1952 Cruiser VIN number question

[Osadler]

I have an Airstream, 1952 Cruiser trailer inherited from my uncle. The VIN number on the title is the same as the Wally Byum number in red on the back of the trailer. Was this typically how they were titled and registered. My trailer has not been registered in years and I was going to have the title transferred to my name but the tax office says that there is a bonded title on file that supersedes my title and is currently registered and titled to someone else (issued in 2018). I HAVE THE TRAILER and I have had it for years, way before the bonded title was issued. Can someone help me figure this out?

Thanks,
Olivia

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Osadler

Was this typically how they were titled and registered.

No, that does seem a bit odd. There should be two numbers...

1. The big red number on the front & back of the trailer are Wally Byam club membership ID numbers for the people who owned the trailer at the time of their membership.

2.The trailer's VIN # is usually stamped on a small blue metal plate next to the door. This is the trailer's ID number & looks like this top plaque:

If the club members sold their trailer or bought a new one, the big red WBCCI # would stay with the people & the VIN number would go with the trailer. I've never heard of someone using their club membership number to register their trailer! It would be very odd to have the VIN # match the WBCCI number by coincidence.

I don't know how the WBCCI # could have been used for registration, but I think the best way you get it cleared up would be to take the trailer along with a print out of the linked page to whomever does vehicle certifications in your state. The State Police do it here in CO...we had to go through this with a 1947 Curtis Wright trailer we wanted to register several years ago. The number on the door plaque is the correct VIN number. The VIN number for a 1952 Crusier should be in the range of 6079 to 6205.

If the previous owners (before your uncle?) did join & use VIN number as their WBCCI membership, that was clever! If they registered the trailer with their WBCCI number that was really kind of (no offense intended to your uncle!)
Good luck sorting it out!

Shari

[Osadler]

Thanks for the reply. The plaque next to the door is missing, but it is a 1952 so it is possible that they matched the Wally Byum number 6202 to the VIN number. Not sure that was a clever move either.

Thanks, Olivia

[Osadler]

That is also the pic of my trailer that you attached. LOL

Thanks, Olivia

[InsideOut]

Wow! That is funny! I didn’t notice the WBCCI number when I attached the link. In our ‘56, the VIN number was also inside the trailer handwritten on the bottom of the drawers- I doubt that would “work” for the DMV, but it might help you know what else to look for. Others have mentioned finding the ViN stamped on the frame somewhere although we never found it on ours.

Good luck! It’s a cool trailer....

Shari

[fmbortugno]

I found on my 1961 airstream the vin # is also stamped on the to of the frame on the curb side by the propane tank. It was painted over I discovered it when I was cleaning the frame. Good luck

[InsideOut]

I found a picture of our VIN number stamped on a drawer discovers when I was stripping the paint off. I can't find pics of the handwritten numbers, but they were in various locations - mostly on pieces that were built outside the trailer, then brought in.

The orange goo is Citristrip....

Shari