The Restoration (continued)

The external refrigerator vent had been replaced some time in it's past with an ill fitting plastic cover. The new vent covers are 28" long, so I had to rework one to the old style length of 24". To finish up the outside I replaced the broken rear bumper cover latches (Vintage Trailer Supply) and all the exterior hardware with stainless. The old plastic TV-Antenna lead-in unit was replaced with a manufactured duplicate using the end of a large PVC cap and a Radio Shack terminal strip.

New Antenna lead-in fitting. UV rays did in the old one
Reworked refrigerator vent cover and how it looks installed. (Click on image at left to see Restoration Topic on how to do it)

The original 30# LPG tanks were replaced with new aluminum Worthington tanks from Vintage Trailer Supply. This choice was made because of the ability to polish these tanks, but also their lighter weight and the Overpressure Device (OPD) valve requirement that took effect in 2001. The tongue and bumper was painted with Rustoleum "Aluminum" spray-paint. The jack required multiple applications of lithium grease sprayed into the top while running the jack up and down.

Business end of the trailer and the new Worthington aluminum tanks
As we were now into summer, our original estimate of a June 1 completion date came and went. I was starting to collect polishing materials, and Krista was sewing away on new fully lined curtains. She obtained new dense foam pads (Super Foam from O.U.S. Fabrics) and covered them with a durable upholstery material from a mill ends store. The replacement carpet was worn out (the original asbestos floor tiles had been replaced some time in the '80's), so I cut and installed a 3/8" foam backed commercial level loop polyester carpet in "dirt" color ("good choice" said the carpet distributor).

The wheels received a pair of new shoes - 6.70x15 LT (8ply) tires, new grease seals, and new Monroe shocks (fit the front of a 1960-67 Chevy Pick-up, Napa pn 94005). The brakes were inspected, too. The original moon hupcaps will get rechromed one day, but for now they got a good cleaning & polish. The tires only clear the front of the wheelwell by 1/4". This prevents any other tire but 6.70x15 LTs being used. Airstream did this to allow a refrigerator to be installed in the curbside galley between the door and the wheelwell.

And what did we save for last? The one thing that changed the Caravel from an "old trailer" to a "restored classic": Yep -"The Polish". I bought a Cyclo polisher & heads, $200 of Rolite polish, and went for it. I think the pictures speak for themselves. The final touch was the masking and painting of the "AIRSTREAM" metal placards above the front & back windows.

The front of the original size 6.70x15 tires clear the front of the wheelwell by 1/4"
The Airstream nameplate restored to its original blue. (Click on image to see more "how to" details)

Well, $8400* and 520 hours of unpaid work later, we have a classic restored Airstream that is fun to camp and travel in, a real attention getter at campgrounds, rest stops and events, and is a dream to tow. Would we do it again? Well, I am rather surprised at our answer -Yes, we would. Of course, many things we would do a whole lot different, but that is why experience is such a good teacher. Krista does not think she would do the upholstery again, and I would try to arrange to work on the exterior under some sort of building or cover, just to name a few. Check out the Restoration Topics section for ideas that can possibly help you do things right the first time (the stuff we wish we had known about).

* $3500 purchase price, $1100 transportation, $3800 parts & materials  (2000)

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