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Old 11-20-2016, 09:41 AM   #1
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1961 22' Spaceliner
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Looking for the other 6 Spaceliners

I have a 61' Spaceliner and I've heard that there was only 7 made. I'm curious about the other 6. I think 'Douglasbury' has one. 'Idroba' sold one which later got totaled. I think 'Wikkidnyss' had one for sale.

Who's got 'em? Lets see pics!
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Old 11-20-2016, 10:56 PM   #2
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Not sure where you got the information that there were only 7 Spaceliners made, but that is not correct. There were 2 1960 Spaceliners built, but one was destroyed by fire before it was delivered to a customer. There were then about more 85 Spaceliners built in 1961. This is according to articles in the Winter 2012 and Fall 2013 issues of Airstream Life magazine and is based upon Airstream production records.

A previously unpublished fact it that one 1961 Spaceliner even participated on the 1963-64 Airstream Around the World Caravan. It would be great if someone found that one.
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Old 11-21-2016, 09:16 AM   #3
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Thanks Joe, so not as rare as I had heard...would still like to hear from some other owners. Need to get a hold of those ASLs too.

Don't think mine was on the big caravan...I don't think it ever had numbers on it.
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Old 02-10-2017, 02:42 PM   #4
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1964 19' Globetrotter
1961 22' Spaceliner
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Looking for the other 6 Spaceliners

We bought our Spaceliner last spring, here in Utah. I believe it is number 37 out of the 85 built for the 1961 model year. Ours was built in August of 1960.
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Old 02-10-2017, 02:55 PM   #5
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Originally Posted by 66Overlander View Post
A previously unpublished fact it that one 1961 Spaceliner even participated on the 1963-64 Airstream Around the World Caravan. It would be great if someone found that one.

Joe, is there more information on the Spaceliner that went Around the World? Who owned it? What number it had on it?
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Old 02-10-2017, 05:29 PM   #6
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Here are some more spaceliner resources:


http://www.airforums.com/forums/f161...er-116560.html
http://www.airforums.com/forums/f142...ner-80368.html
Restoration blog: http://1961toaster.blogspot.com/
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Old 02-11-2017, 07:57 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Globestream View Post
Joe, is there more information on the Spaceliner that went Around the World? Who owned it? What number it had on it?
The ATWC 1961 Spaceliner was taken around the world by #3238 Martin and Ethel Mathisen then from North Hollywood, CA, along with their 21 year old grandson Ray Mathisen. I have been told that Martin Mathisen was the original creator of the Equalizer weight distribution hitch.

Their Spaceliner had some unique features that should aid in re-identification if these details or evidence of them are still present:
- It was modified for increased ground clearance with a pipe frame structure that located the axle a few inches below the bellypan
- The roof was painted white to reflect heat (unfortunately if this was later removed, it likely took the #2338 with it making ghost numbers unlikely to be found)
- It had three flagpole holders mounted above the front window(the old screw/riviet holes might still be present)
- It had a front window guard

Attached is a photo montage of four of the best views I have of the ATWC Spaceliner.
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Old 02-11-2017, 06:53 PM   #8
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1964 19' Globetrotter
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Looking for the other 6 Spaceliners

Great info about these Spaceliners! It looks like Martin Mathisen held a patent on an hitch system. See link:

http://patentimages.storage.googleap.../US3220749.pdf

It looks like his hitch system has bars that are attached at the axle, and run to the Aframe. I wonder if that is what is shown on the under side of his trailer.The timing is right, as the patent was filed for in 1962, and awarded in 1965.
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Old 02-11-2017, 08:42 PM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Globestream View Post
Great info about these Spaceliners! It looks like Martin Mathisen held a patent on an hitch system. See link:

http://patentimages.storage.googleap.../US3220749.pdf

It looks like his hitch system has bars that are attached at the axle, and run to the Aframe. I wonder if that is what is shown on the under side of his trailer.The timing is right, as the patent was filed for in 1962, and awarded in 1965.
If you start following the patent trail, you will see the patent you mention, U.S. Patent 3,220,749 references U.S. Patent 2,817,541 that was issued on Dec. 24, 1957 to a Ray C. Mathisen. Ray's patent then references U.S. Patent 2,597,657 that was issued to Martin H. Mathisen on May 20, 1952. If you google search that patent, you get a link to this AirForums thread: http://www.airforums.com/forums/f464...nt-126508.html that states that Martin H. Mathisen was the founder of EAZ-Lift Corporation (not Equilizer as I had mentioned above). I then searched and confirmed that Martin H. Mathisen founded EAZ-Lift Corporation in 1952. I am sure there is more to search regarding Martin Mathisen, hitches, and patents, but it is pretty clear to say he was an innovator in the hitch industry before he took his 1961 22' Spaceliner on the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan.
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Old 02-20-2017, 01:00 PM   #10
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1964 19' Globetrotter
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Since Martin H. Mathisen was the founder of EAZ-Lift Corporation, it makes sense that he would want to tow a trailer around the world. Call it testing the product.

