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CDNEXP · 11-24-2022, 06:10 AM

Hi

Though I would start a thread on our new toy. Hopefully over the next few months I can get enough information from you folks to decide which direction to take on restoring it.

The Vin 30-B9J-3346 I bought here in Ontario Canada.
Its a centre bath, double rear bed, with a wraparound rear window.

The first question I had does this interior look original? There is no front table just a wrap around bench with a small bump up table in the middle?

Second is the wood platform beside the kitchen original it also looks odd?

Final question for now is I have yet to find a similar layout with regards to the windows, did they just pick and chose left over windows for these units? I have looked at lots of pictures a have not found the same unit any place.

Thanks for any and all answers/information

dbj216 · 11-24-2022, 06:52 AM

Hello again from Colorado: I was going to refer you to this category of the Forums that is all things Argosy. You do have a unique Airstream. I bet others will answer your questions, but sorry, I don't know much about these trailers.

I believe 1973 was the first year of the Argosy. It was the first Airstream with the full wrap around "panoramic" front windows and later the first with that window in the rear also. This design is now throughout the Airstream lineup to this day. I think the Minuet was a "european" spec trailer designed and built for the international market. It was smaller and lighter than a regular Airstream.

Here is a link to the Airstream Corp "document archives" that may be helpful to you. However, I didn't see any info on the 1979 Argosy 30'. Maybe I should have looked harder.

https://www.airstream.com/wp-content...rplans-314.pdf

We will be watching your project thread as you journey down the long renovation road. You will likely gather Argosy experts to your thread that will be helpful to you. It may take a very long time to finish your project which is typical of Airstream renovations.

You will enjoy the trip.

David

mrdes8 · 11-24-2022, 09:28 AM

Welcome again from Colorado... our first Airstream was a '76 24 footer which we thoroughly enjoyed and then moved on to other Airstream projects. If you haven't seen it yet go to vintageairstream.com and look through the year by year photo archives. Your trailer has an interseting combo of features but you will see the same front windows and basic galley layout. I think the "counter?" beside the galley is not original but ??? I have seen front layouts close to what you have. If I were to do another Argosy it would be a "double-ender " like yours.
Good luck... Mark D

Biggmixx · 12-11-2022, 12:35 AM

Greetings CDNEXP,

Nice to see a 30 ft Argosy newer than mine. Hoping you have fun with that adventure of restoring one of these things.

To answer your first question, I think your interior has been a victim to a freshening up. From what I can see it looks like some elements of your front seating is original with the tambor doors but I don't think the carpet on the walls or the solid front on the underseating are original. I think 79s had some non tambor door but usually the had a fabric face on them and it seems unusual that they would mix them near those tambor door on the front. I don't think the arm rest are either. Kind of a unique taste that I don't think was an option.

The kitchen area has had a lot of mods done to it too. The overhead cabinets aren't original. Again they used some solid doors but with the fabric face. The cabinet itself isn't. it's made of unfaced plywood and they didn't make them like that. The sink counter top isn't original nor is the post holding the overhead cabinets up. Looks like the front of the sink cabinet has been reskinned with 1/4 plywood. My cabinet when it came out was super flimsy and was starting to collapse so maybe a repair had been done to fix it with yours. The cabinet between the sink and the couch isn't original. It's interesting but I think it's made of wood that would be considered too heavy and expensive for an Argosy.

The windows are unique to the 79 Argosy. My 78 has vista windows above and below the front side windows. The 79 used a giant single window. I think they used them in the Minuets too. Mine doesn't have vista windows in the back side but yours does. The thing I think is cool is the window in the door. Most 70s Argosys don't have that feature and are unique to 79 on.

Hope my 2 cents helps. I am not an expert by any means but I love the the hunt of find out something new. Drivn' and Vibin' did a restore on a 28 ft 79 Argosy you might find interesting on Youtube.

Dave

CDNEXP · 12-16-2022, 04:55 PM

Thanks everybody for your welcomes and feed back, I am super excited to get this project started ( hopefully this spring).
I had another questions and I might need to post another picture but the door handle on our Argosy is a knob that you turn , it doesn't look original but at the same time I don't think it could have had the pull style either as this new handle is not very big and I don't think it would have covered the hole. Any ways what should the original exterior door handle look like?

dbj216 · 12-16-2022, 06:28 PM

It appears your entry door lockset has been changed over the years. The photo linked below shows a "lever" RV style lockset in the door. But it is not the infamous KT lockset Airstream used during the seventies. The other photos show a lever on the lockset for the interior.

Hopefully others will post more information.

David

https://vintageairstream.com/photo-a...979-argosy-30/

CDNEXP · 12-19-2022, 12:26 PM

Thanks, is there a place to buy the original?

Here is better pictures of the outside and inside latch. Hopefully I can manage to get it back to original.

Aerowood · 12-19-2022, 08:24 PM

The KT lock is an expensive POS. I would just use what you have but maybe replace the galvanized with aluminum. Many have replaced the KT with other less expensive options that work better, including me.

Sent from my Lenovo YT3-X90F using Airstream Forums mobile app

CDNEXP · 12-21-2022, 06:17 PM

Thanks Aerowood , that's good to know. I will have to look into coming up with something better looking then what I have. I will look around the site to see what others have used.

dbj216 · 12-21-2022, 06:50 PM

Well, I'm one of many that have replaced the KT lock with a low cost "Standard RV Lock" from Korhee. However, it appears your 79 Argosy did not have a KT lock originally.

Here are the exterior and interior photos of my Korhee lock set install as well as the original KT lock set. As Aerowood said, KT locks are rather infamous for their ability to lock folks out of their trailer or lock them in their trailer.

David

CDNEXP · 12-22-2022, 01:43 PM

Thanks dbj216

I see your original seems to be longer horizontally then vertically, which is the way I thought they went, but looking at mine the original hole would have taller then wider. Similar to your aftermarket unit.
I will look into your recommendation, that's a good looking door lock!
Thanks again for the picture

Pearl79 · 12-04-2023, 09:30 PM

Hey CDNEXP,

I hope you don't mind me digging up an old thread but I'm new to the forum and it's nice to see another 79 Argosy 30' out there. I hope your project is going well. I bought mine (VIN 30-A9J-3251) in May 2020 and have since completely renovated the interior. It is a long journey but well worth it.

The unique thing about the Argosy line is that Airstream used it to test new concepts before later implementing them into the Airstream line. I've been told that no two Argosy trailers are the same....interior layout, window layout, etc.

https://www.airstream.com/blog/a-loo...ary-of-argosy/

Attached pics are the day I picked her up.

Best of luck,
Pearl79