1954 Airstream Cruiser 26' travel trailer . The most beautiful and sought after of all the vintage airstreams ! I started this project 15 years ago . All work was done by Tommy's Custom Coach Works in San Dieg, California . The original floor plan was a mid bath and kitchen with rear twins . When it was disassembled all the original wall panels and doors were kept to be used as patterns if I wanted to do an exact restoration . I had planned to do a custom interior . All of the 1950's and 1960's Airstream frames are completely destroyed by rust . I looked for years before I bought this on, they were all half gone and not repairable . I looked at several that people that had wasted $50 to $80k on restorations that had completely disintegrated frames . Because these trailer have a sealed belly pa, as crazy as it sounds they don't access the belly pan for a frame inspectio, it's like building a new home on a bed of sand . When you see an airstream with a big convex dent on the bod, that is because the frame is bending . I bought this one because it had a near perfect body . Working with Tommy's Custom Coach Works we designed a completely new frame . This is an enormous project and Tommy's is one of the very few places in the country capable of a project this size . To lift the body frome the frame you first have to build a welded square tube framework inside the the stripped out interior to support the thin wall aluminum body to keep it from collapsing when it is lifted . Then the new steel frame was fabricated atop the original and sent out to be powder coated . It was redesigned to improve structural integrity . There are 2 factors that cause these older airstreams to deteriorate so badly . #1 the belly pan with ultra thin stamped sheet metal frames wrapped in moisture absorbing fiberglass batting . #2 the wood floor is mounted in between the steel frame and the aluminum body , they leak water and it is absorbed into the wood causing it to rot away and the bolts to rust thru also the u-channel aluminum inside the body panels to erode . The body is completely loose from the rust frame and rotted wood . I had the replace the wood floor with 1/8" aluminum and the u-channel in the body with 1/8'" channel also . Marine grade stainless was used for all bolts and fasteners . So there is no structural wood . This thing is designed to last another 100 years . Absolutely no costs were spared in the frame replacement . All new 10 ply trailer tire, wheels and vintage hubcaps . All new trailer stainless steel vintage trailer lighting . All new wiring for the trailer lights and brake wiring . New springs and shackles .It is ready to tow anywhere . Current registration and clear title in my name . As I stated earlier you have the option to use the original panels to restore to the original floor plan or a custom design . The really difficult part is done . It is now a beautiful empty canvas ready to make your dreams come true . I have retired and just don't have the time left to finis, I have moved on to sailing ! My loss will be your gain. So good luck ! Located in San Dieg, Ca. 92110
