh boy, sorry about the long intro... off to read more about this new adventure!!

[curnes]

That is one cool trailer. Enjoy it and when it is all restored, you are going to be the envy of the trailer rallies.

[Meeks]

I can't answer your questions but I can say this....that is one cool looking trailer! Enjoy!

[idroba]

Nice unit, and in such original condition!

My thoughts:

If you start with tearing into the floor then you will have to probably remove the interior, then you will get bogged down in all of the other things which could be done while you have it apart, and you will never get to use it.

Yes, the wiring is 60 years old, but there was not all that much of it, and If it works now, I would leave it alone. I would not consider it especially dangerous. It probably has two glass fuses under the rear bed, near the electrical input. Of course no grounds, no GFCI's but an external GFCI on the power input cord would protect the entire trailer and allow you to use it as is.

My vote would be to make sure you have good brakes, wheels and tires, a break away switch and have the propane system checked out. Put a CO detector, fire protector, and propane detector in.

Then go camping! Use it. Find out what works and what does not. Enjoy it. Cherish it. After a year or two, you will know what you want of it. Don't start a huge restoration and improvement project and get bogged down. Don't gut it. Don't have it as a project that never seems to end.

It is a beautiful trailer, enjoy it for now, then later you can restore it.

PS: I had a '54 whale tail for a while. I eventually found it was not right for me and sold it. I hope it found a great home eventually, and was restored by someone who cared. In the year or two I owned it, I simply found it was more than I could do, or wanted to do, to re build it. Like yours, it was mostly original but needed significant floor work which I could not do, nor did it have a bathroom which I felt was necessary for my use.

[A2F]

That is a very good idea! My bf completely agrees... or actually he's been trying to tell me that for a while. In his words "That's my boy!" haha. I think he likes when people agree with him.

I think I will enjoy the FC because I wanted something smaller that had a full bed in the back.. not a couch that I would have to make up every night. It has the double sinks and the dinette... a MUST! It pretty much hit everything I wanted in an Airstream.

I think we just need to fix some external hook ups (like the one on the back left) that look corroded and unusable. I guess first I need to figure out what they all are and where they lead. ha!

[idroba]

BTW, the numbers are not anything to do with the Airstream. They are the club number from the WBCCI and are assigned by the club. The ones you have, or the shadow of the ones you have may be in use by someone else now, as they are re assigned as club membership changes.

Check out WBCCI.org

[toastie]

A great looking trailer. I would do a shell off full restoration, you have floor rot, frayed wiring, no 12 volts system etc. and etc. This is my thread on my 1955 Aistream Safari http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...ent-38289.html hope this helps.

toastie

[pbearsailor]

Toastie is right. You've got a lot of work ahead but it is so worth the effort.

Read the long restoration threads of 50's trailers and you'll pretty well have all your questions answered.

Cheers,
Steve

[A2F]

Originally Posted by toastie

A great looking trailer. I would do a shell off full restoration, you have floor rot, frayed wiring, no 12 volts system etc. and etc. This is my thread on my 1955 Aistream Safari http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...ent-38289.html hope this helps.

toastie

While shell off would definitely be ideal, we don't have the work space for that unfortunately. But I will definitely be referencing your thread toastie.. thanks!

[Lance M]

A2F,
I second the suggestions of idroba. If it is at all usable, go use it. Make it safe to tow and use, clean it up a little and have some fun.
If you have the trailer 40 miles away and you can only work on it on the weekends, it will take you years and years to finish a restoration or refurbishment, if ever. Once you start taking things apart, it won't end until you have it completely torn down to the frame. Trust me, we've seen it all many times.
Congratulations!

[A2F]

Originally Posted by Top

A2F,
I second the suggestions of idroba. If it is at all usable, go use it. Make it safe to tow and use, clean it up a little and have some fun.
If you have the trailer 40 miles away and you can only work on it on the weekends, it will take you years and years to finish a restoration or refurbishment, if ever. Once you start taking things apart, it won't end until you have it completely torn down to the frame. Trust me, we've seen it all many times.
Congratulations!

Yea, that is what I am afraid of. I definitely want to use it, but I also have a vision for what I want it to become... but that can wait. I think we will take the first year to enjoy it and then talk about taking it apart. I plan on having it a lifetime, so if it does take years to complete, that's okay, but I definitely don't want to end up with a shell and pile of parts forever. haha

[Lance M]

Originally Posted by A2F

Yea, that is what I am afraid of. I definitely want to use it, but I also have a vision for what I want it to become... but that can wait. I think we will take the first year to enjoy it and then talk about taking it apart. I plan on having it a lifetime, so if it does take years to complete, that's okay, but I definitely don't want to end up with a shell and pile of parts forever. haha

Unfortunately, this is a common all too common.

