We all know some well preserved ladies that fudge a little bit on their age, right?  Well, Lil Bird is actually a
1956 Safari, not a 1957 as listed on her title & the CraigsList ad.  
She is number 6421 which puts her towards the end of the year in 1956 model year - the range is 6300 - 6433.  
So she was probably sold & registered in 1957...but built in 1956.

The exterior is very straight, doesn't have clear coat and only one window with some silicone on it.  There are a few "issues" like black rub-marks that will buff out but all-in-all it's pretty clean.  There have been a few modifications around the services area on the streetside - but nothing major!
At the bottom left of the window is the only real  "beauty-mark" we have on the outside.

Not too bad...we'll see about removing it...or possibly replacing the panel at some point.

Otherwise, just minor scratches, mars, very faint WBCCI  ghost numbers #1905 and some other sticker residue - that will buff out without too much problem.


There she is...all tucked into her backyard nest.

"Things are going to get worse before they get better"
We are SO "not flower people", it doesn't seem it can get much worse, at least for us!

Everything is enveloped in "faux-finish" paint, wallpaper & flowers...can't wait to see what's under there!

These were taken the day after we brought her home...


Back Bedroom Area


Front Kitchen

Mid Dinette

 
 

The good news is, all the cabinetry, hinges & latches are "there" they just need to be stripped.  
Who knows what lurks beneath...


There are even flowers under flowers...and green under green!

We haven't "fired-up" any of the appliances yet...but they all look barely used.

 
 

The Princess stove/oven even has the original sticker still on it!  



We seriously need to invest in stripper stock...even the plastic laminate counters are "faux-finished".  



I love the Humphrey Lamp!

The bathroom on the other hand...uh, well it's "drop to daylight" literally!  

 

No tanks in 1956 and the toilet is clearly missing.
There was a porta-potti in here though (green, of course!)

...but that was the first thing to go...no extra charge for the "vintage" contents included!!!

The next things to go...day one, were the matteress, the curtains and the previous residents!





  

Now the fun begins!

We have just started digging into things, identified our "To Do List" and started our wish list. Most were not surprises...we aren't that far into it yet...we're sure there will be surprises, we just don't know what they are yet.
  • New Toilet 
  • New Water Heater - electric only when new, it was removed by PO
  • Re-plumb w/Pex - hot water piping completely gone & the cold done (poorly) with Pex
  • New 20 or 30lb (undecided) aluminum propane tanks - out dated 20lb steel included
  • New tongue jack - not sure about manual or electric
  • Re-Pack Wheel Bearings
  • New Wheels 
  • New Tires
  • Need 2 Fantastic Fans
  • Need 120/12v systems re-vamped - no inverter/converter present - park-model
  • Add black tank - park-model, drop to daylight - not sure if over or under floor yet
  • Need door handle bezel - handle is okay, but bezel is broken
  • Fix bad floor sections @ corners
  • Fix loose step @ entry
  • Check Stove - clean & repair as needed
  • Check Fridge - clean & repair as needed
  • Check Heater - clean & repair as needed
  • Strip floor tiles - at least two layers
  • Strip the cabinets / refinish wood
  • Strip the walls - most likely re-Zolatone
  • New Foam - it's yucky & crunchy
  • New Draperies - don't like the flowers
  • New Linoleum - we like it in Maxwell so we're going to use again
  • New Upholstery - don't like the flowers
  • New sliding door panels @ upper cabinets - now masonite, painted & wallpapered
  • New marker lights - teardrops were replaced with ovals at some point
  • New Pole Awning
  • New Window Awnings
  • Paint Airstream plaques
  • POR-15 Tongue & bumper
  • Replace door gasket
  • Replace window gaskets
  • Repair one damaged screen
  • Replace one broken window mechanism
  • Polish