Okay, so here we are, it's March 2007 and we are very content with our 1964 Globetrotter "Maxwell". We are 98% "there" with the restoration only the details & minor things left to do - most wouldn't even have bothered with some of the "projects" we had in mind ...everything is in working order and he has kinda taken on a life of his own with his own website & following.
Maxwell - Our 1964 GlobeTrotter We weren't actively looking for another Airstream, but had seen photos and always thought the layout of the mid-50's front kitchen Safari was kinda cool and who doesn't love those 13 panels! We had only admired 50's Safari's from afar, never having seen one in real life. Once we did, at the WBCCI International Rally in Salem Oregon, we fell even more in love with the layout! It didn't hurt that the trailer we saw was also awarded the VAC "Best in Show" during the Concourse d'Elegance. During happy hour, we casually mentioned to our Airstream buddies under the awnings with margaritas in hand that we would love to have one of those "someday"... Well, "someday" is here...out of the blue, a "little birdie" emailed us about this find on Craig's List....and look what followed us home!
Lil Bird aka "Birdy" - Our 1956 Safari As it turns out...the name we have given her "Lil Bird" is a part of the many facets of our coming together we really didn't have a choice of naming "her" anything else. A "little birdie" named Fred mentioned the Craig's List notice, which was very vague - all it said was: "1957 (wrong - it's a 1956) Airstreem (typo as listed) for sale - call for more info" We went to check it out the morning after we found out about it. Fred had already been out to check things out earlier in the week and let us know his thoughts. When we arrived, they were actually having a garage sale at the house and we "just happened by" without calling. The owner's boyfriend was out front and let us peek inside "the ol' camper" which was piled high with all kinds of "stuff", However, we were able to see the "diamond in the rough" and made an offer to buy it right then & there. He could not commit to sell it because it was owned by his girlfriend - not him. He told us to come back in about an hour when his girlfriend would be out tending the garage sale. So we left and came back later. The girlfriend/seller (Lynette) is the grand-daughter of the original owner who had recently passed away. Justin, the boyfriend really wanted the trailer gone so he could expand his business, but Lynette was emotionally attached to it - even though they had never used it - and the death of her grandma was still a bit fresh. They had actually turned away several offers to buy it earlier that week. But somehow we "clicked". When we came back, we asked to see the inside again and in talking with Lynette we asked her what her grandma's name was because we like to name our cars & trailers after their original owners...she told us her first & middle names were actually Lily Bird but they all called her Lil Bird. We mentioned that we have a kitty named Lily and we called her Lily Bug and kinda had a chuckle about that. Anyway, after about 15-20 minutes, she said she needed to think about whether she was ready to sell "the camper", to make sure she was okay with selling it at all and she would call us back later in the day. So we left...not knowing if we had a deal or not. A couple hours later Lynette called and said she decided to sell it to us for less than the offer we made (that never happens!). She just needed a week to clean it out and we could come get it...no deposit required. The main reason she said she picked us was because of our kitty named Lily. So, the waiting game once again had started...no deposit required, the title was with her mother who was in Oregon and had to send it her to Colorado and we just had her word that she would sell it to us...not exactly the ideal situation...but it all worked out exactly as agreed upon. So
here we go...we are starting all over again with a whole new set of
rules but a lot of knowledge we didn't have the first time.
As
our "lil bird" Fred said "It's a great solid trailer, in the floor plan
you want...just waiting to be released from white paint jail".
While that may be a bit of an understatement, things have
certainly changed since we restored Maxwell in 2002, there is so much
more information on the web & forums, more parts available and
we
have
met so many terrific Airstreamers in the last five years that
we
are so much more at ease this time, even though it will be a much
bigger project...we
are excited to take this one on! Check out the "as found" section to see the extent of our project ahead ~ Once again, we would love to hear any feedback and encouragement as we progress through our renovation - different Airstream, different era, different problems to resolve, I'm sure! We really don't have a time table on this one as we still have Maxwell to camp with in the meantime. Although, we'd like to have her on the road by the summer of 2008. We may go out roughing it a couple of times this year...we'll see! Check back for our progress along the way... Happy Trails! Rob & Shari Davis
Thanks Fred...we owe you maragritas for life!
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