To Jeff Grill, Hey Jeff, Congrats on this shell off restoration you are doing on your 61 Bambi. You are the first I have heard, that is doing a "shell off", on a Bambi. You are correct about the year. It is a 1961, made in Santa Fe Springs, CA (SS). Many Airstreams have mistakes in the title because salesmen and clerks during the registration process, make mistakes. Back to the exciting stuff, with your "shell off". The two inside domes are made of fiberglass, and I don't know if you could walk it out the door. I remember a guy did "the walk" with a Globe Trotter, about a year ago, and he felt like a "turtle" struggling with that dome, but he did get it out. I think you can probably walk the dome out the Bambi door, but you better measure it first. The Bambi is narrower than other coaches, and the door is shorter. In terms of lifting the shell off the floor, it should not be difficult since it is so light. I doubt it weighs, with windows, more than 200 lbs. You could lift the body, then remove the inside domes, replace the fiberglass insulation, then sit it down on the new floor. Please take lots of pictures, of the body and frame and channel, because, I think this might be, "A Bambi First". Keep all the pictures for your "Shell Off" restoration scrap book. We would love to see you at an International Concours d'Elegance. Those fiberglass inside domes, are original. I think they will flex when lifting the shell off the floor. Did you design a harness, or are you going to slip some 2x4's under the floor and have 4 men lift it gently? I've often thought of doing a shell off on my Bambi, but it just doesn't need it. Good Luck Jeff, and keep us informed. Bill Scott 61 Bambi, VAC & WBCCI #3221 1VP & Membership Chairman , WDCU http://www.servintfree.net/wbcci-dc/
Hello, My name is Jeff. I have learned alot from lurking on the list. I have a Bambi 1963, I think, I found the following numbers on the ID plates 16TDSS1779, under this is 5 61, this is on the Airstream plate with a picture of a man on a bicycle pulling an A/S. Another plate right beside it reads M-4 S-1779 2109 under it is a DoH 114874 I think this is a California plate showing acceptability for sale in CA from the wording. The title that came with it shows 1963 but the above makes me think it may be a 1961. Any way to my real question. I have gutted the entire thing even the inner skins with the exception of the inside top ends (the curved dome ends) which are fiberglass (very thin maybe 1/8 to 3/16 of an inch). I will eventually need them off to replace the old water damaged insulation, and update the wiring, but as I am getting set to pull the body to replace the floor I have a question for anyone who has been this far into the interior of their coach. Will I be more likely to damage the fiberglass with the flexing of carrying the body (now free of the floor channel) or by trying to get those compound curved sheets of fiberglass out the door?? My other question is are these fiberglass ends original? the only vintages I have seen are all aluminum interiors (not that I have seen that many). Any comments, suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated. I am really looking forward to one day using my Bambi, the short term goal however is to get the floor off, axle rebuilt and back on a freshly painted frame, so that I can put on a new floor, floor channel, new belly pan and then finally get the body back on and sealed up before winter hits. That way I can spend all winter dry while I rebuild the interior. Sorry for the long post. I don't know why it takes me so many words to ask a simple question about fiberglass (c: Thanks in advance, Jeff
