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Old 05-02-2014, 10:57 AM   #561
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1984 31' Airstream310
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The seller now says that he shares my doubts about it being a 1974. The fit and finish looks a lot closer to our 1984. Regardless, it is way cool.
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Old 05-02-2014, 12:49 PM   #562
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It's either a 74 or 75 or possibly a 76. I seem to remember the 76's may also have had the same dash arrangement. Other than the modified instrument cluster (by some PO) it's the same dash as my 74 Argosy. If we knew the Chevy Vin number that would tell us within a year as to what it was. My guess is the chassis year could be as much as 1-2 years earlier than the Airstream date.
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Old 05-02-2014, 01:00 PM   #563
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Just looked a little closer at the pictures. It's definitely a conglomeration of years. The rear bumper area is 84, the water heater (above left rear tire) and the fridge opening are definitely 74. The dash is 74, the rear generator compartment cover is 74 (looks just like mine), location of the water fill door and license plate holder is the same as mine as well. The city water fitting is in the same location as mine and the engine cover is also 74 and the tail lights are definitely 84-86 time frame.

The front end is definitely 84 but the 8-lug wheels are definitely 74. All in all someone appears to have done a real nice job of updating a 74 model to look more like the 84 models. I've got a lot of 86 345 parts in my 74 but not nearly as many as this one does!

The chassis and middle section of the body are 74 and the front and rear are 84, very cool

Brad
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Old 05-03-2014, 07:23 AM   #564
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1997 34' Limited
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Classics for sale...

We recently sold our '95 AS trailer and have scouted our geographic area for a motorhome. Thank yous for the lists of Classics for sale across the country. This forum is so interesting for the novices!! but also scary because we don't know the first thing about the Classics, other than we like the looks of them, and we think our mini-family would be comfortable traveling the highways.

Reality hits. What are the pluses and minuses of an older Classics....an 1986 345 vs a 370LE? Is one year preferred over another? What about the engines and air-conditioning! We're so green in this area, we don't know what questions to ask, so we'd appreciate any help available!!

Best,
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Old 05-03-2014, 07:46 AM   #565
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This "74" sounds like a song Johnny Cash sang....
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Old 05-03-2014, 03:43 PM   #566
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy749 View Post
What are the pluses and minuses of an older Classics....an 1986 345 vs a 370LE? Is one year preferred over another? What about the engines and air-conditioning! We're so green in this area, we don't know what questions to ask, so we'd appreciate any help available!!

Best,
Somewhere around the early 90's carburetors and three speed TH400 transmissions were replaced by fuel injection and Alison overdrive transmissions, with a few Ford chassis thrown in for good measure. The carburetor/TH400 combination is slower on the highway and uses more gas. Being slow does not bother me that much as I try to stay off of interstate highways, but the gas mileage difference adds up if you drive a lot.
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Old 05-04-2014, 04:06 PM   #567
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1936 20' Clipper
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1989 37' Airstream 370
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Lucy749 View Post
We recently sold our '95 AS trailer and have scouted our geographic area for a motorhome. Thank yous for the lists of Classics for sale across the country. This forum is so interesting for the novices!! but also scary because we don't know the first thing about the Classics, other than we like the looks of them, and we think our mini-family would be comfortable traveling the highways.

Reality hits. What are the pluses and minuses of an older Classics....an 1986 345 vs a 370LE? Is one year preferred over another? What about the engines and air-conditioning! We're so green in this area, we don't know what questions to ask, so we'd appreciate any help available!!

Best,
That's a fairly open ended question that will require a lot of answering. I'll take a shot and start by saying the following, and I'm fully prepared to be corrected as needed.

In general….. almost all of the Classics were built on the Chevy P-30 truck chassis with the 325, 345, and 350 models using an additional tag axle. The 370 models (only +/-15 units ever made) were built on a Spartan bus chassis. You'll be hard pressed to come across one of those, although they do show up for sale from time to time.

Most Classics were powered by 454 big block gas engines. The earlier, smaller models offered Isuzu diesel engines, while the larger, later models had a Cummins diesel option available.

The last of the Classic "breed" (1994,5,6?) came in two configurations, both of which departed from the pure Classic look with the change to a more streamlined, wedge shaped nose. This makes them easily distinguishable from the earlier models. These final 350's were built in two distinctly different configurations. Either similar to early Classics with front gas engine and rear tag axle, or as Cummins diesel powered "pushers" with the engine at the back and no tag axle.

Both of these final Classic models were also produced in relatively small numbers.

My personal feelings....

