Airstream date by serial number?

[Silver Hawk]

I just found an older Airstream I can get. Looks like a good project to keep me busy and its shorter than my 31' - easier for short trips out of the snow to desert for a few days (also easier to tow). It's about 22/23' and in reasonable shape - been parked since 1978.
Question: can anyone tell me the year by the serial number?
It's: 127D90704 and is a Overlander from LA.
On the trailer forms it seems the Overlander's last year was 1975.
Any help would be appreciated!

[wkerfoot]

Should be a 1979 27' Overlander. Check out this site to be sure: 1979 Overlander 27' - Vintage Airstream

Bill

Originally Posted by Silver Hawk

I just found an older Airstream I can get. Looks like a good project to keep me busy and its shorter than my 31' - easier for short trips out of the snow to desert for a few days (also easier to tow). It's about 22/23' and in reasonable shape - been parked since 1978.
Question: can anyone tell me the year by the serial number?
It's: 127D90704 and is a Overlander from LA.
On the trailer forms it seems the Overlander's last year was 1975.
Any help would be appreciated!

[Silver Hawk]

Thanks, looks like it but I paced it off and its not over 23'. Also the owner said he thinks it was last used in 1978 - he could be wrong as he's a bit old and doesn't remember much - such as the year the bought it.

[InsideOut]

I suppose it could be a 1969 Overlander - makes more sense that "it's been parked since 1978".

The "27" in the VIN number does confirm it's an Overlander...when you paced it off, did you include the bumper & tongue? The body is generally about 3-3-1/2' shorter than the overall length of the trailer.

Shari

[DKB_SATX]

Originally Posted by Silver Hawk

Thanks, looks like it but I paced it off and its not over 23'. Also the owner said he thinks it was last used in 1978 - he could be wrong as he's a bit old and doesn't remember much - such as the year the bought it.

The nominal length of an Airstream is bumper-to-hitch, perhaps that's the confusion?

I-27-D at the beginning means it's an International trim, 27' (Overlander), Double-bed (meaning it'll have a folding gaucho double on one side of the aisle and closets and such on the other.) It should probably say Overlander on a badge just to one side of the serial number plate that's near the door.

Airstream doesn't show an Overlander in the '78 and '79 brochures they have on their website, they jump from the 25' Tradewind all the way to the 29' Ambassador in those years. I wonder if perhaps it's a 1969? If the lower outside corner of the "wing" windows on the front is square rather than curved, it's a '69.

For 1969 (and later) the 6th character of the serial number should be a J or an S (J=Ohio production, S= California.)

[Silver Hawk]

Thanks again.
Went through the Vintage Airstream website - great resource!
This one has only the one window in the front (not the three (w/side). Thus it seems the last year they made front single window Airstream's was 1968. Also the 27 was first used in 1969 - so it looks like it's probably a late 1968. (Tried to match the pictures of each year.) Also from the condition and style, it doesn't look like a '70's trailer
Thanks for all the help.