Newbie has a question

[CTHilmo]

Hello Everyone,

My wife and I bought a 1986 airstream motorhome about eight months ago. I had alot of questions and still at a loss for most answers. I called the Airstream company and was told that there was no record of it. After about thirty minutes of alot of duh's and I don't knows, I finally found out that it was made by the Airstream specialty division which today no longer existis. So to no avail I still have no answers.

[balrgn]

Sure looks prurdee! What are the questions you have?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by CTHilmo

Hello Everyone,

My wife and I bought a 1986 airstream motorhome about eight months ago. I had alot of questions and still at a loss for most answers. I called the Airstream company and was told that there was no record of it. After about thirty minutes of alot of duh's and I don't knows, I finally found out that it was made by the Airstream specialty division which today no longer existis. So to no avail I still have no answers.

Welcome to the forums.
What are your questions?
From here, it looks like the coach was a custom job for someone that was perhaps handicapped, and needed an oversized entry door. The smaller door in the rear was for the non-handicapped members of the travel group, as any lift mechanism in the front would make entry and exit a problem for people without wheelchairs.
One of the moderators (alansd) is currently doing research into the custom Airstream jobs done in that era, you may want to PM him, as he may be able to help further.

[85MH325]

That's definately one-of-a-kind! What a great looking coach! Do you have inside photos? From the placement of the fridge vents and the back door (VERY rare in a moho... don't think I've ever seen another example!), it's obviously a custom-interior job!


Roger

[CTHilmo]

My questions are simple. I'm new to Airstreams. I've done no research on them. This one is hard to figure out, that much I know. I have found the original blue prints. It was a mobil medical unit of somekind. Shipped to Mimi Florida to a paramedics unit. How rare is it? Is this the only one? What is it's value? I know that I bought it for next to nothing. It fell in my lap sort a speek. Sorry my replys are slow. I have a turtle connection.

[CTHilmo]

Here are pictures of the blue prints and first registration. There will be more photos of interior later. I'm not really good with computers or typing, sorry. The blue prints are old and torn. I was told by Airstream that I was not supposed to have them, oh well!

[85MH325]

Too cool! You may, in fact, have a one-off unit! As I said, I've sort of made a hobby out of two-door Airstreams, and I've never seen a two-door moho before! That is really neat that you have the blueprints.

The value of your coach will depend on who's willing to pay for it. A standard Airstream moho of that vintage and size will typically bring $15k to $30k USD depending on condition, amenities, and power train. A special coach that isn't already done as a camper may bring more or less depending on who wants it and for what.

Do hang onto those blueprints! While they may not have a lot of intrinsic value in and of themselves, they may be the only set out of captivity.

Thanks for posting this. It's fun to see these kinds of one-off things that Airstream did.

Roger

[Janet H]

Looks like the original registration is to a city paramedics unit. Way cool!

[azflycaster]

Nice looking unit, what's inside?

[balrgn]

Originally Posted by CTHilmo

My questions are simple. I'm new to Airstreams. I've done no research on them. This one is hard to figure out, that much I know. I have found the original blue prints. It was a mobil medical unit of somekind. Shipped to Mimi Florida to a paramedics unit. How rare is it? Is this the only one? What is it's value? I know that I bought it for next to nothing. It fell in my lap sort a speek. Sorry my replys are slow. I have a turtle connection.

We have 2 in town that are used by the hospital as a portable clinics..

[2airishuman]

hello cthilmo

welcome to the forums....

it's neat to see these uncommon configurations......

but declairing any of them as "one offs" is hard....

and it's not a nasa unit......

while some of the more frequently seen units like the funeral coach may number into the 100s,

lots of medical/dental/commerical units....ones were made;

then the next time someone called......another was made, and so on.

once the factory has done a couple they could suggest a floorplan/design to the next customer...running them all together over several model years....

pricing is speculation,

and best thought of as "what would the shell be worth" alone

since most would want to make an rv out of em....and they often don't have tanks, showers, toilets, galleys and stuff in the proper layout for rv usage....

and no appliances (even vintage stuff) for the rv functions...

our member with the travelin golf thingie.....is one of the few using a vintage moho for a travelin business...

if someone wanted to build a coffee shop or mobile diner or tourbus, or shoe store, or bike repair shop....
the two doors would be a great feature....

