ID'ing a Model by the Belt Line styling

[jaco]

There is presently a 1978 AS Ambassador LYacht International on ebay at this url
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=2458255903

Can anyone look at it and verify if it is indeed an International?
I am thinking the belt-line markings are not there. Am I correct that no belt-line trim = LandYacht?

I am not talking about rub-rail (near bottom) but Belt-line near middle.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Is there any truth to the following attributes?:

I'm describing a Belt-line as two long strips of metal trim rail which could accept a vinyl insert. The two were spaced about 6 inches apart and the whole section between and including them becomes the "Belt-line"


Excella500's (only came in 31ft) had Belt line all the way to front end cap Curb and streetside. Wide Center of Belt-line colored blue. Some years with additional accent decals or 3rd trim-rail & insert also.

LY Internationals had Belt-line up to rearward of door and same distance up the streetside. Wide center of Double belt-line not colored. Although the Trim-rail pieces might or might not have had colored inserts. Some were blue some years maroon.

LYacht No Belt-line ??????

Standard- ??????????????who knows?

[thenewkid64]

It is not an Excella 500, you are correct on the beltline issue. If it was an excella the bletlin rails would run all the way to the front cap and have a solid blue fill between the rails.

It could be a Land Yacht with the international package. The only way to know for sure is to see the placard by the door.

[jaco]

Thanks Brett but I think you missed the gist of my questions.
I know it is not an Excella (I have one of those monsters)

I was commenting on the class not the model.
i.e. does the beltline (or lack of it) designate the level/class/package?

or to put it another way do land yachts (Not Intl) have belt-line trim at all?

[thenewkid64]

Originally posted by jaco
I was commenting on the class not the model.
i.e. does the beltline (or lack of it) designate the level/class/package?

or to put it another way do land yachts (Not Intl) have belt-line trim at all?

Not in the early seventies. Then the land yachts had a single belt line to about the same point as the one in question with a Land Yacht plaque at the end of it. Almost all of the larger trailers built in the mid to late seventies were International models. The ones that were only Land Yachts seemed to be the smaller ones, 25 foot and less. Looking at it again and remembering my 2 trailers, the large plaque in the belt line says International on it, so this one is more than likely an International. Even though I cannot read the plaque.

[jaco]

http://www.airstreamphotos.com/photo...cat=3091&page=



The avove link is of a picture of Ike & Sue Eikelberg's Tradewind from last autumns Midwest rally.

This 75 Tradewind shows a wide blue beltrail all the way to the front on the curbside shown.
Is this stock?

I thought only Excella's in the 70's had this beltrail scheme. Were all 75 models so appointed?
If not then what does the full stripe represent? (Intl)? (Special edition)?

Does it run all way to front on the streetside?


~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[thenewkid64]

I would say custom.

Sometimes owners will take their trailer to Jackson center and ask the factory to install the newer exterior trim for them to "update" the coach. This could mean the belt line extension. Since the late 70's and early 80's there were many models with this style. I liken it to painting an old car the new popular color so folks will think it is new. But underneath it is the one that you bought 5-7 years ago. Not that I have any problem with it, but it does make it difficult to ID a year when they do that. Maybe that is why