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Old 05-05-2011, 08:01 AM   #1
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Owners of Norwalk, CA Built 1958s - Info Wanted

Hello,
I'm doing some research on the Norwalk, CA Airstreams built in 1958. The plant, located on E. Firestone Blvd., was incorporated into Santa Fe Springs in 1958, though the plant never actually moved.

I'm trying to determine when the plant switched to the Santa Fe Springs serial number plates in 1958. My Overlander, serial number 26-7162, has a Norwalk plate as pictured below. From what I've been told, Airstream started using Santa Fe Springs serial number plates in mid to late 1958. The latest Norwalk plate I could find on the internet is a Flying Cloud built in August (1958FlyingCloud_228604). Is August the last month they used the Norwalk plates, or did it occur even later in the year?

I would love to see pics of serial number plates on this thread whether they display Norwalk or Santa Fe Springs plates.
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Old 05-05-2011, 08:41 AM   #2
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My 58 Flying Cloud #8417 is a "Norwalk".
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Old 05-05-2011, 11:21 AM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by bevman View Post
My 58 Flying Cloud #8417 is a "Norwalk".
Excellent. Thanks Michael. That makes sense. The Flying Cloud l linked to is #8604, so your trailer was built before August. Is there a date stamp on your serial number plate?
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Old 05-05-2011, 12:35 PM   #4
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There are no other numbers on the plate other than the four digit "VIN". When I first went to register it the guy at DMV doubted my vin number. When I said, "I sorta thought that you might want to eyeball it so I brought it with me. It's outside." He said, "That's ok, and rubber stamped the forms."
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Old 05-05-2011, 12:42 PM   #5
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Thanks, Michael.

I noticed that "johncurtis" has a Norwalk '58 Flying Cloud with #22-8515.

http://www.airforums.com/forums/f492...oud-75113.html
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Old 05-05-2011, 01:04 PM   #6
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I wonder when they started using the trailer length prefix. Sometime between my trailer and John's.
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Old 05-05-2011, 04:43 PM   #7
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Hi,

I thought Norwalk and Santa Fe Springs were two different plants.

Learned something new today.....
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Old 10-02-2011, 08:25 PM   #8
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Heres the vin from our 1958 World Traveler (sn 8435)....I was under the impressoin that this was built between Aug and Nov of that year...
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Old 10-01-2012, 10:30 PM   #9
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Norwalk plant sr#

I have a 1958 I believe overlander. It was registered as a 1959. The serial # is Norwalk plant #6824. Any opinions helpful on year of manufacture
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Old 10-02-2012, 11:31 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Tmck View Post
I have a 1958 I believe overlander. It was registered as a 1959. The serial # is Norwalk plant #6824. Any opinions helpful on year of manufacture
The serial number actually indicates that you have a 1957 Overlander. You can find some serial number information on this page:
1957 Overlander 26' - Vintage Airstream
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Old 10-03-2012, 01:34 PM   #11
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Overlander # 6824.

Will check that link. Apparently the California plant only used four numbers for their serial numbers.
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Old 10-03-2012, 01:52 PM   #12
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Overlander 6824.

According to the link it must be a 1957. It has the 7 panel end cap, and tear drop wheel wells. Also unusual floor plan with twin size bed at Front and back end. Bathroom is near back on left side, kitchen in middle. Oven and fridge on left as you enter, sink on right
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Old 10-06-2012, 06:36 PM   #13
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1957 overlander #6824 photographs

managed to get some photographs in the registry under tmck. Not sure if these will attach, I can only hope
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Old 02-22-2014, 04:46 PM   #14
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I am somewhat late to the discussion but my 1958 Flying Cloud is #8247 from Santa Fe Springs which would numerically be before the other Norwalk ones. It also has teardrop wheel wells and a 7 panel end. It's plate also has a picture of a man pulling the airstream with a bicycle. (Or do I have a 1957 with a replacement plate from Santa Fe Springs) I am finding conflicting information on different websites and the previous owner did not have any paperwork. I dont know if this helps your research or makes it more confusing.
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Old 02-23-2014, 08:21 AM   #15
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Quote:
Originally Posted by cywylie View Post
I am somewhat late to the discussion but my 1958 Flying Cloud is #8247 from Santa Fe Springs which would numerically be before the other Norwalk ones. It also has teardrop wheel wells and a 7 panel end. It's plate also has a picture of a man pulling the airstream with a bicycle. (Or do I have a 1957 with a replacement plate from Santa Fe Springs) I am finding conflicting information on different websites and the previous owner did not have any paperwork. I dont know if this helps your research or makes it more confusing.
My first guess is that this plate was added later because:
  1. The plate looks like a 1960's plate more than a late 1950's plate, but I haven't researched that detail to be sure.
  2. The plate is attached with pop rivets rather than bucked solid rivets.
  3. The pop rivets look to be steel (and rusty) rather than aluminum. I have never seen an original steel rivet on the exterior of an Airstream.
If the plate turns out to be original, the rivets have definitly been replaced at some time.

Is this the only serial number plate on your Flying Cloud? Or is there also a smaller wave type plate with the same serial number?

If both, then this most likely was a later addition (perhaps to cover a hole) since there should only be one SN plate on the trailer.

If there is not another one, I might speculate that this one may have been added in place of the original, perhaps after the original was removed (e.g. if the Airstream was ever stolen). Either that, or it is original.

Perhaps someone with more details knowwledge of late 50's California built Airstreams can provide me definitive answers.
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Old 02-23-2014, 07:17 PM   #16
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My Overlander is #26-7153 from Norwalk.
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