1948 Liner

[Ganglin]

I originally posted this trailer on the "Interesting Craigslist Finds" thread. Had several questions about it so thought it deserved a thread.

Finally reached the lister today - he explained he hadn't returned my call because he thought he had it sold - 3 times.... and each time he waited around and was stood up...

Needless to say he is a little miffed with "you Airstream people". Spent almost an hour on the phone with him explaining what to expect, so I think I left him in a better mood.

Here's what I know:

- he thought it was a 51 Clipper

- the pipe frame is rusted off of the front

- the trailer sat at an RV dealer for over 15 years and he's had it several
years also... he believes no one has been it it for 20 years

- it was given to him for scrap by the RV dealer in return for some other
work - he thought "someone might want it someday"

- the door has an added lock and NO key - those who have called him advised against prying the door open (thank goodness)

- there is no title (no surprise)

- he said the front and rear windows are plastic and that someone told him the window next to the door is not original

- looking in he said it looks like everything is there and it's set up "like it should be" - there is floor rot that he can see - the belly pan is intact

Several people have tried to get him to sell it for way less than the $1,500 he wanted for it... (good grief). One guy even called him and said he talked to Airstream - they advised it would take around $16,000 to put a new frame/floor under it if they did it .

The serial number is 1155. Looking at the Vintage Airstream site (many thanks for that great resource)... I'm going to call it a 1948 Liner. Had to call him back to find out if the serial plate was oval or square - aluminum or brass. It is oval brass and shows the 1755 North Main Street factory address. See the comments about that on Vintage Airstream.

48Liner


I'm calling it a 48 but there are others here much better at this than I am.. so we'll see what they think hopefully...

The original picture and the first additional one he sent me. More to follow. Enjoy...

[Ganglin]

Four more pics.

[Ganglin]

last four pics.

[gail]

old is beautiful however a huge project for someone!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[Frank's Trailer Works]

can you tell me where this trailer is? what state? The distance from me is key to my interest...

[Ganglin]

Frank,

It's here in Ohio - located in the Akron/Canton area.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

just what I need, another huge temptation.

[utee94]

Do it, Frank!!!

[Kevin245]

What is the Frankenstein eyebrow scar?

[azflycaster]

Originally Posted by 62overlander

just what I need, another huge temptation.

Frank,
Get this one too!
VINTAGE 1948 AIRSTREAM LINER Travel Trailer 22 ft.:eBay Motors (item 110448933228 end time Oct-27-09 14:41:42 PDT)

[Shacksman]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

Frank,
Get this one too!
VINTAGE 1948 AIRSTREAM LINER Travel Trailer 22 ft.:eBay Motors (item 110448933228 end time Oct-27-09 14:41:42 PDT)

At least this one has a good starting point but will end up being as much work in the end.

[Frank's Trailer Works]

Originally Posted by utee94

Do it, Frank!!!

The transport of the trailer makes the cost go from $1500 to $3500 right off the bat. I just cannot pay that much for something needing an entire frame fabricated. It will be a very nice rig if someone is willing to put in the hours it needs. The material out lay alone will be considerable. Now if he wants to give it to me I would be there in 10 hours...

OR

Someone out there could buy it and let me make it brand new once again. Well, not brand new, better than brand new. New it had no holding tanks, no hot water, no 12 volt lighting. New it was a very fancy aluminum tent. When these early trailers were built Wally would roll out a big sheet of paper and and the size of the trailer was drawn on the paper. The customer could locate all the furniture where they wanted it. Windows were also placed in the drawing. This way the customer would be able to walk through their rig before the roll was sent off the factory to be built. Pee Wee was telling me this full sized drawing was used for a number of years after the trailer interiors were standardized to produce those custom trailers made each year.

[Ganglin]

Originally Posted by Kevin245

What is the Frankenstein eyebrow scar?

He said it was just a strip of aluminum fastened to the skin. The strip has snap heads in it like someone was using it to support an awning of some type.

[WineStream]

Did anyone make an offer on this trailer? If so, what did the seller refuse? It's still on craigslist and it's less than an hour from me and I even have a means to haul it home. I've made an offer, but I'm curious to know what anyone else offered and was denied.

[Airslide]

Originally Posted by Ganglin

He said it was just a strip of aluminum fastened to the skin. The strip has snap heads in it like someone was using it to support an awning of some type.

Does that mean when its removed all those holes will be left in what otherwise is the coolest part of the trailer?

Eitherway, its begging for someone to save it. What else would you do with 1000 man hours?

[Melody Ranch]

More like 10,000 hours. I know.

[Airslide]

ok.. stand corrected.

9000 man hours of labor.. 1000 man hours wondering how the hell you got yourself into this..

[Silverfoxrae]

Looks a bit like my '47 that I'm going to be doing a LOT of work on :-)

[soldiermedic]

This was purchased by 3streams to add another the the ever growing herd.

[Aerowood]

Originally Posted by Airslide

Does that mean when its removed all those holes will be left in what otherwise is the coolest part of the trailer?

FWIW, all those rivet holes can be filled with flush rivets in dimpled holes and they will become virtually invisible.

Pardon me if I'm somewhat late on this reply.

I would dearly love to restore one of these.

Kip