A Door, a Door, Adore Ya...

A 1955 Safari came in for a bit of work. Most people like a door that locks. This Safari has not been able to lock in a while. The door with in a door also cannot be used as a screen door since the screen was taken out by a dog, happy to see it's owners.

To replace the screen all the interior panels on the door had to be removed. The screen is riveted in between the door frame and the inside door skins.

I was hoping this door had a signature inside the door. For those not aware, Johnny Alonzo was the California factory door man of the mid 1950's into the early 1960's. He had a rather flamboyant way of signing the inside of each door he built. No luck here. 

A big issue the door had was the original door latch had been changed. A house style door knob would have originally been used. At some point it was changed to a Bargman L77 lock set. The alteration was done without much concern for the door frame. Two complete breaks had to be fixed.

The aluminum also had to be forced back into place since it was torqued all out of place.

An aluminum bar was fitted into the backside and riveted into place. I would had liked to weld this but the alloy felt so soft, I felt it would just turn to puddle.

The other side needed a mending plate added. 

You see one side so I bucked these rivets into place.

Next a new skin was made for the backside of the lock set.

New screen was stretched over the frame and the inner skins replaced.

Like semi new again.

Stronger than new. This is not original but a very good solution under the circumstances.

A beauty ring was fabricated for the outside of the door. The hole someone cut was too wide and I need to fill some gaps. The door now locks. Typical of old Airstream locks, it is a tricky one to lock, requiring some pushing and key wiggling. It locks now however.

The eyebrow was a bit beat down too.

I made a new one.

Inspections, Evaluation, and Congratulation.

I am from time to time asked to go and look at a trailer for a prospective buyer. Sometimes the time frame to make the inspection is very quick since an Ebay auction is coming to a close very shortly. I do my best to make it happen. When it is a repeat client(offender) I make it happen no matter how tight the work load is. When it is for anything pre 1962 I make certain it happens. The call came that I needed to go, not to so much inspect, but evaluate what was said to be a 1953 Sovereign. Well, not to split hairs but the Sovereign did not start production until 1954 . In 1953 it was called a Liner. This trailer was built in  the California plant and the actual production numbers were very low. The numbers are so low that there are no photos of any other 1953 Liners. If there had been an "O" before the "5006" on the vin plate, this would be an Ohio trailer built in 1954 with two doors. What am I saying? This is a very rare rig. Very rare indeed.

Right up front is the most damage to the skin. Typical of this era the tongue is way too short. When making a sharp turn the bumper hits the corners of the front. I have never seen a 53/54/55 without this damage. There are a few post on this blog where we repaired said damage before.

She is long! Low, skinny, and long!

Lots of wonderful Herh windows. I love the full bead on the segment panel edges. 

There is also a scare light at every corner. It has a push button switch. 

I did my best with the interior photos. Most of them were not good enough to publish so you will have to wait to see more detailed ones.

I absolutely dig these little round sinks. Cracked ice red laminate is a sweet touch too. 

All the lighting fixtures have a great nautical feel to them. 

She is fairly darn original, not unmolested, but fairly original. I counted seven metal upper cabinets total. The interior of this trailer is very exciting. 

Every airstream should have a love seat. 

It should also have the latest in lighting technology, florescent ring lighting.

Two singles that convert to a KING and a twin size permanent bunk. My evaluation; BUY IT NOW(That was not an option. He would have to meet a reserve.) She needs a complete restoration, but you probably never will find another like this one. 

A great part of these inspections/ evaluations is sometimes there are other things to look at.

Like a perfect 1940 Ford.

Or a 32 coupe.

Sometimes there are some real Cadillacs.

Sometimes there is a 1940 Criss Craft, 1940 Columbia bicycles...

Sometimes you go back a few days later and help retrieve it.

Sometimes it comes back to the shop too.

Now, that folks, is a real Airstream....