Thor?

[Belbein]

Last question for the day. I don't know anything about Thor. I don't know when they bought AS. I'm not very impressed with the other offerings I've seen from them. Does anyone know what their reputation is and what their plans are for AS? Or what effect their ownership has had on the quality, fit and finish of the ASs?

I ask because I know in the sailboat market, when Big Behemoth, Inc., buys Little Sailboat Manufacturer, LSM's quality is going to start to suck pretty fast. But that market isn't this market.

[Landrum]

Thor purchased Airstream from Beatrice in the early 80's and most likely saved Airstream.

[Alphonse]

From a conversation with a dealer, I understand that from their initial purchase of Airstream they have continually grown primarily through acquisitions. As the Captain said above, they likely saved Airstream's bacon.
Thor Industries - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

[dwightdi]

Beatrice Foods bought Airstream from Wally's estate owners. Beatrice was a major conglomerate that did not run the company that well and lost a lot of money when the market declined. The two partners, who formed Thor to buy Airstream, got it at a bargain price. They had some RV knowledge, since they owned HiLo trailers at that time. Wayne Thompson was the operations guy. I think they did a pretty good job of understanding the market and adjusting the product line up to match the desires of the target demographic. Both Beatrice and Thor benefited from Wally's legend.

[Aviator]

Airstream has prospered under Thor. They appear to have left them somewhat alone since the Airstream operation is in Ohio and everything else is in Indiana. I wouldn't have any qualms about buy a brand new Airstream, but I all ready have one and a project Airstream. My wife would kill me if I bought a new one as well. If that happened I wouldn't even get to enjoy it, she would!

[wkerfoot]

I believe that Airstream was a public company before they were purchased by Beatrice. Wally died in 1962? Beatrice bought the company in 1969.

Bill

Originally Posted by dwightdi

Beatrice Foods bought Airstream from Wally's estate owners. Beatrice was a major conglomerate that did not run the company that well and lost a lot of money when the market declined. The two partners, who formed Thor to buy Airstream, got it at a bargain price. They had some RV knowledge, since they owned HiLo trailers at that time. Wayne Thompson was the operations guy. I think they did a pretty good job of understanding the market and adjusting the product line up to match the desires of the target demographic. Both Beatrice and Thor benefited from Wally's legend.

[AWCHIEF]

I spotted the the title of this thread and thought it was about the movie "Thor". I am watching it on TV and they are in an Airstream Travel Trailer.