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rob keller · 12-30-2007, 10:02 PM

hello:
my name is rob and i have recently purchased one of the 47 airstreams that wally took on the world tour in 63/64. are there any other members who might have world tour trailers i could talk with? i have a little knowledge about the trip but where would one find out more about this special trailer?
very excited to be an airstreamer,
rob

**moosetags** · 12-30-2007, 10:39 PM

Welcome to the Forums. We're glad to have you with us. Congrats on your new Airstream. That's quite a find.

leefields · 12-30-2007, 10:40 PM

nice little bit of history you have there...

Zeppelinium · 12-31-2007, 04:58 AM

Photos, please. We'd all like to see what kind of condition such a historic Airstream is in. And welcome to the Vintage world (pun fully intended--do you labor in the vineyards?).

Zep

greywolf · 01-01-2008, 06:45 PM

Welcome aboard! That's sounds very interesting with your purchase. Certainly need pix! I do believe that 1963 was a good year for vintage!

66Overlander · 02-07-2008, 08:42 PM

Rob,
Welcome to the AirForums. This place contains a wealth of knowledge about Airstreams, but I did a little search and there is actually not too much about the Around the World Caravan. These threads were all I could come up with:

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f286...bay-38488.html
(About Your Trailer #8671)

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f286...eam-25295.html
(About Trailer #7667)

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f109...ect-16692.html
(See post #14 about Trailer #5289)

Around the World Overlander
(Actually a blog link related to #5289)

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f286...van-36188.html
(Photo of a decal from the Around the World Caravan)

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f368...lly-39469.html
(A mention of still living Around the World Caravan participants)

Darol Ingalls · 02-07-2008, 10:55 PM

Since Wally died in 1962, I don't think he led the World Caravan in '63/'64. In Bryan Burkhart's book "Airstream - History of the Landyacht" there are several photos of the World Caravan. Fran Hall was one of the photographers on the trip. His trailer was a Safari - same one?? Darol

66Overlander · 02-08-2008, 12:20 AM

Darol,
The Around the World Caravan was lead by Andy Charles, who lost his bid to become the head of Airstream after Wally's death. The top job went to Art Costello and they assigned Andy Charles to lead the caravan instead. I actually think Andy got the better deal.

#8671 was not the Hall's Safari. #8671 belonged to Cecil and Mary Tolle of Elwood, IN. The Halls' trailer was #83 and is clearly visible in several photo's from the Around the World Caravan (as well as the 5 part video series). #8671 has not turned up in any photo's that I have seen, but it can be found in the video series.

66Overlander · 10-27-2008, 08:11 PM

Rob,
I am so terribly dissappointed that you do not recognize and want to preserve your historic trailer. It is an absolute shame that you have gutted it and are selling the guts in Craigslist:
own a piece of history - round the world caravan interior

And in case the Craigslist ad is pulled, here is the text and photo's:

Quote:

own a piece of history - round the world caravan interior (napa county)

Reply to: sale-894765277@craigslist.org [?]
Date: 2008-10-26, 7:48PM PDT

i have recently dismantled the interior of my 1963 22-foot airstream safari.
all the sinks, gauchos, cabinets, refrigerator, stove, bathroom and heater removed with gentle loving care. the trailer originally went on the round-the- world tour in 1963-1964 with wally byam (airstream founder) international. #8671 has list of countries painted onto the inside of the door showing its travels on this world famous historic caravan. currently being retro-fitted for a creative work fund grant i will no longer need the interior. find out more about the project at Napa Valley Bee Company. will sell to the best offer.

it's NOT ok to contact this poster with services or other commercial interests

PostingID: 894765277

3Ms75Argosy · 10-27-2008, 08:35 PM

Well... I guess it's still going to travel around the country... just as a big beehive! Interesting layout... windows are different than my '63 TW. I like the bigger window on the curbside front (like a lower vista view). Wonder if it has a pull out gaucho in the rear.. the windows are all differnt from the mid back on both sides. Also, has some interesting "patches" on the rear uppers on both sides... some sort of hatches?

