Help with identifying

[Russ G]

Have a chance to buy a neighbors airstream. 1958, no plate???? Double axle. Looks like a trade wind....

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Russ G

Have a chance to buy a neighbors airstream. 1958, no plate???? Double axle. Looks like a trade wind....

A couple of photo's would help.

Andy

[reinergirl]

Gonna need pictures!

[Keyair]

Maybe you meant to post this in the Trailer section??

[overlander64]

Greetings Russ G!

Welcome to the Forums and the world of Vintage Airstreams!

Originally Posted by Russ G

Have a chance to buy a neighbors airstream. 1958, no plate???? Double axle. Looks like a trade wind....

Should the Airstream acftually be a 1958, it would be either an Ambassador (28') or a Sovereign of the Road (30') Prior to 1964, the Tradewind would have been a single axle unless special ordered with tandems by the original owner. Prior to 1960, even the Overlanders (26') were single axle unless special ordered with tandmes (the tandem axle special order on Overlanders became common after about 1957). If the coach happen to be a 1968 or 1978, then it could be a Tradewind or Overlander.



1958 Overlander -- see this link.




1968 Tradewind -- see this link.




1978 Tradewind -- see this link.

or, you can try the site below and see Airstream photos by year and model:

Vintage Airstream Photo Archives - Vintage Airstream

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[Russ G]

Does this show up?

[Russ G]

It looks the most like the overlander.... What are your thoughts?

[n2batr]

I would think California made overlander. Should be 26 ft bumper to coupler if you measure it, Ed

[Russ G]

http://www.airstream.com/files/libra...7493d88ec7.pdf

[overlander64]

The window style and placement threw me initially. I haven't seen very many 1958 Overlanders, but quite a few 1957. Checked the photo archives on Vintageairstream.com, and found one with the same window style and placement.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

P.S.: Just thought of another difference . . . the 1958 is likely to have a Marvel 2" coupler rather than the 2 5/16" coupler found on your 1973.

[Russ G]

So think it's the 1958? California. Does that make any difference? It sure traveled a long way if so....

[n2batr]

No just that wheel well style is usually from the california factory. Mine is the same style on a double axle 58 overlander. Ed

[Russ G]

Ed, you have a 58' overland? If so, could you post some pics?

[n2batr]

Mine is actually on vintage airstream.com. it's #26-7137 26 ft overlander. It was a custom double door model so may not be of help in your identification. It looks very different now as it has undergone a shell off restoration. Ed

[Russ G]

ok, a little more help. this seller says she cannot find any identifying numbers other than a faded Wally Caravan stencil, and the trailer number on the top of 2145. Is it possible there is no way to identify it?

[overlander64]

Greetings Russ G!

Originally Posted by Russ G

ok, a little more help. this seller says she cannot find any identifying numbers other than a faded Wally Caravan stencil, and the trailer number on the top of 2145. Is it possible there is no way to identify it?

I am not certain what you mean by identification. Typically, you should find a VIN tag beside the door . . . it is likely to be a small rectangle. If the coach is missing its VIN tag, the VIN number is usually stamped somewhere on the frame, typically on the hitch A-Frame (it may be obliterated by multiple coats of paint). There may be other points where the VIN is stamped but that is one that has been mentioned on a regular basis.

Should you be trying to trace the trailer's ownership history, even WBCCI membership numbers may not be a real solid lead as the numbers belong to the member and follow the member and not the trailer. A couple of members here on the Forum have old WBCCI Directories and will look-up numbers to determine their owners. In some states (probably fewer now than every before with changes in rules/regulations on privacy) the DMV for a fee will perform a title search that returns the previous owner's names.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

P.S.: Sometimes old WBCCI ghost numbers will become apparent when the endcaps are polished . . . sometimes it can be difficult to tell which ghosts go together if there have been very many prior owners who were also WBCCI owners.

[Russ G]

thanks again kevin. I am trying to make sure it is a real trailer i guess, as well as the model. i have to drive a long way to get it, and i'm not up for the drive if i can't be sure what it is. it's my mom's neighbor, and neither one of them seem very capable of getting me a number. so far, they have given me the top number 2145, which i know is only a caravan number.
the other numbers she has given me are 7006 and 1033513. she seems confused and i have asked her to look at the trailer tongue and that's what she got.

[Tmck]

I have a 1957 California built overlander # 6824. I believe the 1958 started with serial # 7000 at the California facility. Looks like a early production 1958.

[overlander64]

Greetings Rus G!

Originally Posted by Russ G

thanks again kevin. I am trying to make sure it is a real trailer i guess, as well as the model. i have to drive a long way to get it, and i'm not up for the drive if i can't be sure what it is. it's my mom's neighbor, and neither one of them seem very capable of getting me a number. so far, they have given me the top number 2145, which i know is only a caravan number.
the other numbers she has given me are 7006 and 1033513. she seems confused and i have asked her to look at the trailer tongue and that's what she got.

The number 7006 may be the VIN. According to the Vintage Airstream Photo Archive, 1958 California Overlanders have VIN numbers beginning at 7000. Not a definitive answer, but if the owner has either an old registration card or a copy of the title, there should be a VIN/Serial Number on one of those documents. The site referenced above indicated that the 7000+ serial numbers were utilized early in the production run in California, but another number system took over later in the model year.

Good luck with your investigation!

Kevin

[n2batr]

Yep , mine is 26-7137. Should be on a approx 4x 1.5" metal plate. Next to the door on the body, Also has the word Airstream on it. Mine has the Norwalk Ca address as well. Ed