59 vs 67 interior quality

[JimC]

I just looked at a 59 Globetrotter and I am restoring a 67 tradewind. I was surprised by the greater quality and construction of the 59 interior. Did A/S sell different interior grades? Did they reduce construction quality in the longer 67 to reduce weight? Were they trying to reduce cost in the late 60's?

To give an example, the 59 has a number of dovetailed drawers, where the 67 has no drawers at all. At least the 67 has a shower and hot water -- a matter of size I suppose.

I need a history lesson.

[InsideOut]

I believe the differences you noticed are mostly due to the number of trailers produced in each of the years.

In the late 50's, they were pretty much made one at a time, semi-custom ordered by either a customer or a dealer. By '67 they were more production oriented, things were more mass-produced.

With that came more thought-out (sophisticated?) plans with bathrooms, but also compromises were made in the "hand-made" features like dove-tailed drawers. Your '67 probably had some plastic drawers or bins that may now be misplaced.

There were some minor differences with the "International" verisions in the 60's & 70's, but most didn't have anything to do with quality of construction, more like size of tanks, water filters, trim package, etc. and things that would be important for international travel like the Wally Byam or Airstream Co. Caravans.

Shari

[flyfshr]

When my wife and I were looking at vintage units to make a decision on ,odel years, we looked at a lot of trailers - mostly on the web. We decided that the trailers of the late '60s were just not for us, too much thin plywood, plastics, laminates, textured ceilings/walls, etc. After looking at a friend's '60 Trade Wind Twin, we felt right at home. Lots of solid mahagoney, no plastics to speak of, quality components that had stood the test of time. Besides, the AZ heat is extremely hard on plastics and rubber. As Sheri states, the Airstreams of this era were made one at a time by skilled and proud workers. We couldn't be happier with our Trade Wind. Come to the Rocky Mountain Forums Rally next month and see for yourself.

Brad