Just a quick note that I recently purchased a surviving Airstream trailer from the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan! It is a 1962 22' Safari bearing the WBCCI numbers 6768 along with the names of the original owners and the countries visited on the front curb side corner of the trailer. Inside the door within a door are stickers from some of the countries and cities visited, including several from the USSR and Stockholm, Munich, and Paris!

#6768 was originally bought and taken on the ATW caravan by Ralph and Geraldine Cramer of Urbana, Illinois. I have photos of #6768 in Bangkok, Thailand and in front of the Kremlin in Moscow.

#6768 sat unused for a number of years before Lorrie and I purchased it, so it needs some work, but it is amazingly original, still with all of its original appliances and systems. The first goal is to get it weather tight before winter. Then next year we can begin working on repairs and getting the systems fully functional. We definitely want to be able to camp in it and display it by 2013 so that it can participate in any VAC or WBCCI celebrations of the 50th anniversary of the ATW caravan.

Well, that's enough new for now. A few photos are attached. For more details and more photos, see this thread on AirForums: www.airforums.com/forums/f492/around-the...am-6768-a-82018.html

Joe, thanks for posting the pictures. This will be a great historic restoration. Do you plan to restore it to what it was on the ATW, a bag awning as an example?

Jim

Hi Jim,
My plan was never to do a "body off" restoration, but the plan continues to evolve as I work on the trailer to get it weather tight and get the tail lights working before winter.

I want to make this trailer a survivor, as close to it's condition from the ATW caravan as possible. To that end, I do not plan to replace or upgrade anything that I don't absolutely need to. Existing parts and appliances will be put back into working order, but will generally not be replaced, even if proper duplicate items in better shape, are found. Dented or creased skin panels will generally not be replaced, nor will the skin be polished, because I wouldn't want to polish off the original WBCCI numbers, nor the names of the original owners, nor the list of countries visited.

Repairs will be made where necessary (e.g. repairing the one known hole through the floor and any other soft spots that are found, dealing with front and rear separation, etc.). The axle will have to be replaced so the trailer does not continue to beat itself up on every bump in the road. Correct tail lights will be put back on the trailer. I may put a correct unmodified battery box back on the front if I can find one.

The "Carefree" patio and rear awnings that were added later (estimate in the 1970's) will be removed and maybe eventually replaced with a "rope and pole" (or Bag?) patio awning, as can be seen in photos from the ATW caravan.

That's the plan for now anyway.

Just a quick update to state that Lorrie and I were able to change our WBCCI # to match our ATW trailer, so our number is now 6768 (instead of the previous 5533).

I should also note that we worked on our trailer through mid November trying to get it weather tight before winter. The thread on AirForums has been updated with current photos and a status update on the trailer. Our work is probably done for the winter due to the cold weather, but we were able to get most seams caulked, door gaskets replaced, and a few window gaskets replaced. Additionally, we were able to get new correct tail lights and a new umbilical cord and break away switch installed. Most of the 12VDC and 110VAC electrical systems were tested and most of what was tested was found to work. Testing and repairing the water and propane systems and all appliances will have to wait until next year, as will a new axle and some floor/shell attachment issues.

It's been a good start, but much to do next year (unless we find a heated indoor space to work on the trailer through the winter).

Happy Holidays!

Joe that is all well and good but how about some pictures on THIS website + some exclusive pics for the VAC members ...

Hi Bob,
I wish pictures posted here displayed a little larger, like on "that other site". The fact that they don't diplay large enough to see without opening them discourages me from posting more photos here, but . . . you want a VAC exclusive?

Here you go. Here are three photos I just got from the son of the original owners of our ATW Airstream. They are examples scanned from his parents slides and were labeled as having been taken in October 1963. I assume they were taken in Malaysia. Enjoy!

Photo 1: #6768 in a long line of Airstreams at a camp site (with security guard?).
Photo 2: The truck that pulled #6768, likey with Ralph Cramer standing in front of it.
Photo 3: A Muddy Road. Or a "Byam Boulevard" as they used to call bad roads.

These pics are very cool! Thanks!
(Actually My pics are not attachments and display much larger.) See the "Around the World Airstream".

Looks great Joe!! Look forward to seeing more and more!

Wow Scott! Your first post on the VAC forums!

xbob2 wrote:

How did you do that? Did you copy and paste from somewhere else rather than use the "attachment" feature?