Greetings colberjs!
Welcome to the world of
1964 Airstreams!
Quote:
Originally Posted by colberjs
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I have been involved with my
1964 since it was new in
1964, and I was five years old. I didn't know what I was buying when I purchased the trailer in 1995 as it had passed through at least one owner between myself and the original owners who were family friends (they owned my '64 from 1964 through 1980). You are fortunate that many of the original features in your grandparents'
Sovereign are still in place. It is comparatively unusual to find a 1964 with the original bathroom enclosure in place . . . quite often, replacing the original toilet results in the bath enclosure being cobled up . . . something that happened to my '64 prior to my acquisition.
You may already be aware that the 1964 models were the first year for some features while also being the last year for a number of features as well. This was the first year for a standard Univolt installation (also first year for all 12-volt interior lighting), and I believe that it was either the first or second year for the demand type water system rather than the pressure type utilized in earlier models. This would be the last model year for the jalousie windows beside the entry door, and also the last year for the door-within-a-door.
The chrome fixture that you have photographed below the kitchen sink is a water filter. It was considered the Cadillac of water filters in 1964, but it can be difficult to find the filter elements today. You likely also have a separate water faucet on the counter over one bowl of the sink . . . this faucet was supplied by the water filter. The original water filter had disappeared from my coach before my purchase, so I had a modern filter installed to serve the "filtered water faucet" in my coach.
When you mention concerns about the air conditioner, there are a number of possible approaches if it is an original Armstrong Bay Breeze air conditioner. The Armstrong units were much better built than the units available today . . . in fact, they were built with the idea that the unit could be repaired or rebuilt by a commercial refrigeration repair person. When I purchased my '64, it had its original Armstrong Bay Breeze and it was funtioning perfectly until I made the uniformed decision to try to operate it while connected to a 15 AMP household outlet . . . burned the compressor out. In those days before the information explosion on the Internet, I was not aware of the danger of trying to operate the air conditioner on anything other than a 30-AMP circuit. At that time, my favorite Airstream dealer advised that a replacement was my only option . . . I have since learned that a new compressor could have been installed at much less than the cost of the new unit and I would have preserved the much more effective Armstrong rather than switching to the less effective new Coleman Mach III. As with so many other things on our Vintage Airstreams, I have learned that rebuilding is an excellent alternative if you have the patience to locate a capable technician willing to attempt the work.
I am guessing that your
Sovereign must either be an International or a very highly optioned Land Yacht. One of the big indicators to that status is the upholtered ceiling in the bedroom area. The upholstery on the ceiling (usually with matching comfort panels on the walls on the side of each bed) was typical of International models but could also be had as an option on Land Yachts.
The one caution that I might mention is to be very wary of the furnace. If the furnace is an International Oil product, it should be considered as very dangerous. These furnaces were known to have weak heat exchangers subject to early failures due to rusted heat exchangers. My '64 had its original International Oil furnace, and it was condemned by three technicians before I gave up and had it replaced with a modern furnace . . . the great advantage with the new furnace is automatic piezo ignition so no more theatrics to light the stubborn pilot light.
While my '64 Overlander had almost all of its original appliances when I purchased it in 1995, they have all had to be replaced since then except the range which still operates as new (the oven has only been used about a dozen times since the coach was new). The original Bowen water heater failed after my second season with the coach; the cheap replacement water pump failed during my first season; the Univolt only made it through my first trip before it failed; my Armstrong Bay Breeze made it into the second season before I brought about it demise; the original Dometic refrigerator had been removed by the previous owner just a couple of weeks before I purchased the coach; and the furnace was condemned and I had a new one installed before my first trip.
I am still faced with replacing the Henschen DuraTorque axles on my '64. My axles are the original units from the factory, and have needed to be replaced for close to a decade now. You can quickly tell if the axles are bad if you begin finding numerous popped rivets in interior panels. I knew that I had waited too long when a crack in the interior skin developed above the entry door. The rough ride caused by the failed axles had caused that crack and had also helped to bring about the failure of the outriggers nearest to the entry door. The fact that my tow vehicle was "over-hitched" during my first three seasons of ownership didn't help the ride any either. I am hoping to replace the axles within the next several months . . . since I know that I will be keeping this Overlander long-term, my plan is to go with the new disc brake equpped axles. I like to tow my Overlander with my vintage Cadillac Eldorado convertible, and the disc brakes on the Overlander will help to reduce the braking load on the Cadillac.
I hope that you don't discover rear end separation and rot in the floor in the rear bathroom. My coach didn't demostrate the separation and the rot wasn't obvious when I first purchased my '64; but by the end of my third season, I found it necessary to have rear end separation repaired along with replacement of the rearmost 8-inches of the floor. A big part of the problem was traced to leaks around the one-stop-service compartment hatch as well as leaks around the rear clearance lights.
I have also learned through experience with my '64 that close attention is required to keep the jalousie windows next to the door from leaking as well as to the seals around the door-within-a-door as well. Most of my leak issues with the jalousie windows was the result of worn gears in the crank assembly . . . was able to find replacements are a local mobile home supply company. I also learned that the entry door handle and deadbolt can become an issue with age . . . it was impossible to tell if the original deadbolt was fully engaged, and before I learned of this issue, my door blew open while traveling on the highway forcing the handle through the side of the coach. Since that incident, I have had new locks installed replacing both the original handset and deadbolt and haven't had any problems since (I also often utilize a wooden door secure stick that was designed by someone in the WBCCI many years ago).
I have had many memorable travels with my '64, and I am sure that your family will enjoy your heirloom just as much. It seems like 1964 must have been a high production year for Airstream with as many '64 models as have survived. Mine is such an integral part of my life that I don't expect to part with it until I am no longer able to travel.
Good luck with your Soveriegn!
Kevin
Linear Mode
