Research by WBCCI Number?

[iowamike]

My new 1975 Excella bears the number 7778. Anyone have anything interesting on that one?

[Grrrwolf]

Interesting history on some of these older trailers. How in the world do we register our number?

[xrvr]

The numbers are from the WBCCI. You must be a member. Well worth it. Jim

[dwightdi]

7778 is listed in the 1977 directory as belonging to Delbert Hicks from Corning, CA. No caravans are listed. 7778 is not listed in the 1987 or 1994 or 2002 directories.

[Hittenstiehl]

In post 537 and 539 we inquired about our ghost number and Joe was kind enough to get back with us and pointed out we had likely left a digit off. The trailer is back on the ground so lets try this again. After much looking and several opinions I think you are correct it was likely a #1 in the street side crease that we can't quite see.

So can we try to look up # 15344 thanks in advance.

[Hittenstiehl]

Just giving this a bump as it has been very quiet. Possibly the checker of the numbers is on a winter break.

[78SovIntl31]

My trailer has a ghosted 30183 on the roof - Does anyone have any information on it?

much appreciated!
Josh

[jeffsumlin]

We are trying to title an old Bubble left to us by a family friend. It has a ghost number of 609. No title, registration or other information. Anything would be helpful.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by jeffsumlin

We are trying to title an old Bubble left to us by a family friend. It has a ghost number of 609. No title, registration or other information. Anything would be helpful.

Hi Jeff:

We need more facts to be able to help you. Is your family friend dead or alive? Has the Bubble been registered, titled or licensed in the past? Is the old license plate still on it? Titling is a matter of state law and varies from state to state. What state is/was your family friend in? What state is the Bubble in? What state do you live in?

If your family friend is still alive and he/she simply could not find the old valid title that was in his/her name, have him/her apply to the DMV for a lost title. If your family friend has passed away, have the executor or personal representative of his/her estate as donor transfer the old title to you or as beneficiary. If the old valid title is lost or cannot be found, have the executor or PR apply on behalf of the estate for a lost title that he/she can then transfer to you.

How do you know it is a 1955 Bubble? There should be a small data plate near the door that has the Bubble's serial number stamped into it. The Ghost Number has nothing to do with title paperwork or ownership; it only reflects past membership in the Wally Byam Caravan Club.

[jeffsumlin]

Sadly, he has passed. There is no paperwork to be found. The serial number is 293. It has the teardrop shaped wheel wells that led me to believe it is actually a 1956 bubble. It has the 13 panel front end and the 9 panel dutchman rear end. I live in Albuquerque NM. Before I can start the title/registration process, I was wanting proof of the model year to avoid headaches with the motor vehicle department.

[47WeeWind]

Hi Jeff:

My condolences on the passing of your family friend.

Your Bubble serial number 293 is right at the changeover point between the 1955 and 1956 California built bubbles. The Official Mobile Home Market Reports (blue books for used travel trailers) for the mid-1950s do not list any beginning serial number for the 1956 Airstreams in general or for Bubbles in particular, and neither does Airstream, Inc., so its unknown at what Califonia serial number the 1955 model year stopped and the 1956 model year began.

Some people think the Norwalk, CA factory began annual Bubble production at a round serial numbers: 200 for 1955, 300 for 1956 and 400 for 1957. Others look at features, like straight vs. teardrop fender wells. It's the serial number which determines the model year, not the features, yet in some states trailers were given the year in which they were first registered and licensed, as opposed to manufactured. You likely are not going to find any hard proof of your Bubble's model year. If I had to guess I'd guess your Bubble s/n 293 is a 1955 model on the theory 1956 California Bubbles began production at s/n 300, and your s/n is below that round number.

Anyway, WBCC big red number 609 was first assigned to Doris Moore, 16 W. Lemon Ave., Arcadia, Calif. when she joined the club right after she purchased her first Airstream, which I bet was your Bubble as the timing is right. Doris went on two WBCC Caravans, the Winter 1955 West Coast Mexican Caravan and the Six Months 1956 European Caravan. The later caravan is well documented with numerous photos in the June 1957 issue of National Geographic magazine. I imagine she took your Bubble on those two caravans as she appears to have been single and the Bubble would have been just the right size for her and for overseas adventures.

Congratulations on acquiring your Bubble. Check New Mexico motor vehicle laws to learn how to get a title for your Bubble. Good luck!

[streamer23]

Originally Posted by 78SovIntl31

My trailer has a ghosted 30183 on the roof - Does anyone have any information on it?

much appreciated!
Josh

I have #30183 listed in the 1986-2000 directories to Frank & Doreen Martin of Kingston Ontario. No caravans are listed for them but I have seen that trailer number at the 1990 Int'l rally in Notre Dame Indiana.

[jeffsumlin]

Thank you so very much for your time and the information. It really brings it's history to life. I hope to see you on the road in the near future.

Jeff

[Hittenstiehl]

Streamer since you are at it can you check 15344 possible Arizona connections on a 1965 Tradewind. Photos a couple of post below this.

[streamer23]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

Streamer since you are at it can you check 15344 possible Arizona connections on a 1965 Tradewind. Photos a couple of post below this.

From the directories I have, from 1982-2003 that number was listed to Darrell & Sharon Waters of East Alton IL. One caravan is listed #105 Western Canada Summer 1975.That trailer number was also at 9 International Rallies I attended from 1989-1999.
Some folks from that part of the country either winter or retire to Arizona but I don't have any direct connection to that state.

[Hittenstiehl]

Thank you very much Streamer.

[Alphonse]

We inherited number 5033; wondering who had it before us? Any info would be highly appreciated.

Vickie and Alan

[xrvr]

Interesting did Jackson Center switch the number for you? Usually the number belongs to the owner not the trailer. Jim

[Alphonse]

Zig, no. Poor choice of words. I simply meant that we were assigned 5033. Of course it's highly likely we aren't the first to have that number and we're curious about who our predecessors were. Our trailer has only been 5033.


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[davepankras]

Hello Everyone,

I'm hoping someone could provide some info on WBCCI number 2442 from a 1957 Overlander.

Thanks in advance,

Dave