Fiberglass Argosy?

[Warbs]

Hi guys, I was surfing around looking for Argosy Motorhomes and I came across a 1984 20' Argosy Trailer for sale. In the brief description the dealer says it's fiberglass.
I thought all airstreams up until the late 80's, early 90's were aluminum. It's priced at CDN$3995. but that's only about US$27.50. Anyway, take a look, it's at http://showrooms.canadatrader.com/sh...03&Pagecount=1

Sorry, I'm not very computer literate and I don't know how to do a link!
The dealer is Holiday RV & Auto Centre in Redcliff Alberta Canada

[rluhr]

It sounds like he's selling a "Squarestream". They were indeed fiberglass. I didn't think any existing in the 20-foot range, though.

See pic of a fiberglass Argosy trailer I spotted in Quebec last summer.

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by Warbs

Hi guys, I was surfing around looking for Argosy Motorhomes and I came across a 1984 20' Argosy Trailer for sale. In the brief description the dealer says it's fiberglass.
I thought all airstreams up until the late 80's, early 90's were aluminum. It's priced at CDN$3995. but that's only about US$27.50. Anyway, take a look, it's at http://showrooms.canadatrader.com/sh...03&Pagecount=1

Sorry, I'm not very computer literate and I don't know how to do a link!
The dealer is Holiday RV & Auto Centre in Redcliff Alberta Canada

From the photos, first it's not a 20' as it has tandem axles and a very different layout than what was offered in the 20' Minuets. That would put it in the 24' length. Second, I'm not an Argosy expert, but that doesn't look like an '84 vintage interior to me... I'd guess it to be more like a '78 or '79-ish. I don't know how long the original Argosy trailers remained in production, but it seems to me that I haven't seen many '80s vintage Argosys around. I'd be much more apt to think it a late '70s. It is most definately a standard painted aluminum Argosy with steel end caps...

Kevin? Are you out there? What do you think about this one?

Roger

[Anon]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

From the photos, first it's not a 20' as it has tandem axles and a very different layout than what was offered in the 20' Minuets. That would put it in the 24' length. Second, I'm not an Argosy expert, but that doesn't look like an '84 vintage interior to me... I'd guess it to be more like a '78 or '79-ish. I don't know how long the original Argosy trailers remained in production, but it seems to me that I haven't seen many '80s vintage Argosys around. I'd be much more apt to think it a late '70s. It is most definately a standard painted aluminum Argosy with steel end caps...

Kevin? Are you out there? What do you think about this one?

Roger

I did not get to see the pictures of the Argosy but I do know the history of the name as it relates to Airstream.
Argosy production was started in Versailles, Ohio in 1972. The line was from 20 footers to 30 footers.
In 1977 the Argosy 20 was replaced with a narrower and lighter Argosy Minuet. This was used to appeal to people with the newer mid-sized cars. The Minuet was also offerd in a 22 and 24 foot version.
In 1979 the Argosy finished its run as a round aluminum trailer.
In 1986 it was reintroduced as a standard square trailer. It was fiberglass and it used an aluminum superstructure. For a year or two Airstream offered the same trailer with the Airstream name on it. Most refer to it as the "Squarestream". I have attached a photo of one that I have seen.
I am not sure when they stopped producing the square Argosy but it was before 1990. I think it lasted two model years.
A little known fact; Airstream made a square 5th wheel once as well. I have a photo of one somehwere on the PC. If anyone would be interested I will dig it up!

[Anon]

I just looked at the ad.
It is a 22 foot Argosy. I can tell by the floorplan. They only offered that floorplan in the 22 footer.
My gut tells me that it is a 1977. I owned one like it last spring. I had a gentleman talk me out of it in the summer and then I got my Minuet and now the Argosy 20!
It looks to be in decent shape though. Too bad they don't have the proper title for it.

[overlander63]

That looks like an Argosy 22, which would be 19' in non-Airstream length. I would believe a 1974, not '84. The 1984's, if any were produced, were indeed fiberglas, and square, not rounded like the standard Airstream. If it is all there, all works, and the axles are good, that would be a good value.

