'61 Overlander Club

[05ModPod]

I remember a while back there was a thread on the oldest 24' Argosy out there as friends of ours found the 10th one off the line....I have seen so many posts for 61 Overlanders this year it might be fun to do the same.....

So here is mine:
26TSS0463 So I am number 463 off the line in Versailles CA.

What I also find really neat is all the different State Certificate of Vehicle Titles. We have one from Louisiana (our 69 GT - now sold), Alaska (61 OV) and now Arizona (63 GT).

I know this is for 1958 - 63 - so perhaps each year could pipe in to just to make the thread a bit beefier - and of course when were done we can see how many of year is on the forums too

[Overlander & Sea]

I always like digging into the history of Airstreams. Our '61 Overlander is Ohio built and the VIN# is: I261T860. The Lifetime Warranty certificate on the inside of the kitchen closet door is signed in pencil by (the best I make out the name) Airstream employee Andrew J Charles and dated, again in pencil, 11-6-61.

Can I get a prize for the "last" Overlander built that year?

We purchased our Overlander in Texas and it had a Texas title with the wrong VIN on it, 1261T860. we titled it in Mississippi with the correct VIN.

[utee94]

This thread is taunting me...

[Smitten]

Here is the pic of our lifetime warranty that shows our VIN and the signature of Andrew J Charles. It says he was the president at the time. Under that he has the initials of M.F. - I'm not sure if this means someone signed on his behalf.

Our Vin number is also written in pencil through out the trailer on various pieces of wood, etc, which is kind of cool.

When I see the VIN numbers of other trailers, ours seems so different. I know the 26 means it's a 26 footer, and the D means it has the double bed option, but other than that, how can you tell where it was made or what number it was off the line?

Thanks!

[azflycaster]

The California and Ohio plants used a different VIN format in the early 60's. This link shows the breakdown of both:
61Overlander

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by GT1963

So here is mine:
26TSS0463 So I am number 463 off the line in Versailles CA.

Hey Sharon...sounds like a fun thread!

But I think you have some mis-information there...it's Versailles OH, not CA. If it was built in CA it would be Los Angeles or Sante Fe...there is no Versailles, CA

By the VIN number, it appears your trailer was built in CA though..

Have fun with this!

Shari

[05ModPod]

Hi Shari;

Yep you are absolutely right - I was crossing my two GT's (both from Ohio - with my Overlander Or maybe it could be that I am coming down now from all my meds

I am actually#33 off the line if the first sequence for the year was 0430 according to the above link to California | 26 TSS 0430 to 26 TSS 0553

Thanks for the correction Shari - the Gal's gotta keep the Gal's on their toes I say

Does anyone know as smitten asked - how you would tell what number you are off the line with the Ohio sequence. Did they start at 0 each new year? Kinda hard to believe Ohio would have made 721 Overlanders during 1960 for the sales year of 61

PS Smitten your other question... The sprayer is for well let just say it is not an early version of a bidet. As most of the old toilets just had one line into the bowl to fill it a bit. ( okay TMI- then the deed is done) and when you pull the chain (as they say in England) or flush it down on this side of the pond. Sometimes (oaky lets blame on the guys shall we - they may be the need for assistance from the sprayer

The home toilets have several lines/holes where water flushes the entire bowl and then down the hole....Gosh and I just had breakfast too!!!!

Oh and another observation - in that tight space how the heck does one reach for that toilet roll without being a Gumby's cousin???

Now I know anyone who is remotely close to the 1961 era will know who Gumby is

[Overlander & Sea]

Originally Posted by Smitten

Here is the pic of our lifetime warranty that shows our VIN and the signature of Andrew J Charles. It says he was the president at the time. Under that he has the initials of M.F. - I'm not sure if this means someone signed on his behalf.


Thanks!

Ours also has the initials M.F. under the signature of Andrew J Charles. We may need Fred and/or PeeWee on this one.

[truckasaurus]

I'm in. Ohio 759.

[Smitten]

Thanks for the link Richard! It looks like our Surely was made in Ohio Number 721 off the line??

Shari - I was looking at your pics of Birdie and I am so relieved that you got her! Those flowers! I was horrified! I'm so glad you could see the beauty underneath and rescue her!

[Overlander & Sea]

We need NeighborLady from North Carolina. She posted some pictures of their '61 Overlander about a month ago. The more, the better!!

[utee94]

3Streams (Andy and April) also have one among their "fleet."

[byamcaravanner]

Originally Posted by Overlander & Sea

Ours also has the initials M.F. under the signature of Andrew J Charles. We may need Fred and/or PeeWee on this one.

Could it be that he had some underling whose initials are M.F. do the signing for him?

[Smitten]

I also noticed that many of the shelves in our trailer have the VIN number on them followed by the letters "ARL". Does anyone know if these are initials as well?

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Smitten

Shari - I was looking at your pics of Birdie and I am so relieved that you got her! Those flowers! I was horrified! I'm so glad you could see the beauty underneath and rescue her!

Yeah...it was kinda hard to look beyound the flowers ~ That and the seafoam green sponge paint on all the walls double ! It's been a lot of work...but the flowers are gone!

Shari

[Frank's Trailer Works]

my trailer is a 1962. Her serial number is I 262 T 123. However, when removing the rear half, I found these following dates:




So do I qualify to participate in this thread?

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by byamcaravanner

Could it be that he had some underling whose initials are M.F. do the signing for him?

I think Steve has it right. I don't know who M.F. is but suspect she was Mr. Charles' secretary. Back in the day secretaries who signed their bosses' name indicated so by adding their own initials underneath the penned signature. Today, when done digitally, the secretary might indicate an authorized signature by signing off with his/her personal smiley.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by Smitten

I also noticed that many of the shelves in our trailer have the VIN number on them followed by the letters "ARL". Does anyone know if these are initials as well?

I don't know for certain, but suspect they might be the initials of the workman who made the furniture for your trailer. The VIN, of course, identifies the pieces as built for your trailer. By 1961, Ray Leininger had sold his trailer furniture manufacturing business to Airstream, so I doubt those are his initials (even if he has an unused first name). The Fall 2005 issue of Airstream Life has an interview with Ray (and David Winnick) about furniture built for Ohio Airstreams from 1952 to 1978.

[Overlander & Sea]

Originally Posted by utee94

3Streams (Andy and April) also have one among their "fleet."

huummmmm.......greg176 also has a '61 Overlander. I guess we always remember the things that are important.

[utee94]

Originally Posted by Overlander & Sea

huummmmm.......greg176 also has a '61 Overlander. I guess we always remember the things that are important.

Yup, I consider '61 Overlanders to be VERY important. Perhaps you've read my short thread about the subject...