Did my Airstream go to Europe?

[DavidsonOverlander]

We have a '64 Overlander that we are soon going to sell. We bought the trailer in 1998 from a guy who bought it from the family of the original owner. The trailer has a dent in the upper rear that (we were told) happened in Europe (maybe Italy) on a European caravan when they were backing into a campsite and hit a tree. Does anyone have a list of European Caravans and the trailers that were on them? Were there even European Caravans in 1964 or later? The WBCCI number is 3124 and the last name of the original owner was Feist.
It's a cool story if it's true, but I don't want to pass it on to the next owner if it's not.
Thanks for any help you can offer!

[InsideOut]

You may find this article interesting. There was a 1963-1964 European Caravan. You my want to reach out to Joe (66Overlander)as I believe he has a list of participants.

Shari

[66Overlander]

There were European Caravans in 1956, 1960, 1971, 1973, and 1977. Also the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan (ATWC) toured Europe.

Lists of the trailers (by length, model, or serial number) used on caravans were not retained, but we can confirm if a given Big Red Number applied to the front and rear of an Airstream was on one of those caravans and then make guesses from there.

Off hand, I can confirm that #3124/Feist was NOT on the 1963-64 ATWC. A 1964 Overlander could not have been on the 1956 or 1960 European Caravans. I don't have the time right now, but could eventually research if #3124/Feist was used on one of the 1970s European Caravans.

[DavidsonOverlander]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

There were European Caravans in 1956, 1960, 1971, 1973, and 1977. Also the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan (ATWC) toured Europe.

Lists of the trailers (by length, model, or serial number) used on caravans were not retained, but we can confirm if a given Big Red Number applied to the front and rear of an Airstream was on one of those caravans and then make guesses from there.

Off hand, I can confirm that #3124/Feist was NOT on the 1963-64 ATWC. A 1964 Overlander could not have been on the 1956 or 1960 European Caravans. I don't have the time right now, but could eventually research if #3124/Feist was used on one of the 1970s European Caravans.

Thanks Joe, that's much appreciated! It's possible the name is Frist as that is what appears on the delivery paper for the trailer, but a chair that came with the trailer is labelled Feist. The number is still readable on the trailer as 3124.

[damonbeals]

Just FYI the historic rosters are on the VAC website. Here is the link to the 1963-1964 Around the World.


https://vintageairstreamclub.com/wp-...ter1963-64.pdf


Damon
#4827

[DavidsonOverlander]

Originally Posted by damonbeals

Just FYI the historic rosters are on the VAC website. Here is the link to the 1963-1964 Around the World.


https://vintageairstreamclub.com/wp-...ter1963-64.pdf


Damon
#4827

Thanks Damon, but I don't see detailed information on the Old World Europe caravans of the 70s, just a mention that they took place.

[66Overlander]

OK, I had time to do a check of the resources I have at home, which is a full set of WBCCI Membership Directories. I can confirm that in the 1960 thru 1971 Directories, #3124 was assigned to Ervin & Alice Feist of Columbus, OH. This indicates that they joined the club with an earlier Airstream and later upgraded to your 1964 Overlander either when new in 1964 or possibly when used later in the 1960s. The Feists were not credited with any caravans.

It is possible, however, that the Feists went on the 1971 European Caravan and then did not renew their membership for 1972, thus never being credited with that caravan in a Membership Directory. It is possible that the club might have an actual roster for the 1971 European Caravan in our archives, but I have no timely way to check if we do as I do not visit Jackson Center very often. I also cannot guarantee that we even have a roster to check, so for the current time this is a dead end.

After the Feists, #3124 was unassigned in 1972 thru about 1975. The next assignees lived several states away so I assume owned a different Airstream. In any case, that couple was not credited with the 1977 European Caravan, so the only possibility that your 1964 Overlander might have been on a European Caravan lies with the Feists and the 1971 European Caravan, though that cannot either be confirmed, nor disproven at the current time.

Maybe someday we will be able to confirm an answer, but I cannot promise that any time soon. Sorry.

[DavidsonOverlander]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

OK, I had time to do a check of the resources I have at home, which is a full set of WBCCI Membership Directories. I can confirm that in the 1960 thru 1971 Directories, #3124 was assigned to Ervin & Alice Feist of Columbus, OH. This indicates that they joined the club with an earlier Airstream and later upgraded to your 1964 Overlander either when new in 1964 or possibly when used later in the 1960s. The Feists were not credited with any caravans.

It is possible, however, that the Feists went on the 1971 European Caravan and then did not renew their membership for 1972, thus never being credited with that caravan in a Membership Directory. It is possible that the club might have an actual roster for the 1971 European Caravan in our archives, but I have no timely way to check if we do as I do not visit Jackson Center very often. I also cannot guarantee that we even have a roster to check, so for the current time this is a dead end.

After the Feists, #3124 was unassigned in 1972 thru about 1975. The next assignees lived several states away so I assume owned a different Airstream. In any case, that couple was not credited with the 1977 European Caravan, so the only possibility that your 1964 Overlander might have been on a European Caravan lies with the Feists and the 1971 European Caravan, though that cannot either be confirmed, nor disproven at the current time.

Maybe someday we will be able to confirm an answer, but I cannot promise that any time soon. Sorry.

Thanks again for your help! From obituaries I have found it appears that Ervin & Alice both died in 1975 when she was 83 and he was 81. The PO told me he bought the trailer from the daughter of the original owner (Leona Duncan according to the title) who would have been 85 at that time according to her obituary. It's possible that he bought it from one of her children which would add to the uncertainty of any stories passed down. It's also possible that they went on the 1971 rally and having that off their list, and being in their late 70s, decided not to continue their WBCCI membership.