Need Identification help

Gambit242 · 08-27-2006, 12:06 PM

I'm new to the airstream world and I'm buying some land that already has an Airstream on it. I need some help identifying the trailer. I've searched ebay and scanned through pics here and havent' had any luck.

Any help would be appreciated.

**Janet** · 08-27-2006, 12:12 PM

We can help. There should be a small square tag riveted on the body with ID numbers. The VIN will help us determine what model, year and wehere it was made.....

Condoluminum · 08-27-2006, 12:13 PM

Until others weigh in with exact model, if you can check the trailer, the VIN Number from that era will tell all... It will have length, location of manufacture (Ohio or CA) and model, as well as year..

Long double axle trailers were 30 or 31' models.. Pre-1980's had side trim like yours without blue coloring...

If you post VIN (called serial number..) from registration paperwork, some of experts here can ID it...

John McG

Gambit242 · 08-27-2006, 12:15 PM

You guys are awesome! The trailer/land is about 2 1/2 hrs away but I hope to go back to check it out soon. I wasn't sure if someone would just recognize from the pics.

I'll post the info as soon as I can get it.

Thanks again for your help and advice!

InsideOut · 08-27-2006, 12:39 PM

Quote:

I'm buying some land that already has an Airstream on it.

Don't you mean, "I'm buying an Airstream and it already has land with it"???

With both pictures of the same side, there aren't quite enough clues to go on w/o the VIN #, but you may recognize it in the archives.

Check here: Photo Archives

I'd suggest the late 70's either an Ambassador or Sovereign.

Shari

**wahoonc** · 08-27-2006, 12:59 PM

Late 70's(77-80) and appears to be a center bath. Hard to tell if it is an Ambassasdor or Sovereign..

Aaron

Gambit242 · 08-27-2006, 01:03 PM

Wow!You are good! I think that it's the 78 soverign!

I'll post confirmation after I check it out again.

**wahoonc** · 08-27-2006, 01:21 PM

Gambit,
I am ahhh...intimately aquainted with the 70's vintage trailers

I currently have a 75 Sovereign rearbath in a state of destruction, I also have an 80 Excella II in not much better shape

I also had my hands on a 74 Tradewind at one point, but someone offered me 3 times what I paid for it, and I didn't (still don't) have time for another project.

But just so you don't think I'm perfect

There were a couple of quick giveaways, as to the age, the rear side reflectors are 77 and up, and the battery door on the front wasn't added until after 1975 IIRC. The windows on a rear bath are further forward and typically don't have the access hatch underneath them on the road side.

Aaron

**overlander63** · 08-27-2006, 04:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wahoonc

Gambit,
I am ahhh...intimately aquainted with the 70's vintage trailers

I currently have a 75 Sovereign rearbath in a state of destruction, I also have an 80 Excella II in not much better shape

I also had my hands on a 74 Tradewind at one point, but someone offered me 3 times what I paid for it, and I didn't (still don't) have time for another project.

But just so you don't think I'm perfect

There were a couple of quick giveaways, as to the age, the rear side reflectors are 77 and up, and the battery door on the front wasn't added until after 1975 IIRC. The windows on a rear bath are further forward and typically don't have the access hatch underneath them on the road side.

Aaron

It also has an air conditioner not seen on Airstreams until after 1973.

**wahoonc** · 08-27-2006, 04:55 PM

And FWIW it may be rear twins

Aaron

SafeHarbor · 08-27-2006, 07:16 PM

Rear twins? Dunno. Would all late 70's rear twins have the access door on the back opening into the between beds cabinet and the off-center mounted license plate? My rear twin '79 doesn't have the street side access plate.

Gambit - do you have a picture where that tag number is clear? Just find a friendly local police officer, explain what you're doing, and see if he'll run the tag for you. If it comes back not in the name of your seller, things might get even more interesting. Anyway, that will tell you the year and VIN of the trailer.

I dragged your rear three-quarters photo to my desktop and opened it in the GIMP. I ran the sharpening filter, and the word in the blue strip starts with an "S."

And welcome to the forums. We need all the 70's long trailers we can get.

Lamar

66Overlander · 08-27-2006, 07:53 PM

I'd say it is a 1979 Ambassador or Sovereign with a rear bedroom and a street side (as opposed to front) goucho in the front. My eye says Sovereign because of the length, but it could be an Ambassador. It could perhaps be a '80 or '81 if it is not a '79.

It has 1979 and newer tail lights. 1978 and earlier used a different style.

It has no little windows below the two big ones in the front streetside. This is a giveaway that it has the streetside goucho.

It has a window immediately before the rear endcap. This verifies the rear bedroom. I am not sure on the bed setup. but I will guess twins instead of a queen.

SafeHarbor · 08-27-2006, 08:03 PM

This is fun! (And I'm learning.)

My '79 has a mystery compartment door under the front streetside window. A theory has been floated that the trailer was to be an L-couch but was changed to a front gaucho/side credenza during manufacture.

So... wouldn't that access hatch be UNDER the forward window if it had a side couch?

Just curious.

Lamar

Goin camping · 08-27-2006, 08:33 PM

I know this is the no skill way but....You could call Donald and Sandy Wood in Florida who have that number to see if it was theirs.