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marvin · 09-07-2006, 09:21 PM

Hello everyone. I am a brand new Airstream owner. I bought my trailer for $500. I do not know what exactly it is other than it is a '26 Airstream. Somebody scratched "1964" into the trailer right under the i.d tag. It has a rear bed, which I understand is a little rare. Someone has converted it (poorly) to electric. It is missing the stove, fridge,toilet,furniture,heater and a drawer or two. Someone painted over the original interior finish and I have been chipping paint for quite awhile. I was thinking of just stripping it the rest of the way and using it for storage. It has no title. It has a dent in the front right side. Does anyone out there think this trailer deserves a restoration? Or is it too far gone to save? Any i.d help and/or opinions are greatly appreciated!

wkerfoot · 09-07-2006, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvin

Hello everyone. I am a brand new Airstream owner. I bought my trailer for $500. I do not know what exactly it is other than it is a '26 Airstream. Somebody scratched "1964" into the trailer right under the i.d tag. It has a rear bed, which I understand is a little rare. Someone has converted it (poorly) to electric. It is missing the stove, fridge,toilet,furniture,heater and a drawer or two. Someone painted over the original interior finish and I have been chipping paint for quite awhile. I was thinking of just stripping it the rest of the way and using it for storage. It has no title. It has a dent in the front right side. Does anyone out there think this trailer deserves a restoration? Or is it too far gone to save? Any i.d help and/or opinions are greatly appreciated!

Marvin,

Welcome to the forums. If you post the serial number that will help determine what you have. Also some pictures, your link does not work. You can post pictures in your message by using the manage attachments at the bottom.

Bill

GreatPumpkin · 09-07-2006, 09:32 PM

Can't completely make out the numbers that are stamped into the plate - is that a 6 S 55 ? More pictures of the trailer would also help.

Welcome to the forums - no don't make it a storage shed. Restore it or sell it to someone who will. Please.

marvin · 09-07-2006, 09:38 PM

Whoa, sorry about the giant pics. I'm havin' a heck of a time getting pics up. I think the number is 6835

47WeeWind · 09-07-2006, 09:41 PM

Hi Marvin: Welcome to the Forums! The Norwalk, Calif. plant was renamed the Santa Fe Springs, Calif. plant around 1958, so your trailer is a 1958 or earlier California built Airstream. Please post the serial number (it is not legible in the photo) and perhaps we can better identify your trailer. If the dent in the front is below the windows, it should be fairly easy to repair. Aistreams are much, much happier traveling and seeing the world than being a stationary shed.

bobchevy89 · 09-07-2006, 09:41 PM

Hello Marvin,welcome to the forum.. There have been worst looking a/s posted here that have made the transition back to a thing of beauty. alot of elbow grease and deturmination will produce a class A winner.there is plenty of help here in the forum.Good luck and may you have a great time..
Bob

marvin · 09-07-2006, 09:58 PM

Thanks guys. I have no doubt that refurbishing this trailer would be great fun and a super learning experience but for now, I am very limited financially and timewise. Heck, I don't even have enough money to buy the tires it needs

Also, I don't really have anything to tow the trailer with. But I will hold on to it a little longer and see if circumstances change. Thanks--Marvin

GreatPumpkin · 09-07-2006, 10:06 PM

All your pictures didn't load the first time I looked. All I saw was the VIN badge. It looks like you've got a '57 Overlander - built towards the end of that production year.

swebster · 09-07-2006, 10:15 PM

Where was I when they were handing out $500 1958 Airstreams? Probably under my motorhome or something.

CaddyGrn · 09-07-2006, 11:05 PM

Oh, yes.... I agree more pictures! No matter what, no airstream should be for "storage".... that is what SOB's are for!

Mrs. NorCal Bambi (traveling in S Tardis)

66Overlander · 09-07-2006, 11:06 PM

Between the 7 panel end caps and the shape of the wheel wells I would agree that this is a late '57 or '58 26 footer, but with a rear bed it is probably not an Overlander, which was a pretty standard model with a mid bedroom and rear bath. I would call this unit a Custom with the rear bedroom and side bath. That floorplan was used in 26 footers up thru 1955 or so and then seems to have been phased out at the '26 Cruiser evolved in the Overlander. But Airstream still made custom trailers in the mid to late '50's, so yours isn't too surprising.

I've been looking for years for a $500 '50's Airstream, but I just can't seem to find one. Darn. But congratulations to you!

marvin · 09-07-2006, 11:20 PM

Hey, I also wanted to ask you guys, there is a long hollow cylinder with an opening/closing end cap on the side of the trailer, this I'm sure is a dumb question, but what is it?

marvin · 09-07-2006, 11:22 PM

Goin camping · 09-07-2006, 11:28 PM

You gotta restore that one! It would be a beauty. If you can't or don't want to do it someone here will.

47WeeWind · 09-08-2006, 12:10 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by GreatPumpkin

All your pictures didn't load the first time I looked. All I saw was the VIN badge. It looks like you've got a '57 Overlander - built towards the end of that production year.

With its 6835 serial number, I agree with the GreatOrangeGourd -- its a late 1957 26' Overlander. Nice looking trailer with a lot of potential. The long tube on the streetside body is to store either an awning or a flexible rubber hose to connect the toilet to a sewer drain in a campground.

marvin · 09-08-2006, 01:09 AM

Sorry folks, i've obviously posted this thread in the wrong forum

InsideOut · 09-08-2006, 12:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by marvin

Sorry folks, i've obviously posted this thread in the wrong forum

No problem...I moved it!

Good luck with your project! Hope it doesn't get turned into a shed!

Shari

rickandsandi · 10-13-2006, 04:46 AM

Greetings Marvin-
What you have is the holly grail! It is a custom ordered 1957 Overlander. It was built in the Norwalk, CA plant but the models hit the market late so some states registered them as 1958. The first sure sign of your unit being a custom order is the twin axels. All previous models had single axels and tandems were offered for the first time as an option in 1957. As for the interior I would need more photos showing the whole layout including the stove, sink and icebox. That horrible white tube on the road-side is a real sin. Someone mounted it as a sewer hose holder meaning more holes in the skin. I was just in Vermont over the weekend and found the same model but with added custom windows on both the curb and road sides. The whole interior was gutted and the floor chopped out in peices. If the owner will ever call me back it could be mine. The serial number wasn't too much earlier than yours so it could be possible that at one point in time the two units knew eachother! Great find. Take good care of it.

Rick

Lee Pace · 10-13-2006, 11:02 AM

Marvin,

You must restore this trailer, it is such a find! Take your time and do the things that you can afford to do first. You will be so glad you did it!

Lee & Don Pace
72 tradewind
Greenville, Tx.
WBCCI 7287

MerlynGraves · 10-13-2006, 11:17 AM

You should take a look at my "Ultimate Monty" Thread- Yours is in GREAT shape!

A late 50's airstream? That's definately worth restoring!

As for the tow vehicle- I feel your pain... I am trying to figure out how I am going to tow my 30' Sovereign with a motorcycle now, once I get it restored.

Merlyn
- Stuck at work, dreaming of Airstreams