Greetings bike_addict!
Quote:
Originally Posted by bike_addict
If someone doesn't mind can you educate me. What is the relation between Argosy and Airstream?
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Argosy was a subsidiary of Airstream that began production in 1971 for the 1972 model year. The plant for Argosy production was located in Versailles, Ohio (not too very far from Jackson Center, OH), but a small number of Argosy coaches were also produced in Airstream's California plant according to VIN plates that are attached to a number of Argosys. Argosys spanned two generations -- the first generation is the one composed of painted coaches that look like Airstreams other than being painted rather than raw aluminum. The second generation is the generation that was composed of "Square" Argosy coaches that didn't possess the rounded Airstream shape -- this generation began around 1985 (as 1986 models) and ended sometime around 1989 (I am less familiar with second generation so am not certain as to the precise dates). As a general rule, the Argosy was less expesnive in part due to a lower level of standard equipment, and there was some effort to control cost through selection of less costly models of components utilized in Airstreams. The Argosy provided Airstream with an experimental platform for a number of features that would find their way into Airstreams as well as a few that didn't. Among the features tried in the Argosy line were:
- The front Panoramic Windows (although they were clear on the Argosy rather than tinted as utilized on the Airstreams).
- Rear Entry floorplan tried in 22' and 24' lengths (similar floorplans are currently offered in Airstream front bedroom models).
- Composite Aluminum Floors (6.0 and 6.7 Metre Minuets) that Airstream did not utilize outside of the Minuet series and not ll of the two smaller Minuets came with these floors.
- Acrylic side windows. A weight-saving move on Minuets that never made it out of the Minuet series.
- Narrow-body coaches -- 7.0' Minuets -- a weight-saving move that only saw limited use in Airstreams for one year with certain 1980 Airstream Caravelles.
- Galvanized Steel Domes or Endcaps -- a feature on Argosys that was not utilized beyond the Argosy lineup.
- Motorhomes were first introduced in the Argosy line around 1974 and made the transition to the Airstream lineup in either 1978 or 1979 (I have not followed motorhomes closely so am not absolutely certain about dates).
- Square bodystyle coaches (second generation) were first tried in Argosy lineup before making transition to Airstream lineup.
- My understanding is that there were a few second generation Argosy fifth wheels were produced prior to the introduction of the Airstream Integrity Fifth Wheel.
I believe that there are a few other examples of experiments in the Argosy line, but these are among the more familiar.
Kevin
Linear Mode
