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11-15-2004, 07:44 PM
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#1
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Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
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This is a little morbid, but
I was recently perusing the Fred's Airstream Motorhome Class A Archives from a link I found in another post and noticed that there were three mid-80's ('84 & two '85's) Airstream Classic Motorhome Hearses in the ads for sale. I also have seen one in the photo section of this forum (maybe one of those). Did Airstream make a hearse during the mid-80's or is it just coincidence that two, or three, funeral homes each just happened to have one during the same period of time? Were these factory conversions or factory models or was there a custom shop somewhere that did these for the industry (funeral industry)?
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11-15-2004, 08:08 PM
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#2
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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Airstream Hearse
Nope... it was a production model for Airstream; probably by special order only, but the must have built quite a few of them. I've seen two on eBay just in the past couple of months.
There are copies of the sales brochure for the Airstream Hearse around to be had.
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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11-15-2004, 08:28 PM
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#3
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Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
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Do you know the years they were produced? What was their cost? A buddy of mine is a mortician in his family funeral business and he once told me when they bought a new hearse a couple of years ago they purchased a new Cadillac and had it converted to a hearse. I think he said the conversion was about $20k making the total about $62k. The entire roof is fiberglass from the windshield back. I think the rear quarter panels might be fiberglass, too. But the rear doors are new because they are longer to match the lengthened wheel base. I'll have to ask him if he knew about the Airstream Hearses. His Dad probably did.
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11-15-2004, 08:42 PM
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#4
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RivetAddict
1986 34.5' Airstream 345
Louisville
, Kentucky
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 1,861
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Pretty sure one of the members here owns one of them
__________________
Steven Webster
1986 Airstream 345 Classic Motorhome
AIR 1760
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11-15-2004, 09:33 PM
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#5
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3 Rivet Member 
Join Date: Jun 2003
Posts: 212
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I don't own one, but I did spot one here in Nashville a while back. It belonged to a country singer whose dad was a mortician. Seems dad had used it for its intended purpose for a number of years, then the son refitted the interior and used it as a tour vehicle. He told me the former coffin area would hold a lot of amps and guitars!
Bob
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11-16-2004, 05:27 AM
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#6
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Rivet Master 
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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Be sure to see the article on Classic MHs in the next "Airstream Life".
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11-16-2004, 06:39 AM
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#7
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Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
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Now I'm a little more curious. Where did Airstream get the idea to make a hearse? I would guess (not assume because we all know what happens then) that they were intended for the pall bearers so they would arrive with the deceased and flowers and would require only one driver as opposed to three. Did someone make a conversion first and give Airstream the idea or was that an in-house concept? I guess it was a good idea if the deceased was really into camping, but not sure how that might appear to the mourners if he/she wasn't.
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11-16-2004, 07:15 AM
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#8
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Rivet Master Commercial Member
1977 20' Argosy 20
Charleston
, West Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,226
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Here are the links to the three funeral coaches.
1984 Funeral Coach (A)
1984 Funeral Coach (B)
1985 Funeral Coach (A)
My hunch would be that Airstream was looking for alternative uses for their services and factory. There are also some buses and an ambulance version.
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11-16-2004, 07:40 AM
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#9
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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The hearse was a suggestion by a former As salesperson who was also an undertaker. It gave the ability to do the viewing in the rear area, with in and out access.
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11-16-2004, 07:55 AM
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#10
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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Fred, it's interesting that all three examples you have came from Iowa!
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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11-16-2004, 08:19 AM
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#11
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Guest
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There were a couple of brochures describing the Airstream hearse on eBay about a month ago. The person selling was in the Netherlands.
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11-16-2004, 09:24 AM
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#12
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Rivet Master Commercial Member
1977 20' Argosy 20
Charleston
, West Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,226
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I noticed the Iowa plates also. I spent two years in Iowa so I know the plates (as they match the two hanging in my garage!). It is a unique place! I can now say I've seen a "Sun Dog" and driven through a "MixMaster".
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11-16-2004, 10:58 AM
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#13
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Tom, the Uber Disney Fan
2006 30' Safari
Orlando
, Florida
Join Date: Aug 2004
Posts: 4,693
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I noticed the Iowa plates, too. That's why I thought they may have been after market conversions that took place at a shop in Iowa or perhaps just for a particular funeral home. Anyway, its different!
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11-16-2004, 11:27 AM
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#14
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Rivet Master
2020 30' Flying Cloud
1995 25' Excella
Clear Lake
, Minnesota
Join Date: Jul 2004
Posts: 588
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by 1985air345
It is a unique place! I can now say I've seen a "Sun Dog" and driven through a "MixMaster".
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What is a "Sun Dog"?
A "MixMaster" is an intersection of interstates...that one I know.
__________________
Mark 
72 Sovereign: L couch, mid-twin, rear-bath "When you come to a fork in the road, take it" "It was impossible to get a conversation going; everybody was talking too much." "If you don't know where you are going, you will wind up somewhere else." - Yogi Berra
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11-16-2004, 12:34 PM
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#15
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Rivet Master Commercial Member
1977 20' Argosy 20
Charleston
, West Virginia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 1,226
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by sovereignrwe
What is a "Sun Dog"?
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It is essentially a light/prism thing on a very cold and sunny winter day where it appears that there are two suns in the sky. I thought it was a joke until I was driving to work one day and saw it (or them..... )
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11-16-2004, 12:36 PM
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#16
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Rivet Master
1966 26' Overlander
Woodstock
, Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2002
Posts: 8,525
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ever seen the Northern lights? Quite awesome.
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11-16-2004, 12:41 PM
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#17
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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It has to do with the refraction of light by airborne ice crystals at some level of the atmosphere. I've got some photos around somewhere... It's an interesting phenomina.
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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11-17-2004, 09:28 AM
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#18
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Rivet Master
1978 31' Sovereign
Texas Airstream Harbor
, Zavalla, in the Deep East Texas Piney Woods on Lake Sam Rayburn
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 2,435
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Another "unique" MoHo for Fred!
Check this out!
A 345 Mobile Command Center.
Bet Walley would have used one when he "circled the wagons".
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...505027005&rd=1
__________________
Dennis
"Suck it up, spend the bucks, do it right the first time."
WBCCI # 1113
AirForums #1737
Trailer '78 31' Sovereign
Living Large at an Airstream Park on the Largest Lake Totally Contained in Texas
Texas Airstream Harbor, Inc.
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11-17-2004, 10:12 AM
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#19
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Moderator
2004 30' Classic Slideout
Fenton
, Missouri
Join Date: Mar 2002
Posts: 10,411
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by 1985air345
I noticed the Iowa plates also.
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"Am I in heaven? No you're in Iowa!"
Field of Dreams
__________________
Jack Canavera
STL Mo.
AIR #56 S/OS#15
'04 Classic 30' S.O.,'03 GMC Savana 2500
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11-17-2004, 10:28 AM
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#20
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Just an old timer...
2004 22' Interstate
Tipton
, Iowa
Join Date: Mar 2003
Posts: 4,766
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Quote:
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Originally Posted by jcanavera
"Am I in heaven? No you're in Iowa!"
Field of Dreams
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Amen.
Roger
__________________
havin' to fix my broken Airstreams since 1987...
AIR 2053 Current: 2004 Airstream Interstate "B-Van" T1N DODGE Sprinter
Former Airstreams: 1953 Flying Cloud, 1957 Overlander, 1961 Bambi, 1970 Safari Special, 1978 Argosy Minuet, 1985 325 Moho, 1994 Limited 34' Two-door, 1994 B190 "B-Van"
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