can't wait to see the interior shops......these are usually dissapointing....since the decor is dated business chic.....

are you planning to use the unit for anything or just shopping it here?

cheers
2air'

[CTHilmo]

This 86' did start out as an empty shell, with only a 6.5 onan gen. The generator was not working when I bought it, I put about $400 into it and did all the work it needed my self, runs very good now. It also had 12 thin-lite 12v florecent lights. Now it has all the anemities of home. My wife, son, and I live in it. There have been alot of changes to the interior. It has a fridge, hot water tank, 2 sinks, shower, stove, power inverter, charger, and a convection/microwave. Also a T.V. and DVD player that I mounted in the false wall I built between the cab and the living area. Now, it's home.

[CTHilmo]

Oh, by the way, this Airstream found me not the other way around. I figure it needed me, so as far as selling it, NEVER! I'm was only interested in the value of this not so common unit.

[85MH325]

Please post photos! The interior sounds fascinating!

Roger

[ALANSD]

You might see if you can get the winter edition from last year of Airstream Life magazine, I did the article on Classic motorhomes, and I am sure you will find it good reading on the history.
Many unusual one or a few of a kind units were custom ordered, and as you research you will run across photos and descriptions of them.
From the NASA Astro van to Hearses, ambulances, taxis, limos, rolling computer labs, nedical and dental, etc. Since their original build a lot have been reconverted to motorhomes for family use, rolling studios. display mobiles, sales showrooms, and more.
The value of these is best stated as above= $15 - upper $20,000 for a 270 in great shape with what seems like a nice exterior finish, albeit an unusual paint scheme, and depending on the interior functionality and so on. The higher priced units are exceptional in condition and function.
Welcome aboard, we love to see "new" Classics in our midst!

also check out if you haven't yet;
www.airstreammotorhomes.com

[2airishuman]

Originally Posted by CTHilmo

Now it has all the anemities of home. My wife, son, and I live in it. There have been alot of changes to the interior. It has a fridge, hot water tank, 2 sinks, shower, stove, power inverter, charger, and a convection/microwave. Also a T.V. and DVD player that I mounted in the false wall I built between the cab and the living area. Now, it's home.

hi cthilmo

wow that sounds cool.....you've done a full conversion.

and you are living in it? in montana?......neat.

i full timed in my 28 for 2 years.....it was fun.

we have another newer member here (davidh) also living in his; also in montana....

since it's such a little bitty state......you guys are probably neighbors...

cheers
2air'

[CTHilmo]

Bing that our R.V. is our home my wife and I are not comfortable posting the living side of our home on-line. Inviting strangers into my home is not something that I would recommend to anyone. It certainly isn't typical of any R.V. but it suites us perfectly. We use the front door as our entry into our living/bedroom. There is a wall built, of tounge and groove with a door, to seperate the cab from the living quarters. The wall we have mounted a Flat screen T.V. and a DVD player. We,ve cornered against that wall a heter. A little two seater kitchen table with stools sits against the drivers side wall before the kitchen counters and cabinets begin. The kitchen was built to be typical of any other R.V. with a sink, range, refigerator, and convection-microwave oven. The lower cabnits under the sink and counter top are mostly not useable due to the fresh water tank, hot water hearter, water pump, and suburban forced air furnace. We have two bigger cupboards that are open- one we use for a linen closet and the other for a pantry. There are no drawers in our R.v. so for the kitchen gadgets we use sterilite drawers and our clothes are kept in under bed storage totes under the futon. The back room consists of a set of bunk beds I built to fit - covering access to the back door. The spare tire in the very rear made a nice place to convert the top into a bookself for our son's books. Oppisite side of the bunk beds is the bathroom. There is nothing special in the bathroom - typical shower stall, sink and toilet My wife made some very nice curtains for the back that keep the same conture of the R.V. Maroon on the outside and Blue on the inside to match. We've put new carpet and linoleum throughout and wood accents. It's very nice and very comfortable and yes, very cramped but we wouldn't have it any other way!

[davidh]

Hi CTHilmo, Thought I would chime in and say hello and welcome to the forums, I moved to MT last june, and am living in Kalispell. Sounds like you have done alot of work to your unit. it's just me and the Lab in mine plenty of room for the two of us, until he figures he's going to join me in the shower, half to draw the line there.