HOW DOES PRICING WORK?
Anyone unfamiliar with the Airstream market may be sticker shocked by the prices. The math however, is simple. Our Airstream “shells” typically cost around 15k. Parts and materials to complete the restoration—using only the best—comes in around 50k. We average anywhere around 1,000-2,000 shop hours per Airstream. If you assume a low-end shop rate of $125/hr well… Suddenly, it sounds reasonable!
If you compare our complete, ready-to-go Airstream to commissioning a build through any other reputable Airstream restoration company (which will conservatively take 1.5-3 years start to finish) , it really becomes a no-brainer! Most of these outfits are up front with you, and you can find on their websites that commissioned, full Airstream frame-off restorations typically average anywhere from $200-350k. As far as comparing their completed products to ours, well, we’ll leave that to you.
So yes, we’re charging as much or more than a brand new Airstream. But we’re also building Airstreams with comparable or often even better specs than new Airstreams, that have 60+ years of vintage value, for significantly less than it would cost to build a similar project through any Airstream shop.
Besides, in our opinion, after founder Wally Byam’s passing in 1962, Airstream lost their magic and moved away from that gorgeous curvature and swept tail to its current more boxy “squarestream” shape in the 70s. Which is why many enthusiasts say post-Byam Airstreams will never have the value of those crafted under Byam’s leadership.
They don’t make them like they used to.
We consider our Airstreams to be an investment
With proper maintenance, our builds are designed to last a lifetime, and then continue their journey as a family heirloom. With our firm foundation, they can easily be refreshed many years down the road, without having to undergo full restorations again.
They’re not cheap, but will hold their value, and vintage Airstreams can work for you too! They’re far and away the most popular RV on AirBnB, and easily beat out tiny homes for where folks would rather stay on their weekend getaway. Then of course you can hook it up and take it on your own vacation across the country!
There’s a reason so many people would rather have vintage Airstreams on their properties, not tiny homes or gigantic fifth wheels… The nostalgia and vibe is totally unmatched. Instead of an eyesore on your property, it’s eye candy! Who doesn’t want to check out your vintage Airstream?!
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
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In short, we like them how Wally made them.
If you love a shiny retro look and hundreds of hours of upkeep every year or so, polished Airstreams are for you!
Truth is, Airstream didn’t polish them to start with, and while doing so may not “ruin them”, in our view it also doesn’t add much other than loads of required maintenance. The Aistreams we work with are over 60 years old. The sun, wind, and road over these many decades have left their mark. Beautiful stories told by wear and tear. So personally we don’t touch them. Well… We do wipe the dust off after they’ve undergone a full restoration in our shop, but that’s it.
How it looks from here on out is your story to continue!
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Yes! We do, but if you’re choosing us it’s because you like our style, and want something similar… You also want the very best, with no corners cut. Remember, we specialize in the golden years of Airstream, 1964 and older. There are plenty of shops who do great work with the later year Airstreams, they’re just not our thing.
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A full monty will typically take 6 months to complete, depending on workload at time of start. Generally, we try to have a mix of commissioned projects, and personal projects made for the market. If commissioned builds are underway, we focus on them before our spec units. So if you’re in the market to have a top-of-the-line vintage Airstream yesterday and like what you see, grab what we have available before it’s too late!
The best time to get your Airstream project underway was last year… The next best time is now!
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Absolutely, most insurers that insure RVs will insure your vintage Airstream. Further, Polk & Associates specializes in appraising vintage Airstreams for insurance policy purposes. Visit their website to learn more.
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While we are not qualified to offer investment advice… We absolutely think so!*
With proper maintenance, our builds are designed to last a lifetime, and then continue their journey as a family heirloom. With our firm foundation, they can easily be refreshed many years down the road, without having to undergo full restorations again.
They’re not cheap, but will hold their value, and vintage Airstreams can work for you too! They’re far and away the most popular RV on AirBnB, and easily beat out tiny homes for where folks would rather stay on their weekend getaway.
Then of course you can hook it up and take it on your own vacation across the country!
There’s a reason so many people have vintage Airstreams on their beautiful properties, not tiny homes or gigantic fifth wheels… The nostalgia and vibe is totally unmatched. Instead of an eyesore on your property, its eye candy! Who doesn’t want to check our your vintage Airstream?!
*We believe certain years are better investments than others, read more here:
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They’re vintage, but they’re still RVs, and most lenders that will lend for RV purchases will just need an appraisal—such as one from Polk & Associates. It’s surprisingly simple, depending on your lender and your personal financial profile.