I'd love to learn more ... is there a Wally Hatch?
Guess it'll be painted yellow and black.
Marc

Buttercup · 10-28-2008, 01:02 AM

Rob,

I also am stunned at the total destruction of this beautiful piece of history. Your statements you made personally to me on the phone that you would respect the history of the trailer seems like a lie now that it has been gutted and parted out on the market. You can not preserve the life and history with the guts ripped out any more than your own life could be preserved with your innards lovingly bisected out of you.
As a beekeeper who chose to "trap out" a feral hive that invaded my home rather than kill them, I appreciate what you are attempting to do. I do not appreciate being assured that the history of this trailer would be respected only to see that it is being made into a circus act.
You would have been so much better to use some SOB Toy Hauler so prevalent on the market today rather then to destroy such an important piece of Airstream History.
Imagine if I had killed that feral hive just because they didn't fit into my home plans. You know how horrific that would be. I respected the bees I saved because of the information you presented to me.
What makes this all the more horrific is that when presented with this history and concerns for the outcome for this trailer, you knew that it was an important issue. You were even offered to sell it in lieu of purchasing another trailer with a much less prominent history. Still you chose to destroy this trailer....
Now, I grieve for 8671.

Ladies and Gentlemen, I present to you the new life of a Grand Damme of the Airstream world. Boooo!

66Overlander · 10-28-2008, 04:51 AM

I too feel betrayed having talked to Rob several times about the historical significance of this trailer. I had offered to repay his purchase price just to save old 8671. Rob assured me that no permanent modification would be made to the trailer and that it's history would be respected.

Because he specifically wanted an Airstream, he could have easily bought a gutted vintage Airstream closer to home and for less money, but he chose to purchase a historic trailer on the other side of the U.S. and then spend grant money to bring it to Napa Valley, California and gut it. That is premeditated.

I would have felt better had this trailer been destroyed in an accident. But knowing that someone who understood the historical significance of the trailer could purposfully and permanently tear it apart and sell the pieces breaks my heart and causes me to lose a little faith in people.

Silverhobby · 10-28-2008, 05:58 AM

Since I have nothing nice to say, I guess I'll have to stop here.

Frank's Trailer Works · 10-28-2008, 06:09 AM

Wow... now things are being reveled here that concern me too... Is there some reason that another trailer could have not been used? Any other trailer. Something that was let go and the interior is totally shot in it? I will trade you my 1962 Overlander for that one. How about a 1963 Overlander. I know of one for sale and I will buy it ... my trailer went on a maritime caravan and then was used as a shore cottage. No historical significance there... I love her dearly and she has given me the best camping season of my life, but she never went around the world. That is serious.

How about you shove the interior back in and I will meet you somewhere in Nebraska and we can trade. You gain 4 feet of trailer and I get a trailer that can be treated the way it should.

Feel free to PM me....

**azflycaster** · 10-28-2008, 07:16 AM

To make matters worse (if possible), the funding for the destruction of this historic trailer is being funded through a grant. I doubt that the trailer's owner will see any of these posts because he has not been back to this site since his original post last year. The funding for this project is being paid for by:

The Creative Work Fund
One Lombard Street, Suite 305
San Francisco, CA 94111
For information, call 415-402-2793
Creative Work Fund

InsideOut · 10-28-2008, 07:27 AM

Hmmm...wonder if the grant donors are aware of how their monies are destroying a bit of history? Guess it's too late to do any good ~

Shari

ROBERT CROSS · 10-28-2008, 07:49 AM

Having owned a 63 Safari...I'm really pissed.

Ours was very special to US, this one was important to ALL OF US.

It's a sad day in Streamland

**azflycaster** · 10-28-2008, 07:54 AM

I have just sent an email to the director of the fund, I will post the reply if and when I get one...

Melody Ranch · 10-28-2008, 08:33 AM

I am sick about this story.
This is a picture of an abandoned Airstream near me. Does the Wally Caravan logo have significance? I included a close up of the Red Numbers so it can be searched out.

flyfshr · 10-28-2008, 08:38 AM

Any vintage Airstream has some significance to me, especially one with a Wally Byam Caravan sticker. Is there any way to get a pix of the name plate with serial number of this trailer? Looks like a Safari model with the entry door so close to the wheelwell. Is this for sale or just rotting away in someone's back pasture? Sad indeed.

Brad
FF