Looking for the other 6 Spaceliners

[Airwave503]

Hi 66Overlander,

My SN ends in 0529. Per above that would indicate that mine is the 110th '61 Spaceliner but someone states above that only 85 or so were built.

SN: 22TDSS0529

And stamped just under the SN is "12 60" which I take to mean built in or finished in December 1960.

I recall when I had the inside skins out, there was "1960" written on the inside of the outside skin leading me to believe it was a '60 until I learned otherwise.

-503

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Airwave503

Hi 66Overlander,

My SN ends in 0529. Per above that would indicate that mine is the 110th '61 Spaceliner but someone states above that only 85 or so were built.

SN: 22TDSS0529

And stamped just under the SN is "12 60" which I take to mean built in or finished in December 1960.

I recall when I had the inside skins out, there was "1960" written on the inside of the outside skin leading me to believe it was a '60 until I learned otherwise.

-503

Hi 503,
After an initial surge of Spaceliners ("TD" in the serial number) to begin the 1961 model year, eventually California started mixing in 22' Flying Cloud doubles ("D") and twins ("T"), so "0529" is NOT the 110th Spaceliner. 22TDSS0529 was ordered on 11/12/1960, so I would guess it was built in early December 1960 and the December built date is confirmed by the "12 60". There were 17 more 1961 Spaceliners built after it, with the last one ordered and likely built in February 1961.

[BoiseSafari]

We have a Spaceliner and found it over 20 years for sale on a vacant lot. I'd been looking for a fixer project and had a Bambi at the time. The Spaceliner had original woodwork unpainted, my firm requirement.
Started restoration and after a 10 day trip in the Bambi my wife decided on the larger layout. Sold the Bambi and finished the Spaceliner. Solid floor so just gutted interior, replaced rot, refinished woodwork and reassembled
Love the layout still. Only change from original is to have a "short Queen" permanent bed in front Dinette stays on the side.
Love the 60 era Airstreams. Pull it with a Jeep GC. 3000 pounds.
I would be interested in any actual hitch weights of others. Contemplating a battery relocation and don't want to mess up current tow character. Can go to a scale in spring but would prefer to measure it where it is.

[twoclubproud]

Recently purchased this trailer wondering if it is a spaceliner tag shows 11 60 for manufacture date 22tss0525 out of california plant Santa fe spings says land yatch under the Airstream.

[Airwave503]

Originally Posted by twoclubproud

Recently purchased this trailer wondering if it is a spaceliner tag shows 11 60 for manufacture date 22tss0525 out of california plant Santa fe spings says land yatch under the Airstream.

Sounds like it could be close to mine...can we see a pic?

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by twoclubproud

Recently purchased this trailer wondering if it is a spaceliner tag shows 11 60 for manufacture date 22tss0525 out of california plant Santa fe spings says land yatch under the Airstream.

22TSS0525 is not recorded in the 1961 Airstream California production records as being a Spaceliner and does not have the typical' TD" in the middle of the serial number that denotes a Spaceliner. Since the California plant was not yet building 22' Safari's in 1961, your trailer should actually be a 22' Flying Cloud, as California built both 22' Spaceliners and Flying Clouds with intermixed serial numbers during the 1961 model year. The "11 60" indicates it was built in November 1960, as you already deduced.

[BoiseSafari]

I am guessing the TD in the serial number stands for the Spaceliner layout with Twin beds in front and Double bed along the side.
Other unique features I gather was one of the last use of leaf springs and the jallosie window in the door.
I don't recall which current layout is similar but I think I spotted one in some other postings.

[Drtodd]

Hi Joe and my fellow Airstreamer’s,

I’m in the process of restoring my Spaceliner (22TDSS0467) and wondering if it’s possible to tell if it’s an ex-NASA trailer. It came to me gutted, so unfortunately I don’t have any of the original internal features to indicate its history.

The reason I ask is that I recently took it to a professional Airstream restoration company and they pointed out the door does not have an embedded louvre window (typical of the model). I assumed it could be a replacement door, but the guy was pretty insistent it was original. On further inspection around the trailer he noted there were no telltale signs of mounting brackets or drilled holes for the basic domestic equipment.

If it’s an old NASA trailer, I’ll probably change my restoration plans. Anybody know if there’s a way to tell?

Thanks in advance,

Todd

[Airwave503]

Hey Todd,

REALLY want to see some pics! And can't wait to hear from Joe on this. I'm under the impression that the Spaceliners were built and named in tribute to the announcement of the Space Race but were not directly used by NASA to transport or quarantine astronauts.

--Jason

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Drtodd

Hi Joe and my fellow Airstreamer’s,

I’m in the process of restoring my Spaceliner (22TDSS0467) and wondering if it’s possible to tell if it’s an ex-NASA trailer. It came to me gutted, so unfortunately I don’t have any of the original internal features to indicate its history.

The reason I ask is that I recently took it to a professional Airstream restoration company and they pointed out the door does not have an embedded louvre window (typical of the model). I assumed it could be a replacement door, but the guy was pretty insistent it was original. On further inspection around the trailer he noted there were no telltale signs of mounting brackets or drilled holes for the basic domestic equipment.