Attached is a photo that is found in Bryan Burkhart and David Hunt's book. It shows another (different) trailer with Mathisen's number on it in Europe, Pisa Italy. It's not the 56 European caravan, and it's not their ATW Spaceliner, so maybe the 1960 Europe caravan.

Too bad Eaz-Lift is now owned by Camco. It's no longer family owned. If any publicity photos existed, from these trips, they would be hard to track down.
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Old 02-21-2017, 10:35 AM   #11
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Globestream View Post
Attached is a photo that is found in Bryan Burkhart and David Hunt's book. It shows another (different) trailer with Mathisen's number on it in Europe, Pisa Italy. It's not the 56 European caravan, and it's not their ATW Spaceliner, so maybe the 1960 Europe caravan.
Yes, Martin & Ethel Mathisen (but not grandson Ray) are credited with participating in the 1960 European Caravan, and obviously they would have had to have a pre-1961 Airstream to do so. The photos indicates that their prior Airstream was a likely a 1959 or 1960 26' Overlander, but I'd bet on it being a 1960 model, because that is the year they joined WBCCI. They likely bought it and immediately went on the 1960 European caravan.

It is interesting that they decided go downsize from 26' in Europe to a 22' single axle 1961 Spaceliner for the rugged ATWC, especially given that they brought their 21 year old grandson Ray Mathisen with them on the ATWC.
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Old 03-27-2017, 09:59 PM   #12
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Here is a link to a 1961 Spaceliner that is for sale in the classifieds: http://www.airstreamclassifieds.com/...r-19-colorado/

It is currently misidentified as a 1960 19' or 22' Globetrotter. I have sent the seller a note indicating that the Airstream is a Spaceliner, so maybe the ad will be updated in the near future.
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Old 04-01-2017, 09:22 PM   #13
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1964 19' Globetrotter
1961 22' Spaceliner
Springville , Utah
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Looking for the other 6 Spaceliners

I saw this one advertised a while back. He had it listed as a Bambi, and a globetrotter, a Safari etc. I thought this one was interesting because it has the old style emblems, the deco letter style below the windows, where the others I have seen including mine has the other block letter style. I was wondering if it was the one and only 1960 model. The serial number wasn't too much earlier than mine. AS was probably just using up emblems they had in stock.

Question about the Around The World Caravan... Does anyone have a list of the known, or found trailers from the ATW?
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Old 04-02-2017, 11:42 PM   #14
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Originally Posted by Globestream View Post
I saw this one advertised a while back. He had it listed as a Bambi, and a globetrotter, a Safari etc. I thought this one was interesting because it has the old style emblems, the deco letter style below the windows, where the others I have seen including mine has the other block letter style. I was wondering if it was the one and only 1960 model. The serial number wasn't too much earlier than mine. AS was probably just using up emblems they had in stock.
I don't know the serial number of that one, but have noticed that the front Airstream nameplate location below the front window and style matches what is "typical" for a 1960, but not a 1961 Airstream. I have seen no other Spaceliner with that Airstream nameplate in that location. It might be the one 1960 Spaceliner to have been sold to a customer, but if not, it likely a very early 1961 model made before the nameplate change occurred.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Globestream View Post
Question about the Around The World Caravan... Does anyone have a list of the known, or found trailers from the ATW?
I am that guy. 45 Airstream trailers started the ATWC and 2 more joined in the Middle East and remained with it to the end, meaning that there are 47 possible ATWC Airstream trailers to be found. (There were also 2 support trucks that had Airstreams bodies on the back, but I'm not counting those.)