Good luck and enjoy!

[twolanehwy]

Originally Posted by A2F

Yea, that is what I am afraid of. I definitely want to use it, but I also have a vision for what I want it to become... but that can wait. I think we will take the first year to enjoy it and then talk about taking it apart. I plan on having it a lifetime, so if it does take years to complete, that's okay, but I definitely don't want to end up with a shell and pile of parts forever. haha

I saw that one on craigs over in Sacramento area.
Wish I hadn't pulled the trigger on my project or I'd have gone for it.
He posted here asking if "i'd paid too much"...but never said what price.
I think he was feeling out the forum. Here is the link to his post.http://www.airforums.com/forums/f349...ch-143776.html

[A2F]

Originally Posted by twolanehwy

I saw that one on craigs over in Sacramento area.
Wish I hadn't pulled the trigger on my project or I'd have gone for it.
He posted here asking if "i'd paid too much"...but never said what price.
I think he was feeling out the forum. Here is the link to his post.http://www.airforums.com/forums/f349...ch-143776.html

Definitely looks like the same one, especially if it is in sac! The CL link has expired. Sounds like I definitely have a Flying Cloud... good to know. I am excited about my purchase, just wish I had the space and time to update it quickly (if there's such a thing)... or had the money to pay someone else to do it. haha But here's to the start of a new adventure!

[kdickinson]

agree with Top & Idroba! Unless you are in this project as a business and plan to flip the trailer after a rebuild to a new buyer then get out and enjoy life in your new trailer! I recommend looking up your local WBCCI chapter and attending a luncheon or rally as a visitor. There will be plenty of knowledge there regarding the best approach that will work for you and also you can get an objective point of view on what options you may have to address your floor issues.

[A2F]

Originally Posted by kdickinson

agree with Top & Idroba! Unless you are in this project as a business and plan to flip the trailer after a rebuild to a new buyer then get out and enjoy life in your new trailer! I recommend looking up your local WBCCI chapter and attending a luncheon or rally as a visitor. There will be plenty of knowledge there regarding the best approach that will work for you and also you can get an objective point of view on what options you may have to address your floor issues.

Definitely not a business, although I am hoping to drum up some more graphic design work (lol) so I can pay for this project through freelancing vs my 9-5. And hopefully to build up my studio enough to eventually be self employed (everyone's dream right?!).

I basically try to only buy toys I won't lose money on, but I definitely do not have any intention of flipping this one. I want it all to myself. Sounds like I should meet some other local enthusiasts, great idea!

[mccrosti]

That's a beauty. If you want a studio, why not sell that one to someone who'll keep its original provenance. And buy a new less valuable model?

Whatever you do, if you decide you must gut it, please remove each part very carefully - there is lots of value in the interior parts.


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[A2F]

Originally Posted by mccrosti

That's a beauty. If you want a studio, why not sell that one to someone who'll keep its original provenance. And buy a new less valuable model?

Whatever you do, if you decide you must gut it, please remove each part very carefully - there is lots of value in the interior parts.


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Lucky Dave,

My intention is not to turn it into a studio. I want to remove all parts to refinish the floors and ensure everything is working correctly, but plan to put all the furniture back into place. I will be painting the cupboards white though, which I know will upset some people. But I like a brighter space personally. So if at some point someone wanted to take it back to original, they could. I am still debating on whether to keep all the parts I decide to replace in a box (like curtains) so I have everything original on hand or if I should just offer up the parts to others who might be restoring. The sconces, for example, don't match my vision, but I don't know that I can bring myself to remove them since I have such an in-tact beauty. So we shall see. Looks like I might be sitting on it for a while before having to make any of those calls.

[mccrosti]

Phew!!! Had me worried. A suggestion - if you want to paint the originals white, why not build copies using the originals as templates and paint them white? I know of only one other that is your vintage that still has original curtains. When your thinking about this, think that your messing with something akin in value to a 63 corvette split window coupe.


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[A2F]

Does anyone know anything about insurance? Even though it is not restored, should I have a certified appraisal done? Or can I just go with an agreed-value policy with my Farmers

I am wondering if there is someone in the Sacramento area who can give me some insight on best practice.

Thanks again!