Please help ID

[Wooden Rivet]

We just bought a new 1956 26' Airstream Whale tail. We are in love with it, but really need to know exactly what we have fallen in love with. At first we thought we had a Cruiser, but now are leaning toward an Overlander. To the right of the door on a metal plate is stamped 6620. We assume this is the Serial #. The vin# off the title is 6604K03605. This is a Texas title by the way. If anyone can help with any kind of information about what we have, it would be greatly appreciated. Will post pictures as soon as we can. Thanks in advance.
Tom & Patti

[Melody Ranch]

Did this come from Amarillo? If so I have pictures for you.

[Wooden Rivet]

yes it did.

[Wooden Rivet]

Melody Ranch thanks for your interest. Pictures would be great since I really struggle with posting and technology in general. I think I was born a little too early for the internet. We are in NE Texas near Texarkana. Where is Valley View? Thanks for your help.

[silverleeper]

Originally Posted by Wooden Rivet

We just bought a new 1956 26' Airstream Whale tail. We are in love with it, but really need to know exactly what we have fallen in love with. At first we thought we had a Cruiser, but now are leaning toward an Overlander. To the right of the door on a metal plate is stamped 6620. We assume this is the Serial #. The vin# off the title is 6604K03605. This is a Texas title by the way. If anyone can help with any kind of information about what we have, it would be greatly appreciated. Will post pictures as soon as we can. Thanks in advance.
Tom & Patti

From the number 6620 it appears to be a 1955 55Cruiser.

Melody Ranch might have move answers for you.

Pics please!

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[overlander63]

Welcome to the forums.
What you have appears to be a California-built Cruiser/Overlander. 1954-1956 was a transition between he highly customizable Cruiser, and the standardized Overlander. Most of them had a single axle, though some had tandem axles.
For the photos, if you take them with your digital camera, use the "normal" or "low" setting for picture quality, and you should be able to post them without resizing.

[Wooden Rivet]

Thanks all. Terry, this is tandem axle. Hehr Standard windows except one jalousie window curbside rear. PO did extensive interior remo. Rear double bed, roadside center bath w/tub. We are working on pictures. Will try to get them on today.
Tom

[Wooden Rivet]

Hope the pictures show up and load properly. Thanks for everyone's help!

Tom & Patti

[silverleeper]

Have you looked here. 1955Cruiser1. Good photos of on original looking whale tail.

[Wooden Rivet]

Lee, we've looked at all the Archive photos of the era. It looks to me like maybe early 1956. Seems like the serial # cut off for 1955 was 6600.

Tom

[Melody Ranch]

I like to think this is a similar model of the Schwamborn Custom Cruiser. Overlander with two axles, etc. Too many modes have been done here to really see what was in mind.

[flyrc]

It's good to see what mine might have looked like on the inside. Our trailers were only two numbers apart. Mine is 6618. Mine also has the jalousie window at the rear curb side and the street side mid bath.

[flyfshr]

Originally Posted by Melody Ranch

I like to think this is a similar model of the Schwamborn Custom Cruiser. Overlander with two axles, etc. Too many modes have been done here to really see what was in mind.

Helen Schwamborn's Custom was made in Ohio and thus wasn't like this one as CA was the only plant for whale tails. I'm looking for any info I can find on Helen's No. 2 Custom Overlander so if anyone has any other pictures or info besides on RJ's archives site, I would appreciate it.

Brad
FF

[Wooden Rivet]

Wish i could verify that this is the original interior, but there is very little of the inside that is original. After looking at everything carefully, we have decided that the only things original would be the closet and the overhead lockers. We think they are in original location. The bath is in correct location, but has had a full tub added. This has caused the hallway to be too narrow to get in the bed. This will all be corrected as soon as we get the Tradewind in usable condition. We are so looking forward to getting to work on the Overlander. Thanks for your interest. Good to hear from someone that has a twin.

Tom & Patti

[Wooden Rivet]

I forgot to ask for pictures of '56 Overlander-Cruiser. Anyone with pictures of original layout of interior for California made trailers, please be so good as to post them here. Would love to see any pictures of AS of this era. The ones on the archive were a great help in planning, but you can never have too many pictures. Thanks in advance.

Tom & Patti

[HCVA]

Originally Posted by wooden rivet

i forgot to ask for pictures of '56 overlander-cruiser. Anyone with pictures of original layout of interior for california made trailers, please be so good as to post them here. Would love to see any pictures of as of this era. The ones on the archive were a great help in planning, but you can never have too many pictures. Thanks in advance.

Tom & patti

[HCVA]

Originally Posted by hcva

Attachment 344535

[HCVA]

Originally Posted by hcva

Attachment 344536