Of the 47 ATWC Airstream trailers, 10 are known to still exist (9 that started and one that joined in the Middle East), likely with more waiting to be rediscovered. 2 ATWC Airstream trailers are known to have been destroyed in traffic accidents (and one of the support trucks was destroyed in a fire during the ATWC). I own one of the ATWC Airstreams and am in semi-regular contact with the 8 other owners of the Airstreams that started the ATWC. I used to be in touch with the owners of the one that joined in the Middle East, but have been unable to reach them and have not heard from them for a few years.

ATWC Airstreams are turning up and being confirmed at a rate of about one every year or two. The last one rediscovered came about 12 months ago. It's owner is not active on AirForums. A few ATWC Airstream owners are active on AirForums, but most are not.

I know the year, model and length of every Airstream trailer on the ATWC. There was only the one Spaceliner. I have confirmed some of the proven Airstreams when they first turned up, but have also debunked claims that sellers have made that they were selling an ATWC Airstream that I could prove was not true. I've done that at least 2 or 3 times over the last decade.

If you or anyone ever runs across an Airstream that someone claims is from the 1963-64 ATWC (or from the 1959-60 African caravan), please get that information to me. I'd love to be able to help confirm any such new discoveries.

So as to not hijack this thread, we now return you to the regularly scheduled discussion of Spaceliners.
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Old 04-09-2017, 07:00 PM   #15
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1964 19' Globetrotter
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Looking for the other 6 Spaceliners

Here is the craigslist ad for the above mentioned Spaceliner, with more pics. It shows the serial tag, which shows that this one was made in August of 1960, like mine but 16 ahead of mine. I like the use of the older style badging. Also, the one for sale has a pink bath, mine is yellow, and also this one has a battery box on the front, mine does not. I can't seem to figure where the battery was on mine. Wish I had the proper Bargman L-77 for mine.

https://denver.craigslist.org/rvs/6031868631.html
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Old 08-30-2017, 11:15 PM   #16
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Yes I do still have it

Interesting! I wasn't aware that there were so few of these made. I don't have any pictures on this laptop but I will post some soon. Still fixing it up, a lot of work for sure.
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Old 10-03-2017, 11:05 PM   #17
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'61 Spaceliner

I purchased a Spaceliner over the weekend. Very excited to own this trailer. The large space in front of the door allows for a true King bed. We will be modifying the original layout slightly to accommodate a King or at least a queen bed up front leaving the L shaped dinette and mid kitchen. The problem I am having is that the trailer was gutted when I bought it. So, I do not have true measurements of cabinets, dinette etc. I am especially interested in exact measurements of the wall between the Dinette and bathtub. The bottom is wider than the top then angles at the top of the back dinette cushion. The dimensions of that one wall would help tremendously. Everything else I can probably figure out based on window placement, vent placement etc. If anyone here has Spaceliner that they can get those dimensions from for me I would really appreciate it.

Thanks
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Old 10-15-2020, 04:15 PM   #18
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Hi, noticed this posting was from 2016, so not sure you will see it. I recently purchased a 1960 Airstream Spaceliner, is it true there were only 2 built? It's in great shape and the first travel trailer I have ever purchased, it needs a little work, but overall it's in great shape!.....
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Old 10-15-2020, 07:16 PM   #19
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I would be interested in the serial number of your Spaceliber. According to Airstream production records the two 1960 Spaceliners and first 1961 SL did not have the "TD" in the serial number that the rest of the 1961s did. I wonder if the records are correct or if all had "TD" in the SN. The one 1960 Spaceliner that should exist (i.e. the one that didn't burn) was recorded as SN 22TSS0413. The first 1961 Spaceliner was recorded as 22TSS0419 with the 2nd being 22TDSS0420.

If your Airstream SN ends in "0418" or less and is not "0413", it was not recorded as a 1960 Spaceliner and I would like to see photos of it to confirm it is actually a Soaceliner. It the SN ends in "0419" or greater, it was built as a 1961 model regardless of what the title might say. Airstream titles often have the wrong year listed.
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Old 10-15-2020, 08:00 PM   #20
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Hi KatLizKirb,
I just answered your private message. As I noted in that message, your serial number indicates that while your Spaceliner was built in August 1960, it is actually the 32nd 1961 Spaceliner built since the 1961 model year began on approximately August 1, 1960 for the California plant.

As I already noted, Airstream considered your Spaceliner a 1961 model when it was built, but it is certainly possible that it is titled or registered as a 1960. I have seen many, many cases of Airstreams titled or registered as the incorrect year. Sometime these documents can be off by 5 or 10 or more years, but it is more common for then to just be one year off either way.
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