In a vehicle of this size, I like a diesel. I think most folks would agree that they are more fuel efficient, generally more reliable, certainly longer lived, and definitely more expensive to repair, while also requiring more specific technical knowledge to service as well. My 325 came with the Cummins 5.9 turbo/Allison transmission option, and has over 200k on it. That motor/trans combo is a proven workhorse in the truck industry. I don't know if too many big block Chevys have logged that many miles? I've also got an overdrive unit by Gear Vendors, which makes highway driving less stressful on the motor by lowering RPM's.

If you are set on a diesel, the 350 pushers get a Cumins 6.3 litre (I believe) turbo, set in a spacious engine bay way at the back where you can't hear all the noise it's making! As much as I like this power train, I miss the look of that extra tag axle.

If money was no object, and I could custom built a Classic, I'd find a 370, and get the big block gas motor replaced with a new Cummins diesel.

As you prepare to buy, you will probably be best off by purchasing the nicest, cleanest, best maintained, currently/recently/continuously operated coach that you can afford. Parking these things for years at a time generally doesn't make them more reliable. Whatever you buy will require constant maintenance. You will need to have an understanding of your personal threshold for pain. Classics, like boats, combine several distinct (yet diabolically interconnected) mechanical, electrical, heating, plumbing, and A/C systems that require constant "owner participation".

Have fun.
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Old 05-04-2014, 04:10 PM   #568
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Your information is good and accurate, but weren't the '94-'96 diesel pushers 360's?
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Old 05-04-2014, 05:18 PM   #569
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Classics for sale....

We could not have anticipated we would learn so much information about the Classics!! Kudos for taking the time to respond; we do appreciate it.

Best,
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Old 05-04-2014, 06:23 PM   #570
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Classic MoHos for sale?

My 95 is a 360 classic built on a Spartan EC2000 chassis. Rear engine Cummins 5.9L 12 valve turbo/inter cooled. Allison MD 3060 6 speed electronically controlled. 3 over drive speeds. They were built in 94 and 95. I've heard several rumors on how many were actually built. I believe mine is number 47 in the series.

Here's a good source for information:


http://www.viewrvs.com/airstream-index.php

2 were purchased this year by members here.
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Old 05-04-2014, 06:29 PM   #571
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Ditto to what streamquest said!!
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Old 05-04-2014, 07:06 PM   #572
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Thanks for the correction. Forgive the brain fade, the pushers are definitely 360 models. I would have sworn that their Cummins was upgraded from the 5.9 that's in my 1990. Higher power output perhaps?

No one would know better than the man that owns one.
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Old 05-04-2014, 07:09 PM   #573
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The 370 was built on a Gillig chassis with a front Ford 460 engine. The 370s were only built in 1989.

The 360 (a.k.a. Classic 36) comes in two flavors (gas puller and diesel pusher). The gas unit has a tag-axle and a front Chevy engine. The diesel pusher unit is on the Spartan chassis.
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Old 05-04-2014, 07:14 PM   #574
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Fred,

I was just about to self correct on the 370's Gillig bus chassis, but you beat me to it. Thanks for keeping me honest.
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Old 05-04-2014, 07:32 PM   #575
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Thanks for the correction. Forgive the brain fade, the pushers are definitely 360 models. I would have sworn that their Cummins was upgraded from the 5.9 that's in my 1990. Higher power output perhaps?



No one would know better than the man that owns one.

I've been getting way to intimate with mine! A bigger engine would have been a nice upgrade. I put a Banks Powerpack on mine a couple years ago. It really woke up the engine. I just replaced the turbo cartridge (bearing, wheels, and shaft assembly). And I redesigned the air intake to eliminate a few 90 degree boots and about 8 feet of induction plumbing. We just ran 1300 miles from Colorado to Michigan and it's running superbly. We fought 20-30 mph headwinds and got just shy of 11 mpg cruising at 75 mph. I'll bet we would have seen better than 15 cruising 60 with that as a tailwind.
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Old 05-20-2014, 09:59 PM   #576
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1979 24' Airstream Excella 24
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24ft. 1979

1979 Airstream Excella 24 for sale in Toronto, Ontario
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Old 05-21-2014, 09:32 PM   #577
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325 in Texas

1986 Airstream 36' Classic Motorhome
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Old 06-04-2014, 06:52 PM   #578
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Anyone remember when Larry Hagman's Moho was being auctioned off? Apparently it got $30K.

http://www.paulfrasercollectibles.com/News/Larry-Hagman-Airstream-motor-home-achieves-$30,000/15184.page#.U4-8zGS9Kc0
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Old 06-08-2014, 09:51 PM   #579
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92

1992 AIRSTREAM 300LE RV MOTOR HOME
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Old 06-08-2014, 09:55 PM   #580
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NASA Airstream 1200 orig. miles

89 AIRSTREAM 270
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