I couldn't take it any more, I had to have a Safari SE front-bed. It's just so cool, while still being totally iconic and classy. So it's with its rightful owner and everyone is happy.
So it's a worthy replacement for my 1972 Trade Wind though it's a little heavier and wider but it's such an outstanding floorplan with the door at the back of the coach, a dinette for 4 and the very back, a full-sized lounge, then the galley, followed by a water closet on the right and a full shower on the left, then the bedroom.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Friday, March 14, 2008
Going, Going, GONE!
Well, that didn't take long! I posted my ad on Craigslist North Bay (SF) and Sacramento, started getting e-mails the next day, and had people scheduled to come out and view it for both Saturday and Sunday. I received offers from the first two groups of viewers and took the first one. They came out from the Sacramento area and already had a similar vintage 23' Safari model but it was all-original and hadn't been updated. They, like the second group, were looking for something that was ready to go immediately, which, of course, mine was. I had just washed it, cleaned the windows, and scrubbed and dusted the interior. I do have to say, it was looking pretty good when people viewed it and I was feeling some remorse about selling it.
After they gave me the deposit I contacted the other interested parties and let them know that it was sold. The second group was interested in using it for a very cool documentary project that would be traveling around the US and I have to confess that I would love seeing my Trade Wind in a documentary but first come, first served.
What was particularly interesting to me is how much people took to it being ready to go. A part of me had felt guilty about replacing the original appliances with modern automatic-lighting pilot appliances (fridge, water heater, oven, etc.) but it turns out that everyone I talked to really wanted those things already done. Of course, much of my trailer was still faithful to the period in appearance (I'll post some photos later). In thinking about it, there are a ton of vintage Airstreams out there that have been neglected, partially updated/restored, but few are truly ready-to-go. If someone had the space and time, it could actually be a viable business to get them dialed in and resell them. There are few shops that do it around the country and the better-known ones tend to do major restorations (and as a result the whole project can be $40k+). Interesting to me....
After they gave me the deposit I contacted the other interested parties and let them know that it was sold. The second group was interested in using it for a very cool documentary project that would be traveling around the US and I have to confess that I would love seeing my Trade Wind in a documentary but first come, first served.
What was particularly interesting to me is how much people took to it being ready to go. A part of me had felt guilty about replacing the original appliances with modern automatic-lighting pilot appliances (fridge, water heater, oven, etc.) but it turns out that everyone I talked to really wanted those things already done. Of course, much of my trailer was still faithful to the period in appearance (I'll post some photos later). In thinking about it, there are a ton of vintage Airstreams out there that have been neglected, partially updated/restored, but few are truly ready-to-go. If someone had the space and time, it could actually be a viable business to get them dialed in and resell them. There are few shops that do it around the country and the better-known ones tend to do major restorations (and as a result the whole project can be $40k+). Interesting to me....
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