Wayne, Your observations regarding selling vs. asking prices of vintage trailers were interesting. I think it would be a worthwhile project for the "elders" of the VAC to create a databank of vintage trailer values to use as buying and selling guides and to assist members in obtaining insurance coverage and even assisting to resolve potential disputes between owners and insurance companies in the event of significant insured losses. I volunteer my assistance in whatever way I can be useful. I am frequently aware of the enormous contributions many of you have made to the vintage A/S hobby and the rest of us have just come along to enjoy or benefit from your efforts. The depressed prices may be a combination of a cyclical downturn (the stock market and economy) and seasonal (cold winter and high heating costs). Vintage Airstreams, although important to many of us, probably belong in the class of things considered discretionary spending or even luxuries. Since the stock market has been on a downward slope since last March and home heating costs are soaring, many folks are probably not as willing to spend money on something they don't need right now. Hopefully spring time wander lust and an improving economy will restore much of the lost enthusiasm. My vintage purchase was not representative but I'll share with you what I paid. It is a '66 Safari that was complete with the exception of the upholstery on the two gaucho beds. It had not been used or maintained in years and was very dirty, has a few light hail dings on the roof and one four inch shallow crease on the right rear corner just above the bumper end. The original plasticoat or long ago recoat is fair to good except the roof. It had two badly cut and poorly installed cheap Plexiglas windows. It needed many other repairs and replacements as well. I saw it sitting behind a farmer's house out in the county last summer and stopped to inquire about it. The old farmer first said he didn't want to sell it but was friendly and showed it to me. When I conveyed guarded enthusiasm he said he might take $2,000 for it. He was living in a very old and very run down farm house on which he had installed approximately 1/3 or a corrugated tin barn roof several years ago and the rest was deteriorated 50 - 60 year old shingles. Recognizing an opportunity, I inquired about trading my labor to complete the tin roof on his house for the Safari. We struck a deal, he bought the material, and I spent two weeks in July installing his roof. I'm not a professional roofer but had done a couple shingle roofs on my rent houses. I had no knowledge or experience with metal roofs. I put in about 70 hours of labor on the job and have told friends that at the value of my labor, $1/hour, I figure the vintage A/S cost me about $70. Realistically, my amateur but satisfactory job was probably worth $700 - $1400 considering prevailing rates in this area for unskilled or semi-skilled labor. I guess that was about what the trailer was truly worth but I had more free time than money available so it was an attractive deal to me. Owning the vintage A/S has opened up a new world of opportunity to learn about and share information about A/Ss, new friends, and new travel adventures. I am anxious to get it in serviceable condition so I can join the WDCU and VAC in some activities this year. Harvey Barlow Lubbock, TX WBCCI 1171, WDCU, VAC and a couple of Airstreams To unsubscribe or to change to a daily Digest, please go to http://www.airstream.net/vaclist/listoffice.html If replying back to this message, please delete all the unnecessary original text from your reply.
