1953 Airstream Flying Cloud. Serial O3005, made in Ohio in 1953, 5th unit off the line.

This classic vintage Airstream was completely rebuilt by Colin Hyde with the shell removed from the frame and everything inspected, repaired or replaced to make it roadworthy for another 50 years. Colin started by rebuilding the frame with space for tanks and a spare tire up front, and fully coated it. A new axle was installed with new brakes and tires. The outside shell was repaired and all penetrations from windows to vents were redone. The outside has been polished to a mirror shine. The inside shell was removed to replace all the insulation with two layers including the reflective foil type, and to fully clean everything down to the framework. The unit had modern plumbing and electrical installed with a 6 gallon hot water heater, sink, wet bath with sink and shower and toilet, and a new water pump. Electrical included two batteries inside up front, new wires everywhere. Colin created the wet bath and the kitchen cabinet to house the microwave, stovetop, and sink. Marmoleum flooring was installed. The inside shell was reinstalled with a light buff to create a soft aluminum finish. Black, grey, and fresh water tanks are installed. Colin’s efforts took over a year.

My efforts as a furniture maker started after that. To build all the spaces inside and I took much longer. My build is documented completely in an old thread on Airstream Forums –

https://www.airforums.com/forums/f73/1953-flying-cloud-project-cabinetry-finally-49151.html

I documented my entire build of the inside of the trailer, from all my design decisions, to the actual construction details, with loads of pictures and comments along the way.

The end result is Classic Vintage Airstream Trailer in the 50s era with the 13 panel end caps, professionally restored by one of the best in the business (Colin Hyde) doing everything from the ground up, and then getting the cabinetry finished by a furniture maker (yours truly). The end result is a light weight, completely road worthy, customized trailer with more usability than you will find in many larger trailers.

There are many vintage trailer shells out there, but finding one that has been professionally rebuilt from the ground up is rare, finding one that has been refreshed with this level of cabinetry on the inside is even rarer. And having the end result being in the towable range of a much larger selection of vehicles is an amazing combination. I towed this unit up and down the east coast with my Honda Ridgeline with a tow rating of 5000 lbs and a tongue rating of 500 pounds with ease.

Also included in the sale are all my RV supplies to get this on the road immediately including the weight distribution hitch, water hoses, electric cables, leveling blocks – everything I used when I went on the road with the unit. Our lives have changed and we have new challenges ahead of us that are keeping us closer to home. So time for someone else to enjoy this unit for the next 50 years.