If it’s an old NASA trailer, I’ll probably change my restoration plans. Anybody know if there’s a way to tell?

Thanks in advance,

Todd

Hi Todd,
I have never heard of any association between NASA and the 22' Spaceliner. I can tell you that Spaceliner 22TDSS0467 was ordered on August 15, 1960 by an Airstream dealer named Dye Hawley, from I believe Spokane, WA. That would make your Spaceliner a normal 1961 production model and nothing used by NASA. It likely came off the production line in late August or September

The Spaceliner was a "no options", "cost leader", limited production model: https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...Spaceliner.pdf

As such I would have expected it to come from the factory with the normal, lower cost, door with Jalousie window, not a "door-in-a-door". Unless you are talking to the original owner, I would strongly suspect the door was a later substitution by a prior owner, either because the original door was damaged, or just an upgrade for increased functionality, possibly shortly after it was built, thus appearing to be "original".

That said, Airstream would still make custom changes for an up charge in 1961, though I do not believe they did so on "cost leader" models such as the Bambi and Spaceliner.

[Drtodd]

Thanks Joe - you are an absolute treasure to the Airstream community.

Hey Jason - attached are a few photos of “Buzz”. He’s now structurally sound (frame, axel, wheels, floor, etc. repaired/replaced) and water tight. Plenty of work now to do on the inside :-0

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Drtodd

Thanks Joe - you are an absolute treasure to the Airstream community.

Hey Jason - attached are a few photos of “Buzz”. He’s now structurally sound (frame, axel, wheels, floor, etc. repaired/replaced) and water tight. Plenty of work now to do on the inside :-0

Hi again Todd,
Now I know your door is NOT original. The door without a window with the large single hinge was first introduced in 1965 and given the shell shape change that occurred for 1969, your door is from a 1965 to 1968 Airstream and thus could not have been installed on the 1961 Spaceliner any earlier than when the 1965 models were introduced in mid 1964. Of course it could have been installed many years or even decades later than that.

[Jim & Susan]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Hi Todd,
I have never heard of any association between NASA and the 22' Spaceliner. I can tell you that Spaceliner 22TDSS0467 was ordered on August 15, 1960 by an Airstream dealer named Dye Hawley, from I believe Spokane, WA........

Hey Joe. My '73 was originally (I believe) sold by an Airstream dealer in North Carolina called "Hawley's RV". I'll try to get a picture of the dealer emblem tomorrow and post it for everybody. It's still on the side of the camper, as in I tried to get that sucker off and it won't budge.



Jim

[66Overlander]

Dye Hawley was an Airstream Dealer in Spokane, WA in 1955 according to the plaque on the side of this 1955 Flying Cloud:
http://vintageairstream.com/photo-ar...ying-cloud-22/


According to his obituary, Dye Hawley had RV dealerships in Spokane, WA and Tucson, AZ:
https://www.genealogybuff.com/az/sta...ig.pl/read/788

[BoiseSafari]

After looking at your photos I'm wondering if the prior owner not only gutted the interior but replaced the lower aluminum skin. Hence no normal holes for water, etc. Certainly gives you a blank canvas to work with!

[66Overlander]

I agree. I can tell that the bellywraps have also been replaced with new metal.

[Drtodd]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Dye Hawley was an Airstream Dealer in Spokane, WA in 1955 according to the plaque on the side of this 1955 Flying Cloud:
http://vintageairstream.com/photo-ar...ying-cloud-22/
Attachment 390783

According to his obituary, Dye Hawley had RV dealerships in Spokane, WA and Tucson, AZ:
https://www.genealogybuff.com/az/sta...ig.pl/read/788
Attachment 390784

Wow - Dye was a trailer dealer since 1935! (And flew B-17s in WWII).
He must have known a thing or two about aerospace aluminium construction.

[Drtodd]

The bellywraps are certainly all new metal and I can also see most of the new lower panels (although I’m not as practiced at spotting this as you guys).

I also just noticed, for the first time, the ghost numbers 4490 in the photo I posted (it was taken about a year back before he was cleaned up and acid washed). This should have been another indicator that he had a civilian life.

The previous owner also tells me he had to clean out 18 lbs of mouse crap as part of the cleanup process.

I’m so pleased to be giving this lovely 60 year old Spaceliner a new life!

[Jim & Susan]

So here's "my" Hawley's in Fayettville, NC. I'm guessing they're not related in any way, but that's just a guess.

Dye was the kind of guy I would want to have a beer with and hear a few a old stories. May he rest in peace.

"My" Hawley's appears to be a mere shadow of it's former self. An RV repair shop with a sketchy website to say the least. Maybe that bike shop on google is related?

Keep up the good work, Joe! Don't let plebes like me distract you.

Jim

[ToddNotADR]

My wife was searching the forum and came across your post and noticed the club number matched that on my grandparents old trailer (see the attached photos). If it's the same trailer then yes the door was replaced