Vin & Serial number

[buffaloman]

I am considering buying a 74 Argosy but it is 800 or so miles away from me. I have only two pictures and the owner is sending more. He has sent me the serial and Vin numbers. He says the unit is a 24' trailer . the length is that actual trailer not the trailer from back to tongue. I'm not sure how to interpret this since i thought Argosy only came in 20, 22 and 24' units that included the tongue. I also saw an ad for a 26' Argosy. Where can I search for the trailer by Vin or serial number? Does Airstream have information stored by either of these two numbers? If so, where or who do I contact? I believe the man who has the trailer is honest but just not knowledgeable. I am not for that matter either. So who can help?

[azflycaster]

In 74 the Argosy was produced in 20, 22, 24, 26 and 28 fool lengths. The length should be in the beginning of the VIN, followed by a letter, then the number 4 (1974), then the letter V (plant location) and then four digits. The VIN layout is the same as the other Airstreams of this era.

[CanoeStream]

See a pre 1980 VIN sample in post #9 at http://www.airforums.com/forums/f238...tml#post445050. Scroll to the 2nd page. Instead of a J, an Argosy would have a V -- they were manufactured in Versailles, OH.

[CanoeStream]

The first digit on an Argosy might be an O. O was used as a placeholder if none of the other alternatives were applicable. Anybody have an Argosy in their driveway to verify this?

[CanoeStream]

3 posts in a row. Plumping the post total I'd say! Anybody report this guy to the mods yet?

Okay -- there is an Argosy VIN example online. The VIN will start with the actual length of the trailer. There's a sample in the top left corner at this R.J. Dial page - 74Argosy24

[Guido]

Originally Posted by CanoeStream

The first digit on an Argosy might be an O. O was used as a placeholder if none of the other alternatives were applicable. Anybody have an Argosy in their driveway to verify this?

I remember a Argosy that had a S at the beginning. Made in California, its on the forum someplace.

[Janet H]

I have an Argosy that has an S VIN - made in Ca.

BUffaloman - can you post the numbers you have? We can help you decipher them.

[buffaloman]

Here are the numbers vehicle id # 24D4S5069 PLATE # 1FJ4311 So does this mean the trailer is 24' long with a 3' tongue meaning 21' +/- actual structure length? Can I tell anything else from the numbers?

Thanks

[Janet H]

Originally Posted by buffaloman

Here are the numbers vehicle id # 24D4S5069 PLATE # 1FJ4311 So does this mean the trailer is 24' long with a 3' tongue meaning 21' +/- actual structure length? Can I tell anything else from the numbers?

Thanks

24D4S5069

24 = 24 foot argosy including bumper and tongue
D = rear bath, double bed configuration
4 = 1974 manufacture date
S = made in California at either Santa Fe Springs or Cerritos
5069 = unique number for that trailer

[Paulaale]

I have a ambassader internationa land yacht s-128410021 what does it mean? cant find this one any were?

[Caroyl]

Is this the VIN?
All the numbers, or just those inside the silver oval?


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[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Caroyl

Attachment 252835
Is this the VIN?
All the numbers, or just those inside the silver oval?


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O42S5037 is the serial number. There is no such thing as a VIN for pre 1981 vehicles.

[Caroyl]

I've seen discussions here in what these numbers mean. Is the first digit a zero or O for Overlander? It's not 42' long 😉 although some conversations here mention these digits as possibly the length. I know it was built in California as the plate with these numbers indicates. Anyone care to decode? 😃


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[InsideOut]

The curse of the "O" strikes again...
There has been a LOT of mis-information over the years with the name "Overlander" and the "O" in VIN/Serial numbers. There is a very old document still floating around the internet that states the "0" or "O" stands for Overlander which was a 26' Airstream (available in both the Land Yacht & International versions). It is wrong and keeps being perpetuated as it is impossible to purge it from the internet. The "O" does NOT stand for Overlander. Overlander was the name for a 26' trailer - not a VIN# descriptor

California made -

"0" (zero) or "O" (Oh) = Land Yacht package
"I" (eye) or "1" (one) = International package

The International package had a few extra bells & whistles. The way the VIN# should be interpreted is:

0 or O = Land Yacht package (I or 1) = International package
4 = 1964
2 = double bed (1) = single beds

S = Santa Fe Springs, CA (J) = Jackson Center, OH
5## = 3-digit number which is the sequential build number of the trailer

The organization of these numbers/letters vary slightly in the 60's & 70's, but they pretty much remain the same. And "O" never means Overlander.

Check out this webpage for more info & pics on various lengths of trailers and VIN # interpretations.

Hope this helps.

Shari

[Caroyl]

Very helpful 😃 Our Overlander arrived a few hours after we had left for Thanksgiving in Phoenix with friends. We won't see it until Monday 😢 I thought we were getting a twin bed version, but as indicated by the serial number it should be a double... hmmm... We will still renovate creating twin beds, but the window size and placement will be a bit off.



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[jinette1]

I hope the attachment helps.