Re: [VAC] bambi/cruisette

[wescott50@xxxxxxxxx (Bill Scott)]

Whoa Tuna!!  welcome to the list, and I'm glad you hit the ground
running by going to Tom Patterson's excellent site.  It will take you
several days to read all those posts from the last 2 years.  Here's your
info in a capsule.

1. Smallest A/S made was a Cruisette, made only in Calif in 1952, dry
weight was 1420 lbs, length was 15 feet.  Length is always measured from
bumper to ball.  Paul Farley is right about the Wee Wind, 16 feet in
length, but the old Pipe frame made it much lighter.  The Wee Wind was
made in 48, and 49, and they are rare.
2. Bambi's are 16 feet but fully equipped and self contained.  Dry
weight, 1850 lbs. They were made in Calif and Ohio in 61, 62, and 63.
3.  Bubbles were 16 feet, dry weight 1750 lbs, but most did not have a
toilet or shower or any tanks, whoops, a small kitchen water tank, 2 or
3 gallons.
4. The towing weight is how much stuff you add to the dry weight.  Most
Airstreams will take about 1,000 lbs after the dry weight.  After that,
they start to creak, and the floor and other components begin to feel
the "Stress".  When you travel with full tanks and lots of camping junk,
you're on your own.

Now tell us that you are going to pull it with some micro car, or an old
BMW Isetta, or Messerschmitt.  Nice novelty for the flat, but not to
practical for mountains.  I heard about a new Beatle, with a custom 350
chev in it.  Now that would be a cute tow job.   I have seen a 61 Bambi
with a special "Dolly wheels"  on the front A frame, so an older air
cooled VW could pull it. It even worked, but the hills were very slow.

Bill Scott
61 Bambi