New member - 1956 Sovereign of the Road

[DScud]

Hello everyone! Nashville, TN here...

I’ve been a long time “stalker” reading and researching the forums, and a long time shopper for an Airstream.

I stumbled upon this 1956 Sovereign of the Road, SN:5135, and brought it home yesterday. It needs some TLC but has a nice shell, and we are looking forward to getting in back nice shape. Looking forward to making memories with our kids and being part of the Airstream community.

[Dennis C]

Congrats! It looks great!

[Bubba L]

Good to have you with us. The Sovereign looks great. Should have plenty of room for you and your family. Make sure you take plenty of pictures of your renovation. They sure come in handy later when you have a part and can’t figure out where it belongs. Start a reno thread and keep us posted. Tennessee is high on our destination bucket list. Take care and stay safe.

[Camper Crazy]

Congratulations, nice find! Interior pictures?

Start a reno thread and keep us posted.

I agree with Bubba.
CC

[InsideOut]

Very cool! I'm partial to 1956 trailers...

Shari

[dbj216]

Welcome to the vintage Airstream hobby from here in Colorado. Wow, a 1956 Sovereign 30'. I believe that is a rare trailer. It may be the last year of the 13 segment end caps that look so cool. I'm partial to the "long" trailers as they are more comfortable for us for long trips. I offer our 86 Limited 34' as evidence. Airstream used the Sovereign name for many years. I spent much of last winter under my friend's 1976 Sovereign 31'. Not a pretty sight, but we made it into a comfortable, reliable travel trailer. If I can do it, I bet you can too. See photo. They put a stained glass vinyl covering on their vista windows and they get rainbows in the trailer when the sun is right. I like that.

Take a look at the Airstream Knowledgebase near the bottom of the Forums page. Find Sovereign, and then your model year. Read some thread and I believe you will learn a lot about your Sovereign. This is the area Bubba L was referring to where folks "blog" their Airstream renovation or restoration projects. You typically garner a good following of folks with similar trailers who offer helpful advice.

David

[B. Cole]

Originally Posted by DScud

Hello everyone! Nashville, TN here...

I’ve been a long time “stalker” reading and researching the forums, and a long time shopper for an Airstream.

I stumbled upon this 1956 Sovereign of the Road, SN:5135, and brought it home yesterday. It needs some TLC but has a nice shell, and we are looking forward to getting in back nice shape. Looking forward to making memories with our kids and being part of the Airstream community.

Super cool vintage find!

[DScud]

Thanks for the replies everyone! I’ve unintentionally been into the Sovereign knowledge base, but now I know how to get there and just poked around for about an hour. I’ll start a renovation thread once we get started and get into it a little more.

Interior pic attached...

[dbj216]

Your trailer may have the famous "whale tail" rear end cap. Airstream used a piece of aluminum sheet that comes down the center of the trailer. From your photo of the trailer, it appears to have the "sloped rear end profile". This exterior design feature was used only a few years in the mid fifties.

Post a photo of the back of your trailer. It would be interesting to see.

David

[dbj216]

A twin bed layout. Nice.

Your trailer may have the famous "whale tail" rear end cap. Airstream used a piece of aluminum sheet that comes down the center of the trailer. From your photo of the trailer, it appears to have the "sloped rear end profile". This exterior design feature was used only a few years in the mid fifties.

Post a photo of the back of your trailer. It would be interesting to see if it has the whale tail feature.

David

[DScud]

Is is a 13 panel, but does not have the whale tail. From what I’ve been reading, this trailer was built in Ohio and the whale tails were California trailers. Still learning though...

[Bubba L]

Originally Posted by DScud

Is is a 13 panel, but does not have the whale tail. From what I’ve been reading, this trailer was built in Ohio and the whale tails were California trailers. Still learning though...

Correct. California had the Whale Tail, or Dutchman’s Cap, for only a few years. Ohio never used that design. After that, Airstream used the stretch formed method to lesson the number of panels.