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Cooperative Motor Works

Vintage RV & Motorhome restorations - "The GMC Coop"

You are here: Home / Restorations / Gallery / Airstream Projects / 63 Tradewind

63 Tradewind

   I said I wasn’t crazy when I started this project- guess I should wait and let you make up your own mind!

Well, at least you can say its ready for work.  Hey, and you purists- this trailer was way too far gone to have any value as an “original restoration”.  The dents on the outside alone would preclude the unit of serious consideration so I’m free to do “whatever”.

Actually, the bathroom floorplan works pretty well, a tub in the corner (with ronded corners for sure, a stand up sink, mirror and 12 volt as well as 110 volt lighting- pretty neat!

So here you go

Airstream sink & Jim.jpg (59484 bytes)  This is the finished vanity top.  New SS sink, laminated counter with a “bar style” American Standard faucet  Bedroom work.jpg (61402 bytes)  I’ll get some closeup pics for you soon but I’m short on time so we move on to the twin bed walk through bedroom (thats decorator lingo for “ya havta walk through the middle of the beds ta get to tha bathroom”.  I wanted this section of the trailer to have a softer “earthtone” sleeping area so we wint with Taupe material and carried only some of the silvers & grays.

The windows could have gotten blinds and valences and they still may but I wanted to put in actual “block out” shutter sort of units in the bedroom.  This is where we started. Bedroom window before.jpg (58096 bytes)  Pretty sad looking hey, but what a view!  Yes, thats the rear section of a Palm Beach- where else could you look out your window and see that!  OK, why would you- all I have to say is “If you don’t understand, its possible you never will!”.  The wall is covered with my usual 1/8″ luan with a Taupe vinyl wrap sectioned to vertical “H” moldsBedroom window down.jpg (55792 bytes)  Wow, what a bad picture!  Well, that’s with the light gray shutter in the down position, and here it is Bedroom window up.jpg (50163 bytes)  we may do to Taupe on it as well but I thought with the silver screen and glass, the blank space might keep its look being gray- hey let’s see.

I’ll get back to the work and pics of both the completed bathroom sections and stuff about the bedroom finish tomorrow, in the meantime here’s a pic of the galley in a stable state, I’ll have the sink faucet and other stuff in there soon.

The original interior was together but showing wear from years of use.  The intent here is not to totally strip out the interior and start over although if that is what you want, just let me know.  Rather, I find the most economical method of renovation is to remove the damaged pieces, clean out the rot and build onto what is left.   Doing this, you retain the value of the work that was originally done and is still usable.  New colors, textures, fabrics and designs will go a long way to updating the unit even though the floorplan does not drastically change.

 Before    and after.  The frig cabinet is done.  We could have done many things with this area but in that the frig still worked, I decided to see what we could do with what we had.

Before    Galley together.jpg (62816 bytes) and after.  Going for a 60’s style, the rounded cabinet, “controlled chaos” door fronts and contrasting colors fit the bill.  Yes, the old cabinet is still under there but there have been a few modifications.

      60’s is where the front of this trailer is at.  Grays & metallic gives this the “retro techno” style.  The front sofa bed was replaced by the custom A/V cabinet.  60’s styled panels on the left side give a “free floating” look to the wall.  We have created a transition between the ceiling and wall on the right side with contrasting colors.  The floor will be done in light gray carpet.

This style is most certainly not for everyone but this does give you an idea of what can be done.

Bathroom before

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