I purchased what I thought was a 27 ft. Excella last July. I've been working away at polishing, etc. Today I ordered some parts from Inland RV & they looked up the numbers of my serial number for me. My trailer isn't an Excella after all. It has the name riveted on it in two places, as well as the trademark blue stripe, but apparently it's an International Overlander. Why would someone do that?
Hi Becky:
There are other cases of people marking their trailers into something they are not. At rallys I've seen some vintage trailers with newer Excella name plates and other Airstream memorabilia put on the exterior. Perhaps these owners just like to pimp their trailers by slathering them with Airstream stuff. Others may feel compelled to "keep up with the Joneses" by adding logos, name plates, trim and other gee gaws from higher end models in an effort to appear to have something other than what they bought. During the 1970s, the owner of Wally's Gold Trailer did a similar thing to it by adding a wide blue "Excella" stripe around the belt line and installing modern round corner hatch doors and windows, as pictured on page 37 in the Summer 2006 issue of Airstreram Life. Most of these people may innocently be emulating the appearance of a newer Airstream trailer they admire, while a dastardly few might be doing this to pawn off their trailer as something it's not.
As for your trailer, enjoy it as it is. It looks very nice with that blue stripe.
__________________
Fred Coldwell, WBCCI #1510, AIR #2675
Denver, Colorado - WBCCI Unit 24
Charter Associate Member FCU
Vintage Airstream Club Historian
Airstream Life "Old Aluminum Adventures"
...I've seen some vintage trailers with newer Excella name plates and other Airstream memorabilia put on the exterior...
...Most of these people may innocently be emulating the appearance of a newer Airstream trailer they admire...
and I know of someone who has done the exact opposite, to emulate an older look.
Leave it the way it is. I agree with klevan, what if Inland RV is wrong? It sure would suck to take off the Excella siding and get rid of it, only to find out that you need to put it back on, because it really was an Excella after all. Aside from that, the polishing job is beautiful. Personally, I would take the rhino lining off, but I hear that's a real mother to do. Good luck with it.
Leave it the way it is. I agree with klevan, what if Inland RV is wrong?
Frederic
Perhaps your wrong with your suggested misinformation source.
The serial number supplied was identified by Airstreams published method of identification.
Perhaps Airstream then has mistakes in their system. I DON't THINK SO.
The fact is people change their trailer, or motorhome.
Argosy owners change them to look like an Airstream, up to and including the Airstream nameplates.
Argosy motorhome owners paint them to look like an Airstream, with name plates and all.
Airstream owners may like the Excella graphics, and put it on their trailer. They can also buy name plates, everyday of the week, to further change it, and do, very frequently.
a silk purse by any name is still silk. That trailer looks great, so enjoy!!
If you want to change the nameplate or take it off, go ahead. No one cares what it says, as that is a beautiful rig either way...
__________________
Rallys twice a year..Lots of fun, food, and aluminum.
and I know of someone who has done the exact opposite, to emulate an older look.
Hey, I resemble that remark! Actually it was GSM Vehicles idea - and a darn good one if you ask me. The Tube is a beauty now and the only 93 Excella I know of that passes for vintage.
__________________ Michelle & Leon
WBCCI # 7032 Region 1, New England Unit
Looking for a WBCCI Unit filled with fun loving folks to camp and travel with in the New England area? Well, you've just found it:
I want to thank everybody for their nice comments. I guess I'll just leave the name on the trailer & worry about the rhino liner some other time. I will have to replace the stripe, since some of it started to peel when I stripped the clearcoat. That should be a joy in and of itself! I really love this forum & have learned so much from all your great advise!
I will have to replace the stripe, since some of it started to peel when I stripped the clearcoat. That should be a joy in and of itself!
Well, if you don't like the stripe...now would be the time to decide that and not replace it, right? Save yourself some extra efforrt...however, if you do like it, then have at it!
Do whatever YOU like, it's your trailer! It's an Airstream, that's all that really counts anyways, right!? A rose is a rose by any other name it's still a rose ~
Shari
__________________
Vintage Airstream Club - Past President 2007/2008
WBCCI #1824 - DenCO Unit Past President (2005)
AIR #30 - Join Date: 2-25-2002
I do like the stripe & think it would look strange without it, since it has a beltline above & below it. Do all Overlanders have that? It goes double through the door & then just single around the front. I have searched the forums & found that the stripe is out of manufacture & would have to figure something out (maybe a plain 6" stripe & then pinstripes on top & bottom. The letters are going to be the biggest pain as well as some other things that are riveted along the stripe. I know the letters can't be removed unless you take the interior apart (which I'm not going to do) but the other stuff - the polarizing dohicky and the Excella name-can they be taken off without removing the inside? If not, I'll have to work around them somehow.
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