'69 Tradewind VIN search

[Eliminator46]

Hello to all. I am new to this site and need a little info on VIN locations. I recently adopted this 69 and am ready to bring it back to life. I don't want to do alot until it is legally mine, so where is the VIN plate?
Thanks

[azflycaster]

Welcome to the forums.

The plate should be to the right of the door. It will say Airstream on one end and Trade Wind on the other. The VIN will be stamped near the bottom in the center section.

[Eliminator46]

I had found that, it says
O25D0-S120
I thought this is the model/serial#. Is this what they use to register for a title? Also, this # should tell me that it is a Tradewind, 25', Double bed, 1970yr, from California, and the 3digit serial number indicates it was the 1969 model. I suppose built in 69 and sold as a 1970? This was the first year after the body change and width/length change.
If that is the VIN, then Tx has no record of this. Now how to get it registered if I don't know where the title is?
Thanks for all the help.

[azflycaster]

That is an odd one. The trailer may have been built in 1969, but the VIN is for a 1970 except that the serial number portion should be 4 digits not 3. This is the number that would be on the title. If the trailer has license plates, you might be able to back track them. Does the person you acquired the trailer from have any information that might help?

[Towster]

Originally Posted by Eliminator46

I had found that, it says
O25D0-S120

If that is the VIN, then Tx has no record of this. .

On our 69 Globetrotter, the VIN is O21D9J195.

When we went to register it here in California, the paperwork all indicated that it started with a "D" not an "O" - both on the Ohio Certificate of Title and a bill of sale from a used RV dealer in Indiana. The nameplate clearly showed an "O". What should have been a 10 minute VIN check at the local DMV turned into a 90 minute "discussion" that involved almost every supervisor in the building. We got our registration, but it wasn't easy.

You also might want to see if they are entering the "oh" as a "zero" or visa versa.

Virginia

[Eliminator46]

Yes, Odd for sure. I tried making a 9 out of the 0 for the year, but still looks like a 0. And the S120 is a no brainer, a 3 digit #. I did read the 70's were 4 digit numbers. Well luckily the nice lady at the DMV is willing to help me resolve this. I mainly wanted to verify that this "is" in fact what they used for title/REG. This is a great Forum by the way, you all will be hearing from me more.
Thanks again,
Adam

[Eliminator46]

Well good news, I was able to ID the VIN with the DMV. Come to find out that all O's were 0's in there mind. Also had been removed from the database and put on microfische. It's nice to live in a small town, because the little old ladies don't mind helping out on something like this. I know who owned this before, now only need to contact to finish the paperwork. Now to get serious on the CPR. Also it is a 1970 on paper by the way.
Thanks again,
Adam

[Towster]

Looking at your front wing windows, it's a 1970. The 69's had the lower outside corners squared off, instead of rounded like yours. Do you have a wood interior or laminate? 69 & 70 seem to be years of transition and there's quite a number of trailers that have elements of both decades.

Virginia

Our airstream webpage

[Eliminator46]

Yes, I agree. The interior is laminate. The frame is stamped 69, the 0 in the VIN indicates 70 and the serial is a 3 digit indicating 69. I probably should discuss in the 70's trailer page, but yes there is a little of both years. I don't know how to move the pics to the 70's page or I would. Most of the cosmetics are of 1970.

[Eliminator46]

I was able to contact the PO. He does not have any papers. We did draft a bill of sale, "GIFT", and he is signing a lost title application for me. I should be married to this aluminum jewel by 2009. Too cool.