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Lance M · 12-02-2010, 08:44 PM

Wow! Great pictures! Looks like some really great times. I hope my children will someday have such fond memories Airstreaming around the country. I also like that many pictures show Airstreams being towed by regular cars of the era. No one had a 3/4 ton SUPERPOWERDURAMAX! Sweet!

Grand Master · 12-02-2010, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlavergne

This first one was from the 9th International in Cadillac, Michigan. The next one is my grandparents in Florida during the winter of 1969. I am indebted to them for instilling in me my love of Airstreams. I remember walking to school one morning in 7th grade when they drove by me honking the horn, waving, pulling the Airstream south. I knew then and there that someday I am going to do that.

Tom,

We have something else in common. We were both at the 9th International Rally in 1966. Thanks for posting this picture. It is the official Rally picture, and I have the same picture in my archives.

It is the largest number of Airstreams parked in the traditional wagon wheel format of any of the 17 International Rallies that I attended. In fact, #5 (Auburn, WA - 1962), and #7 (Skillman, NJ - 1964) were the only other International Rallies I attended that actually parked in a wagon wheel. There were about 2800 Airstreams at the Rally we attended in Michigan.

safari57 · 12-02-2010, 09:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlavergne

This first one was from the 9th International in Cadillac, Michigan. The next one is my grandparents in Florida during the winter of 1969. I am indebted to them for instilling in me my love of Airstreams. I remember walking to school one morning in 7th grade when they drove by me honking the horn, waving, pulling the Airstream south. I knew then and there that someday I am going to do that.

Funny how them escaping south for the winter while you are trudging off to school sticks in your mind

. I got quite a chuckle out of that, Tom.

Thanks also for your pictures. This thread is lots of fun.

SilverHoot · 12-03-2010, 06:09 AM

Love this thread hope it goes on and on and on..

Grand Master · 12-03-2010, 08:15 AM

This picture is of the 1962 International Rally at Auburn, WA. This is the largest gathering of (now vintage) Airstreams ever assembled during Wally's lifetime. Wally Byam passed away a few days after the Rally on July 22nd.

There were 1717 Airstreams at this Rally

Grand Master · 12-03-2010, 08:51 PM

Here we are at the International Rally in 1962. Notice the red Vespa scooter. If you will refer back to post #18, you will see that Wally had a gold Vespa mounted on the front of his International. It wasn't long after my Dad had seen it that #1200 had one too. We carried it inside the trailer. My Dad put a metal plate under the floor with treaded holes. the scooter was secured while traveling by two long bolts that went through the floorboards of the scooter and screwed into the threaded holes.

nmbosa · 12-03-2010, 11:31 PM

Mike, I just read through this entire thread and really got a kick out of the photos and comments you have posted. Thanks for sharing all this great history.
Norm

3Ms75Argosy · 12-04-2010, 01:15 AM

Hmmm... how heavy IS a Vespa? That might be cool... his and her's Vespa's in my Argosy...
Marc

tlavergne · 12-04-2010, 08:37 AM

My brother and I playing at Fort Meyers Beach in Florida in 1967. Back then you could camp on the beach. I need to get a slide scanner. The vast majority of my pics (thousands of them) are on slides.

tlavergne · 12-04-2010, 08:43 AM

Mike, I didn't realize that the 1966 International was the largest wagon wheel. That's pretty cool. I'll have to look around for more of the official aerial pics from some rallies. The Vespa scooter is a riot. That tradition should come back. We had little folding bikes. :-)
Tom
#8848

Grand Master · 12-04-2010, 09:36 AM

Disclaimer..........

Just to be clear. 1966 was the largest Airstream wagon wheel Rally that I have attended. I have limited knowledge of Rallies and Airstreams from about 1985 until 2000. Here's what we were camping in during those years.

Jabba · 12-04-2010, 10:34 AM

Mike,

This has been a great thread, please keep sharing!

safari57 · 12-04-2010, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tlavergne

My brother and I playing at Fort Meyers Beach in Florida in 1967. Back then you could camp on the beach. I need to get a slide scanner. The vast majority of my pics (thousands of them) are on slides.

