1979 International?

cat3957 · 10-22-2006, 07:03 PM

I'm talking with a gentleman about a 22'1979 airstream international that he has for sale but I can't seem to find that model for that year.I was wondering if anyone had any information on this model and if there are things that I should scrutinize with this model before I buy it.The bathroom is in the rear of the trailer and it has the word New Yorker on the side.Thanks

**CanoeStream** · 10-22-2006, 08:43 PM

Hello cat3957 -- and welcome to the Forums! International was a trim line, not an actual model. Take a look at Vintage Airstream's photo archives and Price vs. Condition webpages. I suspect 'New Yorker' was a previous owner's effort to establish their origins while on the road.

Things to scrutinize? It's 30 years old and has miniaturized subsystems as diverse as what's in your house. Axles, air conditioning, furnace, hot water heater, Dometic fridge, plumbing, frame, floor rot -- and other areas will show the expected aging. The answers to these are covered repeatedly in these Forums over time. What is your starting point on info?

**wahoonc** · 10-22-2006, 09:04 PM

Cat3957,
It was not uncommon back in the 70's and 80's for people to put their state on the side of their Airstreams. I have a 1980 model with the Great Seal of the state on North Carolina on it. It has led some people to speculate (incorrectly BTW) that it belonged to the state of NC at some point. I have seen several along the road that still have the state emblazoned on the blue stripe along the side. As Canoestream pointed out the International was a trim level. Probably the most common one. There was a base model, then the International, followed by the Excella and in the cases of the larger trailers the Limited. The base model seems to be the least common one to find. International's are the most common.

Aaron

Frank S · 10-22-2006, 09:19 PM

Hi Cat3957--Had INDIANA on both sides of mine in about 2-1/2" high letters when I bought it from the PO in 1988.--Frank S

wkerfoot · 10-22-2006, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat3957

I'm talking with a gentleman about a 22'1979 airstream international that he has for sale but I can't seem to find that model for that year.I was wondering if anyone had any information on this model and if there are things that I should scrutinize with this model before I buy it.The bathroom is in the rear of the trailer and it has the word New Yorker on the side.Thanks

cat3957,

22' is not an Airstream length for 1979. We have a 1979 Safari and it is 23' long, measured from ball to rear bumper, a 1979 Tradewind would be 25' measured the same. On the serial number plate in front of the door it should say either Safari or Tradwind. That is the model. Ours is an International, which is a trim level, and that is indicated by the leading "I" in the serial number.

Bill

ROBERTSUNRUS · 10-22-2006, 10:50 PM

Hi, Cat3957. My trailer has an American flag decal [7" by 13.5"] on the street side only; It's covering up a Boo Boo some dummy named Bob put in it before it got home on it's first vacation during trip from dealer to home.

Bob

cat3957 · 10-23-2006, 06:16 PM

Thanks to all...I had read on the site after my posting and found most of my answers. (except the "New Yorker" piece...). We looked at a 1979 which must have been 23' from what I have read, not 22'' as the owner told us. With the underneath being covered we didn't know how to check the condition of the frame. Then we read on the site that this model with the end bathroom has trouble with buckling. Everything seemed solid. Another unusual thing was the angled countertop in the kitchen near the sink - I couldn't find one like it in any of the photos...Does anyone know about this style? All in all the price was right but we feel we need to learn more before we buy! Cathie

**azflycaster** · 10-23-2006, 06:31 PM

I have seen some TradeWinds in the mid 70's with the angled kitchen. The PO may have changed out the counter top to get more counter space. The picture is from a 78 Trade Wind

I would not be too concerned about rear end sag on a 23 foot late 70's unit.
The frame problem is mostly seen on the longer unit because of the distance from the axel.

wkerfoot · 10-23-2006, 06:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cat3957

Thanks to all...I had read on the site after my posting and found most of my answers. (except the "New Yorker" piece...). We looked at a 1979 which must have been 23' from what I have read, not 22'' as the owner told us. With the underneath being covered we didn't know how to check the condition of the frame. Then we read on the site that this model with the end bathroom has trouble with buckling. Everything seemed solid. Another unusual thing was the angled countertop in the kitchen near the sink - I couldn't find one like it in any of the photos...Does anyone know about this style? All in all the price was right but we feel we need to learn more before we buy! Cathie

Cathie,

I think that the angled kitchen makes your trailer a Tradewind. Are the second and third digits in the serial number 25 or 23? They represent the length.

Bill

cat3957 · 10-24-2006, 04:20 AM

THANK YOU...Since you posted your info/picture I have done more searching and yes, I think the unit we looked at must be a Tradewind and older than the seller had told us, 75 or 76. It is a bit confusing as people have pictures of 78 models and yet the site says they stopped making the Tradewind in 1976. LOTS TO LEARN! Wish I had read on this site BEFORE we looked at as I would have known about where to find info on the trailer. Cathie