1951 Cruisette

[cruisette51]

Just bought this 1951 Cruisette... still figuring out how to use the forum, but wanted to say hello. I'll probably be on here a bunch looking at what everyone else has done!

[Firedog1]

WOW nice, and welcome

[RM66caravel]

Looks great any more pictures maybe some of the inside?
Welcome !!!
Cliff

[cruisette51]

Here are some more pictures of the Cruisette, including the interior. Based on what I could figure out, it seems like:

1) The kitchen furniture may be original
2) The cabinet/closet is likely original, as is the medicine cabinet by the entrance
3) The dinette area in the front is likely NOT original
4) The bed area seems not original

Any thoughts based on these pictures as to what is/isn't original? I'm trying to restore this to be as original as possible.

Question: The door hinges seem really rusty. I don't see this problem on many other Airstreams. Do you think this might be because it was replaced with a non-original hinge? Any good way to restore the shine to the hinge without having to go through an entire hinge replacement?

Overall, the body is in pretty good condition. I am thinking of doing a body-on floor replacement. Thoughts?

[wkerfoot]

The hinges on my 1954 Liner were plain steel and rusted. I had them chromed but Vintage Trailer Supply now has the hinge in Stainless Steel. About the same price I paid to have mine chromed.

The steel against aluminum is probably turning the aluminum to powder, that is what happened on my Liner and I almost lost a door leaving Glacier NP five years ago.

Bill

Originally Posted by cruisette51

Here are some more pictures of the Cruisette, including the interior. Based on what I could figure out, it seems like:

1) The kitchen furniture may be original
2) The cabinet/closet is likely original, as is the medicine cabinet by the entrance
3) The dinette area in the front is likely NOT original
4) The bed area seems not original

Any thoughts based on these pictures as to what is/isn't original? I'm trying to restore this to be as original as possible.

Question: The door hinges seem really rusty. I don't see this problem on many other Airstreams. Do you think this might be because it was replaced with a non-original hinge? Any good way to restore the shine to the hinge without having to go through an entire hinge replacement?

Overall, the body is in pretty good condition. I am thinking of doing a body-on floor replacement. Thoughts?

[kellykellyi]

Where did you find this? I love it!

[cruisette51]

This was part of an older gentleman's classic car collection -- he must have had over a dozen classic cars in a huge barn! Most of them were in perfect condition, but he had never gotten around to having this one restored...and was trying to get rid of it.

[kellykellyi]

Would you mind sharing what you got it for via private message?

[calais66]

What a sweetie! The interior looks a lot like our '51 FC, which I presume to be all original--same dinette, closets, etc. Only difference is the cabinet hardware (pulls and hinges). Our hinges are a bit more flimsy than yours appear to be and our closet latches are chromed metal. I'd guess that yours were probably replaced with sturdier stock? The pinch latches on the overheads are the same as ours as well. We have the original range and oven in ours, but wouldn't be shocked if the oven-less range in yours was standard for Cruisettes. We also don't have an ice box which it looks like yours does. Ours also had the Panel Ray heater by the door, but from what I understand Cruisettes were designed for desert travel so maybe it didn't have one stock? Also guessing the linoleum tiles aren't original (originals were asbestos) and probably not the Chevy hubcaps either Sierra Nevada Airstreams recently restored one of these too--I'm sure you've seen the thread already, if not it comes up on Google.

Congrats again!

[kellykellyi]

It looks wonderful, Cruisette51! I can't wait to see your restoration. Congratulations!

[RM66caravel]

Awesome and loaded with possibilities and like others I cannot wait to see your completed project. Don't think the shell on will be as easy as the shell off and with our caravel we found issues that would have been undetected with shell on. Just my opinion thanks for listening
Cliff

[Star-Man]

I must agree with Cliff. I debated for over a year whether to do a shell-off on our 53 FC. I started a shell-on and then decided to bite the bullet and go for the shell-off. I am really glad I did. In the long run, it is a more thorough approach and I think it was way easier to do than the shell-on would have been. I think that beautiful little trailer deserves the shell-off. You never know what you will find. The pipe frame needs a thorough inspection and possibly some welded reinforcement, especially the outriggers that support that recessed step.

I will be up in the bay area in the next couple weeks. I would love to come by and discuss. Please PM me.

Chris

[cruisette51]

I have struggled with the body-on vs. body-off restoration question. I might revisit the decision once I cut out the floor and see the condition of the frame. I have seen a couple of different approaches to lifting the body off the frame, primarily:

(i) bracing the body internally and jacking it up off the frame
(ii) bracing the body internally and then lifting it up off the frame via the roof vents using a chain hoist attached to a gantry crane

Any suggestions on which approach would be better here, given how small the cruisette is? I feel like (ii) would be easier, but worry that the roof vents are too close to each other to provide good front/back stability once the body is in the air.

Also, how long does each approach generally take to get the body off? I am confined to working on this on weekends, so timing is an issue. Appreciate your thoughts, especially those who have done a body-off restoration before.

[goshawks00]

Either one will work and takes about the same energy/time. Which ever way you decide one thing I found valuable was to put lockable rollers ( from HD ) on a couple of your cross members. Brace them well and once you have the body off (assuming you have a hard surface) you can lower it and wheel it around. This gets it out of the way and allows you so much more room to work in.

[thinktankair]

I was wondering who was going to get this trailer in Reno! I looked at it but the price was too high. I ended up getting a 1961 Bambi that is ready to camp in. Anyway, I am so glad you got this. Great potential and there are only about 30 of these around. From my research before I looked at it, you are correct, the closet, medicine cabinet, sink area are original. The burner area should have a stove instead of the burner. The fridge is original and it has a ice box in great shape! The trailer is meant to run on propane only without electricity - hence no battery or internal wiring. The front and end panels are a rare single ply - this is original. I was looking for something to use camping and I just didn't have the time to bring it to that level. It needs an new floor, some skin repair, new towing wiring, the dinette and bed area redone, new mattress and cushions, curtains, and other miscellaneous. It would be great if you could find an original stove. Don't let the list scare you off, it is a gem and it is going to be great with time, effort, and some funds. Congratulations!

[Star-Man]

Here is a link to my shell-off thread. Lots of photos in the linked Picasa album.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f36/...sto-68769.html

[cruisette51]

Star-man -- I looked through your pictures. Really great, clean work! Very impressive. Hopefully, I will be somewhere near as clean and efficient as you were in your work. I noticed you were using a fair bit of Vulkem reuniting the body with the frame on the C-channels, etc (my plan also). Just as a general point, what worked best for you from a seam sealing standpoint? We both have fairly old vintage Airstreams, and I imagine water proofing is probably an issue for both of us.

[cruisette51]

Been a while since my last post -- but progress has been made! We've only had every 2nd or 3rd weekend to work on this, so progress has been slow. but it is a long term project.

So far, what we have done:
- Removed all interior furnishings and cabinets
- Stripped 90% of paint from interior endcaps

In the next couple of weeks:
- Remove interior skin panels
- Clean out insulation, etc

That should put us in a good place to remove the body from frame.

[cruisette51]

Some more pictures of progress...

[John&Vicki]

What a great find! That really makes my duck quack. It's great that you're preserving originality. Have fun.

Poppy