Airstream-Restoration

Video # 1
1970 Airstream Overlander Land Yacht Restoration

The 1970 Overlander Yacht Trailer looks nothing short of nostalgic. This particular trailer has the trademark Airstream aluminum exterior and rounded shape. For those of you who don't know, Airstream is one of the oldest and most trusted manufacturers of recreational vehicles or RVs.

The Overlander Yacht Trailer model dates back to the 1950's and has become a classic. It has a long body, measuring twenty-seven feet (27 ft.) and spacious interiors. Its name is very fitting as it was certainly designed for those who want the luxury of comfort and space in their "home away from home".

Restoration and bodywork specialist Kevin Tetz's latest restoration project is a vintage Overlander Yacht Trailer from the 1970s. According to Kevin, this model was introduced in 1936. On his show Classic Rides, Kevin gives us a closer look at his project and discusses what kind of restoration work needs to be done.

Its distinct feature is that it has very roomy interiors. However, it is similar to other Airstream models in that it is complete with all the amenities found in their trailers, such as a kitchen, living area and bath.

Kevin likes that this trailer's "Vista View" windows are single-paned, while most Airstreams have double-paned windows. Thus, it eliminates the pesky problem of the condensation that gets in between the double panes. He decides to keep these windows.

What he doesn't like though is the vinyl wall coverings, which are now extremely discolored and dirty as expected. It will be difficult to remove this and might leave marks on the wall. But luckily, there are now paint finishes that remedy this.

Other areas that are in need of updating are the plastic blinds, which can be replaced with aluminum or wooden blinds. The convertible gaucho sofa that greets you upon your entrance in the side door looks really distressed. Kevin wants to replace these cushions.

The Airstream controls look really cool but most of them don’t work, so this is another area that needs fixing. The lighting inside the trailer is still in its original condition. It has a huge overhead lamp that we don't see in trailers nowadays, so he decides to keep it.

The frayed carpet definitely needs to be replaced, while the windows just need to be maintained and given new weather seals. A big concern for Kevin is the kitchen, which according to him, needs to be rebuilt entirely.

In the bedroom, he again points out the presence of the gaucho sofa beds. The covers are worn and need to be replaced. Another bed can also be installed into the bedroom in place of the original seat that is installed there now.

The kitchen and bedroom cabinets are made from a lovely wooden veneer. They are still in good condition and only need refinishing. He is also contemplating the replacement of the upper storage areas that have tambour doors. Another area in need of serious help is the bathroom, which needs to be repainted. Its faucets and fixtures need to be replaced.

Moving on to the Airstream's exteriors, he decides to replace the Airstream emblems, as they are old and faded. He also wants to install awnings, just like the other 1970-Airstream trailers.
Now that he knows what he wants to do with this trailer, the next step is finding the restoration resources and information necessary for completing this project.

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Continue on to part 2 of our series Video #2 Project Overview Continued