Newbie Question

[Lumeni]

My husband and I just bought a 29 Foot Land Yacht Ambassador AS. We actually haven't even picked it up yet. The PO purchased it from an auction last year and doesn't have any information on it. He said he assumed it is a 1976 model but wasn't sure. The metal plate on the outside has a manufactured date of 9/3/75. Would that make it a '75 model or a '76? We want to find an owner's manual or factory manual but I'm not sure which one I should be looking for. Thanks!

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Lumeni

My husband and I just bought a 29 Foot Land Yacht Ambassador AS. We actually haven't even picked it up yet. The PO purchased it from an auction last year and doesn't have any information on it. He said he assumed it is a 1976 model but wasn't sure. The metal plate on the outside has a manufactured date of 9/3/75. Would that make it a '75 model or a '76? We want to find an owner's manual or factory manual but I'm not sure which one I should be looking for. Thanks!

76 Airstreams were built starting in July.

Yours then would be 1976.

The serial number has the real answer.

The serial number plate is forward of the door, below the stack window.

Andy

[Foiled Again]

Pictures will help. Model years can be a little "fluid" - say they run out of a certain style of stove vent, and the next year's model will have a newer one... well the last few of the prior year will get the next year's stove vent and sometimes whatever else changes.

Model years now tend to change in mid May, so you probably have a 1976.

Go to Airstream.com

There are many manuals in .pdf format available.

Paula

[Lumeni]

Thanks for the replies! We are picking it up this evening. I tried to take a picture of the metal plate with MFD by Airstream Inc. at the top and it turned out horrible so I'll have to take another one later.

[Lumeni]

Originally Posted by Inland RV Center, In

76 Airstreams were built starting in July.

Yours then would be 1976.

The serial number has the real answer.

The serial number plate is forward of the door, below the stack window.

Andy

Thanks for the info. Based on your reply, does the VIN number have the year embedded in it then? My husband and I were talking last night and he said the VIN number said 75 so he kept thinking the model year would be '75, that's what prompted me to ask the experts here on forum :-).

[Belegedhel]

Did you get a title with the trailer? If so, the title ought to spell it out for you. If not, I hope you've investigated what it will take to register it without one in your state.

I was able to buy a .pdf owners manual and shop manual on ebay for my '73. I haven't seen them anywhere else. I think you can buy an owner's manual from Airstream.com, or at least you used to be able to. It seems like they are supporting the vintage trailer information less these days.

good luck!

[xrvr]

The date on the plate would be the build date, not the model year. Get a title? Hope so! Jim

[Inland RV Center, In]

Originally Posted by Lumeni

Thanks for the info. Based on your reply, does the VIN number have the year embedded in it then? My husband and I were talking last night and he said the VIN number said 75 so he kept thinking the model year would be '75, that's what prompted me to ask the experts here on forum :-).

Sample serial number for your trailer.

I= International.
29= length
T, D, A, B = Floor plan

next number is the year (ie, 5 for 75, 6 for 76)

S or J. Factory location, J for Jackson Center, and S for Santa Fe Springs.

next 4 numbers are the production numbers.

Never does the serial number contain 2 numbers for the model year.

I 29 T 5 S 1234

Andy

[Lumeni]

Thanks again for all the information. We want to go pick it up tonight and the PO says he has the title. All we did yesterday was put a deposit down to hold it. Doh, I didn't even think of the title having the year! We will know soon enough. I was able to find the floor plans for the 1975 and 1976 from airstream.com and it definitely looks more like the 1976 in terms of color scheme and layout. It is interesting because it has a slightly different floor plan than what is pictured. It is a 29 ft ambassador twin rear bath but the front "lounge" area looks more like the ambassador double rear bath with the fold down couch and a cabinet against the back wall versus another sitting area. Is it possible to have mix like that, or does it mean there must have been some kind of modification made by a PO?

[Aviator]

It is certainly possible. Airstream was willing to do a lot of customization over the years. They still are for that matter if you have enough $$

[Lumeni]

We got it! On our way home now! Title says 1976. I'm so excited to get home and explore every inch.