1948 LINER - A 70 Year Journey

[MsRivet]

It began many years ago the dream of owning an Airstream but not any Airstream ... a Liner. At first we knew we would need to travel many miles from Central Florida to retrieve one. After much searching it showed up right under our noses, three years ago, just as I had jokingly said one day.



Moving forward to current day we finally began working on her this past November. MrRivet retired in 2017, ten years earlier than most, so now there’s just a little more time available. She is a hot mess but she’s our hot mess. Even if we found one in better condition we would still need to do the same amount of work. Meaning shell off, new frame. Everyone knows what a mess one can find with a pipe frame.



I’ll begin posts to this thread to get everyone updated to our current point in this restoration. MrRivet will chime in as needed to better explain processes, techniques or to answer specific questions. We will need help along the way as well and will throw questions and ideas out there to the Forums for answers.


Picture from of repair of 2004 International

This will be our first rodeo! Sort of? Our other Airstream, a 2004 28’ International, that we’ve had 10 1/2 years needed the last 22” of floor replaced due to a rear bumper leak with floor rot. MrRivet did that with the help of his assistant. It’s now better than new. That may or may not qualify us for a shell off but you have to start somewhere.



From the pictures you will be left scratching your head as to why previous owners did what they did. Well we are scratching our heads, asking the same questions and will do what’s necessary to make it right again. Anything to get another vintage coach back on the road. By the way she is turning SEVENTY this month!



At the same time we purchased this 1948 Liner MrRivet acquired his Grandpa Elmer’s 1961 Chevy Apache Pick-up. So as you see it needs work too! We do indeed have a very full plate. Since we plan to use Elmer’s truck, named Elmer, to tow the 1948 Liner locally we feel it only appropriate to name the Liner, Vergie, after Grandma. Elmer and Vergie would be so honored.



We ARE rebuilding this trailer.
There will be many new skills and patience to acquire.
We are TheRivets and together we begin this journey!

[Bubba L]

Congrats and a really neat trailer. The 40s Airstreams are hard to beat. Now the fun begins. Good luck, have fun and see you down the road in your Liner. Bubba

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

Congrats and a really neat trailer. The 40s Airstreams are hard to beat. Now the fun begins. Good luck, have fun and see you down the road in your Liner. Bubba

Thanks so much Bubba!

No kidding ... the fun has already begun! She is telling us her story as we are discovering a few interesting things along the way.

I'll be posting interior pictures soon!

[Someday'59]

Happy 70th Birthday, 1948 Liner!
We're looking forward to watching your next adventure unfold!


Happy New Year, Mr&MsRivets!

[TouringDan]

I have a soft spot for Liners. My congratulations to you both. I would like to join your party and follow along.

Dan

[MrRivet]

Sometime in her life she received a Volkswagen Bumper from a 54-67 bug. Someone spent a lot of time constructing it from a couple of bumpers.

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by TouringDan

I have a soft spot for Liners. My congratulations to you both. I would like to join your party and follow along.

Dan

TouringDan - I am so glad that you are joining our party and following along. This will be an amazing journey for us. It may get bumpy at times but we are still in it and up for the challenge.

[MsRivet]

As promised here are some interior pictures of our 1948 Liner Serial #1120. I’ll say that this is hands down the worst, most disgusting, deplorable trailer that I have ever been in.





Most of the ten layers of paint are coming off here and there. In the rear near the bathroom the paint is dangling like melting ice cream. Some family and friends won’t go in or can barely stick their heads in the door. The smell. Let’s not even go there. Need a respirator for sure!







Byam hooks. Yes!!!
Three lockers intact.
Wardrobe present but top modified. (head scratching) Rear bed platform is good. Mattress disgusting. Bathroom reminder: Don’t touch anything. Dinette. Wow! What can I say? (more head scratching) Galley replaced with apartment appliances. Much sadness.







I keep focusing on what I visualize as her final shiny self and the glory of what she will become then I can move on. So much work is ahead of us.

[Bubba L]

We love the photos. I look forward to the deconstruction phase as much as the reconstruction phase. Wait, I guess I like it all. In removing items, I enjoy trying to figure out why Airstream or a previous owner did the things they did. In removing, I took a lot of close pictures and flagged/bagged everything. Even the steel screws. Using the old worn out bulkheads and cabinet pieces were valuable for templates. Here on the forums there are a hundred suggestions to accomplish one task. I guess it comes down to research and what makes you comfortable. In rebuilding ours, i’m just hoping I’ll give a better product to the next owner than what I received. Good luck, have fun and don’t throw anything away until the end. Bubba

