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11-28-2003, 09:53 AM
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#1
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 3
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68 sovereign pix
Hi,
I'm a newbie who's recently acended to Airstream ownership, (via the back door  ). I've always loved them but never thought I'd manage to join the club. I acquired my '68 Internat'l Sovereign when some new land owners just wanted it off their property and I was very happy to oblige. The exterior's in good shape, and it pulls great, (800+ miles the first time out, whew), but the interior's pretty thrashed. The tambors are at least still there, but most of the cabinetry and kitchen's either gone or modified beyond saving,  . Does anyone have pix or an original floorplan so I have an idea of where to start? Oh, I'm going to need a wiring diagram, too <sigh>. What do the number of rivets signify in the membership?
Thanks in advance,
Shandy
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11-28-2003, 10:11 AM
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#2
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Just a member
1978 28' Argosy 28
Lutz
, Florida
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 4,549
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Shandy,
Welcome to the forum!
Last question first, the rivets are based on the number of posts a member has made to the forum. More posts, more rivets.
For interior pics you may want check out
Vintage airstream photos .
If the interior is too far gone you could do a custom lay out and make it how you want it. Sometimes the interior is not worth saving/restoring.
A wiring diagram is going to be a hard one to come up with. I do not know if there was a service manual in 69. You may just need to ask questions of some Forum members that have the same unit.
__________________
Brett G
WBCCI #5501 AIR # 49
-------------------------
1978 Argosy 28 foot Motorhome
Wise men talk because they have something to say; fools, because they have to say something. -- Plato
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11-28-2003, 10:14 AM
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#3
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Still Working
1994 36' Classic 36
North Charleston
, South Carolina
Join Date: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,686
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rivets
Welcome and congrats on your acquisition. The rivets are in indication of your interaction to the site.
You get a point for every post you make and after you make five post' you get your first rivet.
you will find that the search feature of this website is very help ful to new folks. Simply search "rivets" and i am certain that you will see much written on that subject.
I believe it as follows,
5=1 rivet
50=2 rivets
100= 3 rivets
250 = 4 rivets
500= 5 rivets or "rivet master"
Smily
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11-28-2003, 10:55 PM
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#4
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Moderator Emeritus
1964 26' Overlander
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
Anna
, Illinois
Join Date: Sep 2002
Posts: 5,919
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68 sovereign pix
Greetings Shandy!
Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Airstream ownership!
Quote:
Does anyone have pix or an original floorplan so I have an idea of where to start?
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You might want to post a question regarding your '68 Sovereign International on the Vintage Airstream List. Ed Emmerick (Past President, Wisconsin Unit, WBCCI), one of the regulars there, has a beautifully restored/refurbished '68 Sovereign International with the Center Double and Front Lounge arrangement. You can learn about the Vintage Airstream List at:
Vintage Airstream List
Quote:
Oh, I'm going to need a wiring diagram, too <sigh>.
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Owner's manuals were only in their fourth year in 1968, and service manuals wouldn't come on the scene for several years yet. There is some wiring information in the owner's manual, but it may not be exceptionally informative if the information in my '64 Overlander's manual is an indication. You can purchase copies of the original manual from:
Quote:
Q: I need an owners and service manual for my Airstream. Where can I get one?
A: The first owners manuals were published in 1964. Prior to that, the owner received a brown envelope containing parts lists and other helpful information on the accessories in his trailer. The VAC has started making these available in the Members Archive section. A service manual with instructions for performing service operations did not exist until 1972.
You can get photocopies of owners manual (1964+) and service manuals (1972-1986) from:
Helen Davis Secretarial Services
PO Box 484 Sidney, OH 45365
(937)492-8885
Prices are about $33 and $70 respectively. After 1986 the Owners Manuals included available service information.
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*The above is quoted from the Vintage Airstream Club web site.
Good luck with your Sovereign!
Kevin
__________________
Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI (Lifetime Member)/VAC/Pride Streamers/Wisconsin-UP Unit (Primary)/Missouri Greater Ozark Unit (Affiliate Member) #7864
AIR #827
1964 Overlander International
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre
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11-29-2003, 09:37 AM
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#5
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 3
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Thanks!
Thanks everybody, the welcome and advice is much appreciated. I had fun pulling it north and being waved at by southbound Airstreamers  . I looked at the photos and someone has a few of a '69, but I gather that there were changes made in the '69 and I don't know what the differences were. Mine has a lounge in front and the bedroom in the middle with a rear bath... Well, it's going to be an adventure, we'll see what the Vintage list turns up  .
Thanks again,
Shandy
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11-29-2003, 11:07 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master 
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Shandy.
You are not describing a 1968 model.
Post your serial number and one of us will be glad to ID it for you.
Andy
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11-29-2003, 11:14 AM
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#7
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Rivet Master 

1956 22' Safari
2015 27' Flying Cloud
Vintage Kin Owner
Chuckey
, Tennessee
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 12,783
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Andy's right...
I don't think Tambour doors were introduced until 1971...
While yo're waiting to get the VIN #, here's another clue - does it have the square frameless Corning glass windows or framed ones with rounded corners? The frameless windows were used '66-'68 and after that, they transitioned over to the rounded ones & Vista Views.
Good luck...
Shari
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11-29-2003, 11:20 AM
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#8
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Moderator

1968 17' Caravel
Battle Ground
, Washington
Join Date: Dec 2002
Posts: 12,280
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Andy's right, if it has tambour (roll away) doors on the cabinets, it's not a 68. You may have an early 70s model.
Good luck with your restore. I've been looking for a nice shell to restore myself. You should have a fun project ahead of you!
__________________
Stephanie
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11-29-2003, 12:25 PM
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#9
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Rivet Master 
Airstream Dealer
Corona
, California
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 16,497
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Shari.
1968 windows had a metal molding on the glass.
The first vista view windows came out in the 1968 trailers.
Andy
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11-29-2003, 01:32 PM
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#10
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Just an old timer...

2022 27' Globetrotter
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,781
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and...
My '70 Safari had tambour doors... so they were around at least by then... If it has the small wrap-around front windows with a square bottom, it's a '69. If the wrap-around front windows are a "D" shape with a rounded outside bottom corner, then it's a '70 or newer...
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2022 Globetrotter 27FBQ
Airstreams Emeritus: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' two-door, 1994 B190, 2004 Interstate T1N, 2020 GT 23 FBQ
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11-30-2003, 09:09 AM
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#11
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New Member
Join Date: Nov 2003
Posts: 3
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Oops, I must have misspoke, I thought that the curved wood pieces that fit into slots between the lounge/kitchen/bedroom were called tambours. It has swinging wood doors inside. I had called the company with the ID# and they said it was a '68 that had been manufactured in the Santa Fe Springs plant in CA. It has square, frameless windows with smaller, rectangular windows below and curved, rectangular windows with slide-up shades above.
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