Frank,
I love to see original units in perfect shape with no changes and
everything working and used, but that's partly because they are so
unusual and inspire the conservationist in me. But, as Harvey Barlow so
neatly summed it up, and Bill Scott made it clear, it's a trailer you
want to trailer in and should be comfortable for you to do so. Original
working trailers have a lot of competition for them when they come on
the market, but those in good working condition with all systems go that
are altered with good taste and good sense are in high demand, too.
More buyers want a usable travel trailer, than an all original unit that
must be redone from bottom to top and won't be ready for the road for
several years and until lots of $$$$$$$$$$$$$ is invested. There are a
lot of reasons why Vintage units are chosen, but the initial one is;
more often than not, that a family or couple doesn't want to pay $25,000
to $60,000 for a new Airstream right now but wants an Airstream and
wants to hit the road. Some of us want the challenge and love an
involved project, though, and I (personally) am just not all there when
it comes to Airstreams and have trouble resisting buying 50's units that
are original as possible. Take heart, you did what was right for you
and that's what counts. You are happy with your trailer, aren't you? I
am sorry to hear of your wife's illness. I hope you can find a way to
use it. If you could get a hitch and take it to a nearby camping spot,
maybe you could have a pleasant break from home this summer without too
much hassle. It doesn't sound as if you have really done anything to
reduce the value of the unit though.
Best of wishes for you both,
Tom Walden
> Faith Navarro wrote:
>
> We recently bought a 1974 Land Yacht Airstream not knowing anything
> about RV's and never even thought or shopped for one. Just heard it
> advertised so looked at it , decided price was cheap enough to see if
> we'd like camping and then came home and fell in love, found out and
> joined up to be able to receive the Blue Beret and then joined the VAC
> and have just become fully dedicated to Airstream.
> We live on a busy highway and hadn't put much thought into our find
> until people started stopping and asking if they could see it or if
> they could buy it. That's when we thought we'd better find out about
> what we had bought.
> As I said, it is a 1974 27' Land Yacht that was only used for 5
> years and then kept in storage so everything is in like new condition
> except for the curtains had faded some and it had that closed stale
> smell.
> Now, I',m wondering if we made a mistake. We put all new carpet down
> except for in the kitchen with matching linoleum and took out the
> fitted (Top and bottom attached) drapes and hung new drapes
> throughout. We left them free flowing on the bottoms and in the back
> bedroom, there is a double bed and we took the bottom curtain rail
> off, cut a link out of it and moved it to the top so it would come out
> from the wall a couple of inches, then proceeded to hang new drapes
> completely around the entire bedroom as was originally, making them to
> open around the windows, and using velcro tabs to attach to the wall
> at the bottoms so we wouldn't have curtain hanging on us while we are
> in the bed. It looks beautiful with everything coordinating but I'm
> wondering, for vintage value, if we damaged it in value by these
> changes. We still haven't had it out of the yard as we hadn't found a
> receiver hitch to fit and now the wife has become very ill and we may
> never get to take it out and now that we know how people feel about
> these, we would be just sick to think we had taken anything away from
> such a precious piece of history.
> Under the circumstances, we have no idea of what one should or would
> be worth and no idea of what they cost new but just haven't taken the
> time to check the book, or papers etc.
> Have we spoiled something dear and precious? We were thinking that
> if we couldn't use it that we might sell it to someone who would
> appreciate it and treat it
> with the respect that we are learning about with Airstream owners.
> We finally found a unit that it close enough to meet with but
> because of my wife's health, have not even been able to meet anyone.
> Any input would be appreciated. Frank Navarro
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