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

We love the photos. I look forward to the deconstruction phase as much as the reconstruction phase. Wait, I guess I like it all. In removing items, I enjoy trying to figure out why Airstream or a previous owner did the things they did. In removing, I took a lot of close pictures and flagged/bagged everything. Even the steel screws. Using the old worn out bulkheads and cabinet pieces were valuable for templates. Here on the forums there are a hundred suggestions to accomplish one task. I guess it comes down to research and what makes you comfortable. In rebuilding ours, i’m just hoping I’ll give a better product to the next owner than what I received. Good luck, have fun and don’t throw anything away until the end. Bubba

I like that thought process! It’s responses like yours, Bubba, and from our many vintage friends that get us to the next step. We have taken many pictures of course. However we have done away with a few things but not if it was original to this coach. Those should be obvious from the pictures. Original items will be bagged and tagged. We will definitely have a better product than when we received her. Our brains hurt from the research that continues. Many titles come across for if it’s a renovation or a restoration. I hate to use another’s thread title but I feel it safe to say this will be a resurrection. It’s a bit more than a renovation. We don’t feel a restoration will be appropriate because we will re-install the bathroom that was not original even though it could have had one. Plus a few other items to modernize it for current day use.

Stay tuned for some demo!

[Meeks]

"I keep focusing on what I visualize as her final shiny self and the glory of what she will become then I can move on."

As in any big project what you wrote above is wise indeed! There will never be another trailer that has your heart like this one will!

Thanks for posting!

Chris

[goransons]

Cool project! I'll look forward to following your progress!

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by goransons

Cool project! I'll look forward to following your progress!

Funny! MrRivet and I have been following your thread from the get-go. I just replied to your frig post. Lol Before I saw this. I was so excited to see the pictures!

It sure takes an Army to get one of these back into shape as we are finding out. Getting our galley pieced together has been a challenge for sure. More details on that soon.

We are so encouraged by the work you have accomplished and know there is hope for us. You have one one of the most super amazing Airstreams ever. And to have the luck of all the pictures from when WB had it. A luxury we don’t have.

Best of luck! Can’t wait for the finished product!!!

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by Meeks

"I keep focusing on what I visualize as her final shiny self and the glory of what she will become then I can move on."

As in any big project what you wrote above is wise indeed! There will never be another trailer that has your heart like this one will!

Thanks for posting!

Chris

So true Meeks! This Liner is our baby. I can't see ever parting with her. These Airstreams are just like potato chips and tattoos … you can't just have one. Even though we haven't come close to finishing this one (barely started) I see another in the future. Mid 50's I'm guessing! Hopefully MrRivet doesn't run off after seeing this post. The fleet will grow.

[Aerowood]

Nice find, I would love to get my hands on one

[MsRivet]

Originally Posted by Aerowood

Nice find, I would love to get my hands on one

Thanks Aerowood! I still pinch myself. On rainy days I love sneaking a peak of her through the mini blinds in the side yard. Yup … there's a 1948 Airstream Liner in my yard! Cool evenings are nice too … MrRivet and I go out to visit her with a few cold ones. Just to dream and figure out the next step.

[rmkrum]

Wonderful terminal case of aluminiumitis!

I’d be every bit as proud...

[dbj216]

Hi MsRivet: I enjoy the vintage Airstream hobby and will subscribe to your Liner thread. These are the days when Airstream did build trailers light and balanced. I'm sure I will learn something new.

I was following submariner's 48 Liner resurrection thread. I haven't seen anything lately. As they say, life happens, project on hold.

We were in Jackson Center a few years ago for some body repairs. We loved looking at the vintage Airstreams displayed in the parking lot. This Liner sure caught our attention.

David

[MsRivet]

rmkrum
Seriously?! Aluminiumitis? A disease. There's a disease? I knew I hadn't been feeling well. Must have caught it while at The Mothership.

dbj216
Our Liner, as she came out of the hanger, was about 1,800 pounds. Light indeed. Rough guess when complete she should be around 3,000 pounds. The addition of a redesigned frame, holding tanks, water weight, new electrical and plumbing systems and the addition of a bathroom will all add up. We are learning and discovering as we go! Our goal will be to stay a step or two ahead of the materials needed to be ready for the next phase of construction.

I wish we knew what happened to the 1948 RESURRECTION LINER/THREAD as well. We were so watching and waiting with anticipation everyday for updates. He was one of our first major follows for inspiration to start on this Liner. How did he finish the interior? That thread will still remain a great reference for us.

I LOVE those trailers at The Mothership in Jackson Center too. I always get scolded every visit there by MrRivet about running factory. Maybe thats how I caught something?!

[MsRivet]

Dinette removal. Behind the dinette is paneling. Not sure if it’s original. Probably not but we were told a story that the original owner worked for Airstream. Another note ... the person who built the dinette more than likely did not install the paneling. The paneling is riveted in.





More good stuff ...



A previous owner CUT OUT/OFF the rear emblem. Gasp. Head scratching. Why?



Another section of that same panel is in really bad shape. This is one of a few panels that will be replaced.



Fortunately for us the original emblem was found inside the Liner. When we came across someone making a few reproductions we purchased one.