Yes, please do the right thing and stimulate the economy a bit

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand Master

Disclaimer..........

Just to be clear. 1966 was the largest Airstream wagon wheel Rally that I have attended. I have limited knowledge of Rallies and Airstreams from about 1985 until 2000. Here's what we were camping in during those years.

I must admit to a similar phase in my early years with SOB's of all kinds, but the lure of silver was always on the back of the mind. Seeing one got me all pumped up again, it just took many years of searching for just the right one to fill the bill. What we did not have was the history to push us as you did. You were/are so very lucky to have grandparents that wanted to include their grandchildren. Were your parents ever involved in Airstreams? My parents lusted after one but could never quite commit to that big a financial investment.

Grand Master · 12-04-2010, 08:14 PM

Like Tom, I have hundreds of boxes of slides, and dozens of rolls of 8mm film in addition to the photographic prints I have scanned for this thread. I don't know if I will every have the time or patience to go through them to sort out the gems.

I know I have movies from the International Rallies at Colorado Springs and Hersey, PA (1960 & 1961). Besides these labeled reels, there are several with no labels at all. tkasten offered to help put some of these images on CD or DVD. Could you contact me and help me know what I need to do to accomplish this.

Grand Master · 12-04-2010, 10:48 PM

I found these ribbons among the hundreds my parents collected from Rallies. Apparently at one time they honored multiple Airstream owners at an International Rally. They must have stopped doing this because my Dad eventually had 7 Aisrstreams (one at a time). He bought all of them new.

The other ribbons were for Company sponsored Caravans.

The second photo is my original badge (like my Dad's) beside my new badge to illustrate the differnces. Notice that originally it was just the WBCC.

Grand Master · 12-05-2010, 09:21 PM

Zip Dee awnings were first introduced in the late 60's. My Dad added one to his 62 Overlander no long after they started showing up at Rallies. Mary & I had just gotten married, and she is sitting on the table.

Also note the window box in his front window. I have never seen another one like it. It had a metal mesh filter in the bottom to allow fresh air to enter without the window being open. Has anyone ever seen one of these?

vinstream · 12-05-2010, 10:40 PM

As a boy I went to Yellowstone every summer! This Photo means a lot to me because it is pre fire that burned most of the park and for ever changed Yellowstone National Park in my mind. I believe this picture was taken at the Madison Junction Camp ground... Same picture today would show few if any trees... Thank you for posting these great moments in your history!

Aage · 12-05-2010, 10:43 PM

There certainly are a lot of great photos here. Thanks to all!

66Overlander · 12-06-2010, 03:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Grand Master

Zip Dee awnings were first introduced in the late 60's. My Dad added one to his 62 Overlander no long after they started showing up at Rallies. Mary & I had just gotten married, and she is sitting on the table.

Also note the window box in his front window. I have never seen another one like it. It had a metal mesh filter in the bottom to allow fresh air to enter without the window being open. Has anyone ever seen one of these?

Mike,
Thanks so much for sharing these photos!

And yes, I've seen several (a hand full) photos of different late '50s/early '60s Airstreams with a front window boxed out like that, but never one in person. It must have been an aftermarket accessory that someone came up with, because I think you'd see them more often if it was a factory option. I did not know that they were vented at the bottom, but that probably made theme nice to keep open in inclement weather for ventilation without a risk of rain blowing in.

P.S. Wow, a 1973 Oldsmobile Cultlass! My first car was a 2 door '73 Cutlass.

Inland RV Center, In · 12-06-2010, 03:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Mike,
Thanks so much for sharing these photos!

And yes, I've seen several (a hand full) photos of different late '50s/early '60s Airstreams with a front window boxed out like that, but never one in person. It must have been an aftermarket accessory that someone came up with, because I think you'd see them more often if it was a factory option. I did not know that they were vented at the bottom, but that probably made theme nice to keep open in inclement weather for ventilation without a risk of rain blowing in.

P.S. Wow, a 1973 Oldsmobile Cultlass! My first car was a 2 door '73 Cutlass.

There were a small number of trailers back then with that front window ventalation box.

It worked very well.

I was never able to find out if it was an Airstream option or an after market product.

Andy