1975 Argosy

Apache_Camp · 08-04-2009, 01:10 PM

Couple questions;

1) Whats the relationship between Airstream & Argosy?

2) What did my 1975 Argosy center twin cost new in 1975?

3) Why are my endcaps on my Argosy painted instead of Aluminum?

biggoofball · 08-04-2009, 01:29 PM

Argosy is an Airstream. Made right along side them. The end caps are galvanized steel and one piece. Aluminum cannot be stamped out like that. It was a cost savings. Many Airstream innovations were first tried in the Argosy, wrap around windows being the most obvious one. Argosy's were painted to hide the galvanized end caps. Yours has been stripped and clear coated. I would guess the end caps were painted some sort of silver to match.

There is some info around about costs. I don't have it.

**overlander64** · 08-04-2009, 01:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache_Camp

Couple questions;

1) Whats the relationship between Airstream & Argosy?

The first generation (1972-1979) Argosy coaches were manufactured in either Versailles, Ohio or Cerritos, California with the majority being produced in Versailles (V in VIN = Versailles while an S in VIN = Cerritos). The Argosy was in many ways, a testing bed for features that might one day find their way into Airstreams such as the deep-wrap wing windows and the Argosy Motorhome -- as well as some features that would not such as the composite aluminum floor utilized in some Minuets. Argosy was a division of Airstream much as Mercury is a division of the Ford Motor Company.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache_Camp

2) What did my 1975 Argosy center twin cost new in 1975?

The Airstream Customer Service FAQs doesn't have the Argosy prices, but they were typically between 15% and 20% less than the corresponding Airstream model. The suggested list price was likely around $5,500.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache_Camp

3) Why are my endcaps on my Argosy painted instead of Aluminum?

The Argosy utilized stress-formed galvanized steel endcaps, but the exact reason has not been revealed. Speculation includes:

Cost Savings -- reduced labor costs for installation of the endcap and likely a modest savings in material costs.
Experiment -- preparatory for motorhome production where the strength of multi-panel aluminum endcaps may not have been sufficient.
Differentiation -- a means of insuring that the Argosy would always be distinguishable from its upscale cousin -- even if the Argosy were to be polished.

Kevin

PeeWee · 08-06-2009, 08:57 AM

Argosy trailers were only produced in Versailles, OH. Never in California, and probably not in Jackson Center. (Possible for prototypes in Jackson Center, probably not.)

Apache_Camp · 08-06-2009, 09:54 AM

Does anyone know the price of a 24 Argossy new in 1975? I posted the same question in another thread, but all I got was areguments about how other people had been "wronged" by their insurance company. I don't care about that crap.

PeeWee · 08-06-2009, 11:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apache_Camp

Does anyone know the price of a 24 Argossy new in 1975? I posted the same question in another thread, but all I got was areguments about how other people had been "wronged" by their insurance company. I don't care about that crap.

This is a history section, and probably the wrong section for asking these types of questions.

Apache_Camp · 08-06-2009, 11:32 AM

Oh, I thought the historical price of an Argosy was history, my bad. Sorry.

nynick52 · 11-03-2009, 08:44 PM

My Airstream dealer quoted my 1973 Argosy 24 double at $6500 with its installed options. Of course, you'll get lots of arguments about that, but I have air conditioning ahich was a bit unusual for the 1st gen.

I looked at a lot of Airstreams before we settled on an Argosy. When you think about it, it is even more rare.

Nick