Airstream Ranch update from Tampa

[dondogs]

Originally Posted by richinny

i understand the concept. i feel the same way about this as i do the film industry destroying old cars that are in limited numbers. not good.

For the most part (perhaps all) these are Airstreams that were already damaged beyond economical repair. Some had sheets of rivited aluminum attached and the non highway sides are beat. They appear to have been stripped of most of the useful parts.

With the value of aluminum rising, I'm sure some scavengers will pick at them.

[Jimandrod]

I'm not particularly impressed - I might be if it were an original concept - but it's not.

[rickandsandi]

I think its a crime and I would imagine die-hard AS Forum folks would find it offensive and not shop at his dealership. Another thing I notice in the AutoWeek article..
Bates, the country's top Airstream dealer, wanted to do something nice for Airstream's 75th birthday, so he conceived Airstream Ranch, which consists of seven and a half Airstream trailers, buried nose-first, alongside Interstate 4 near his dealership. He buried seven and a half trailers because that's 7.5, as in 75, the Airstream anniversary.
Colonial Airstream is actually the largest seller of Airstream Trailers. As mentioned, another mans trash is anothers art. I wish him well in his advertising stunt but I still think its wrong to treat any Airstream with such disrespect!

[Sean Michael]

I've read that 60 percent of all Airstreams ever built are still being used. But these trailers were among the unlucky 40 percent. They had already been junked, and probably would have been turned into scrap metal if they hadn't become part of this display.

Bates also has a "vintage Airstream village" on his dealership. All of his sales guys work out of pristine vintage trailers that have been converted into offices. His is the only dealership I've seen that incorporates so many vintage units into its daily operation.

[Silverwanabe]

Sean,

You have a cool blog.
Where are your big red numbers?


In regards to Bates, it might be art.
I do not like the concept.

I have never liked the original Cadillac ranch.

[Sean Michael]

Silver, thanks and we've got some big red numbers...we just gotta put 'em on.

The guys at the Vintage Airstream Podcast have posted a nice audio interview with the Airstream Ranch creator.http://thevap.com

[Minnie's Mate]

Originally Posted by rickandsandi

I think its a crime and I would imagine die-hard AS Forum folks would find it offensive and not shop at his dealership.

I am neutral on the subject of the Airstream Ranch but this has nothing to do with why I would not shop at his dealership...I tried, but in the end was offended for other reasons and decided to shop at another dealership and am glad I did.

[dmac]

IMHO - Turning these old trailers into scrap would be a much better use.

I bought my trailer at the dealer involved... you can read old posts about my experience. Let's just say that the current "art" is a good representation of the business.

[airedale]

Who gives the right to call something trash and not art? Thats my only thing against the county. I was down there 2 weeks ago, and it was there, I didnt get a picture, and wasnt able to go there, but I just called to get my Save the Airstream Ranch T-shirt!

[jacarape]

I was full timing right next door at Tampa EasT, a nice park with many nice people. I went to Bates for a trailer, and had a sales guy for a neighbor at the park. I can't say anything really interesting about either, who is the county to tell them to take it down? Then the dinosaurs are permitted art? Thye are both probably advertising to me, and welcome to the drab landscape.


It looks better then a multicar multi death pile up when I was leaving, caused by government incompetence, IMHO.