[VAC] Re: Airstream Roadshow

[RJ Dial <rj.dial@xxxxxxx>]

         Reply to:   RE: [VAC] Airstream Roadshow
Tryke, you didn't have to tell us it was all original - couldn't you have lied and said 
someone had butchered it in the past? (guilt, guilt)

I gave up along time ago trying to save the world, but I still try now & then.

I'm not a museum piece purist, these trailers were meant to go camping/traveling in. Take 
our Caravel's refrigerator for example. The old Dometic M16 was cool - had a blue/white 
enameled steel interior and aluminum frame door. The prior owner had messed it up to the 
point it didn't work, and then converted it to an ice box.  As much as I'd have liked to, 
I couldn't save it. Instead in went a new Dometic in such a way using proper materials it 
looked like it belonged there from the beginning. I kept all the removed parts for the 
next M16 I restore that is missing parts.  You can see it on the website.

I like the end result of the concept (hot rod) Airstreams that have been showing up as of 
late (I like to delude myself that they were hopeless basket cases to begin with). I think 
the key is that what they started, they finished - and in a quality manner.

Let me tell you two stories of what I'm talking about.

About a year ago, a Listee was giving everyone a running progress of how he was gutting 
his BambiII in preparation for a grand & glorious "overhaul", and created a website 
showing the carnage.., er... process. All the poor Bambi's guts were piled up in the 
desert sun. Along this went for awhile, with him outlining the new interior he planned to 
do.  About 6 months ago, that Bambi showed up in the VAC classifieds for sale, and an 
update on his webpage said that he didn't have the time or resources to complete the 
project.  Lesson: it is easy to take something apart, but 20 times harder to build 
something.

Story Two. (still with me?)
At a recent rally, this nice older lady was showing us the 1955 Bubble they had owned 
since new. Nice original condition outside, she proudly started showing us the interior 
and all the improvements and things they had done to it over the years. If you can, 
imagine the horror on our faces as we tried to politely nod and smile as she described how 
her husband had removed and threw away the rear dinette (a very rare Bubble layout) to add 
an extra bed, and how they had modified the galley for a microwave, toaster oven, storage 
& a new stove.  She sweetly told us how she had painted, by herself, a white latex 
over that "terrible speckled paint" on the inner skin surface.  Her husband had 
added/modified cabinets throughout, all using varnished fir plywood.  Did they, as owners, 
have the right to do it? Sure, no doubt. Did that Bubble irreversibly suffer and loose 
value as a result? Sure, no doubt again.

Moral: (every story has to have a moral)
Take the temporary stewardship of your Airstream seriously, and think through mods 
carefully from beginning to end. Plan how you will complete the project before you rip and 
tear. Make sure you have the skill, materials and resources to finish what you start. Use 
appropriate materials and workmanship, and lastly, salvage any removals (a source of $$$).

I apologize if any of these sounds a little fanatical, but I hope I can be the little 
voice of reason that sits in the back of everyone's head as they contemplate, "What if 
I.....?"

Later,
RJ
VintageAirstream.com