[A/S] Sue and Johns' Big Question

["Richard McFarland" <estatewagons@xxxxxxx>]

Sue - you have opened Pandora's Box!

Pricing is an issue that is full of subjectivity.

If you have no idea what an Airstream is - and just want
one - well "because"....be very patient....do your 
homework....as the potential for unknown costs is huge.

If you just want to own it and look at it...that is one thing.

If you want to use it...that is another thing.

A good place to start getting an idea of what is what - is
to look at all the photos available on a great website.

www.vintageairstream.net  

Go to the photo section and click around and look at 
various models by year.  One very important thing is to
start learning about the major changes that occured
over the years.  Construction type (number of roof
panels) the window style (jalousie or Corning or
Vista View etc.)  

The vintage Airstream e-list 
 (Vintage Airstream List) 
has an enormous archive available.
You will find it by looking over this site.

www.tompatterson.com

Here is the direct link to the e-mail list

http://www.tompatterson.com/VAC/VAList/listoffice.html
 

E-bay is another place to watch.  

I say "watch"...as the prices on E-bay may or may not necessarily 
reflect reality when it comes to pricing.  Sometimes maybe and
sometimes maybe not.  One cannot always tell.
An auction is ...well...an auction.  Pricing at an auction in general
may sometimes reflect reality and may sometimes reflect emotion 
and may sometimes just reflect "oops...what did I just do...!  In
other words...the Reno-Las Vegas-Atlantic City syndrome...

Look at the various Auto Trader papers around the country.  There
are several.  Look at various newspaper classifieds around the
country - both large town and small town.  (they are on-line)

It's really impossible to simply ask "how much should I pay"....
without including an enormous amount of information along
with that question - regarding the condition of the trailer.  And
not general condition - specific condition of specific features.

You might be surprised to learn what repairs and 
replacements will cost you.  It's one of those things where - if you
do not do the work yourself - you will have to deal with reality.
It is one of those areas where you will eventually realize that if
you do not do your own work - and the trailer you are interested
in buying is not the only one availabe (i.e. not extremely rare) - it
might make sense to buy the best one you can afford....rather than
the first one you see.  

A "bargain" can suddenly become a money-pit...
if you have to immediately replace the refrigerator and
the axles and the tires and the air conditioner and the toilet and the
entire plumbing system and the battery charger system and.....the
rotten areas in the floor!

Refrigerators - Axles (do some homework on the Dura-Torque
axles that are used on Airstreams) - Univolt systems - these are
just a few of the systems that might need work.

I am not trying to throw a lot of negative stuff at you...just the
opposite - this is all positive information.  Positive to you as a
potential owner - so that you begin to approach the whole
situation with perspective.

Airstreams (and RV's in general) are great if you know what is what...
anyone on this list will attest to that.  But the thing that everyone will
also tell you is that if you don't develop a realistic idea of what is what
you just may find yourself overwhelmed...and we don't want that to
happen!

Oh - and as to the 35' measurement...as a lot of people already 
mentioned - unless you are looking at a custom model (which
is possible) you probably are looking at a 30 footer.  
(do some homework on how Airstreams are measured) 
Have you looked into what it takes to tow
a trailer that size?  Do you own a vehicle that is properly
equipped to tow.  If you don't....then make sure you include
the cost of a proper tow vehicle in your cost equation!

Best Wishes (really!)  RL