[overlander64]

Greetings Warbs!

Originally Posted by Warbs

Hi guys, I was surfing around looking for Argosy Motorhomes and I came across a 1984 20' Argosy Trailer for sale. In the brief description the dealer says it's fiberglass.
I thought all airstreams up until the late 80's, early 90's were aluminum. It's priced at CDN$3995. but that's only about US$27.50. Anyway, take a look, it's at http://showrooms.canadatrader.com/sh...03&Pagecount=1

Sorry, I'm not very computer literate and I don't know how to do a link!
The dealer is Holiday RV & Auto Centre in Redcliff Alberta Canada

The coach is definitely an Argosy, and it appears to be an Argosy 22 rather than a Minuet 6.7 or 7.3 Metre as the front lounge appears to have arms on both sides (Minuets didn't have lounge arms due to their decreased width). The floorplan with the side dinette only shows up in the '75 literature for the Argosy 22 with rear door - - I suspect that the coach is a '74 (one of the years for which I do not have the factory literature) - - it could be a simple factor of misinterpreting the VIN as only the last digit of the model year appears in the VIN. I have inserted a scan of the Argosy 22 page from the 1976 factory sales brochure - - the same basic configuration was available on the Argosy 22 from 1972 through 1977.

Kevin

[CallDon]

Originally Posted by rluhr

It sounds like he's selling a "Squarestream". They were indeed fiberglass. I didn't think any existing in the 20-foot range, though.

See pic of a fiberglass Argosy trailer I spotted in Quebec last summer.

Actually, it is bonded alluminum. And they were made from '86 to '91, with a few spill-overs and a few fiberglass "experiments' with very square edges, not rounded like this trailer.

They tow well and the owners keep them forever.

Don in Dallas

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by CallDon

Actually, it is bonded alluminum. And they were made from '86 to '91, with a few spill-overs and a few fiberglass "experiments' with very square edges, not rounded like this trailer.

They tow well and the owners keep them forever.

Don in Dallas

This debate pops up now and again. From the opinions I have seen, perhaps the Argosies had more fiberglass content than a comparable Airstream model. I have seen a few squarestreams, and have looked over, under, and around a square Argosy. While I can't say for sure about the Airstream, since I wasn't able to get up close and personal, the Argosy I inspected was in fact mainly bonded fiberglass on the exterior.
Maybe it was an aberration, or a "one off" special build, but it definately had fiberglass panels and a kind of gel coat on them.

[Darol Ingalls]

I could not pull up the ad - "not available!" However, if it is a 70's model Argosy, it may have fiberglass front and rear top end caps. My '75 20' Argosy had these in place of the usual steel. They were extra-thick, very smooth, paint did not chip, and did not rust! Must have been a short-lived experiment because I have not seen any others made that way.

[wanderer1]

the round argosy's were aluminum,and made from 72 thru 79.the squarestream type argosy's were from 86 thru 88,and aluminum.airstream squarestream's were from 89 thru 91,i've never seen one in person,so don't know if f/g or alm.they look the same in pics,so i believe they too are aluminum...i've had to prove to some people mine IS aluminum,by removing the light/assist handle by the deadbolt,and letting them see for themselves what the ex. sidewall is made of.just the facts

[adore]

Originally Posted by rluhr

It sounds like he's selling a "Squarestream". They were indeed fiberglass. I didn't think any existing in the 20-foot range, though.

See pic of a fiberglass Argosy trailer I spotted in Quebec last summer.

Hey...!!!
Funny... this trailer was mine until I sold it about a little more than a year ago. I recognize my chairs...!!! I was at a hot air balloon festival in Gatineau (near Ottawa).
The trailer is an Argosy. Only the front and rear head caps were plastic or fiberglass. The rest was aluminium.
I still have a 6-metre Minuet. This latter is also all aluminium except the two pieces mentioned above which are, in this case, steel.