Just bought a 28' 1980 International Airstream

[brennerk1]

We are new owners of a well-cared-for 28' 1980 International Airstream. We noticed the other day at one time there must have been WBCCI numbers on the front of the Airstream. We could make out the #12118. Can someone help us out with the history of this camper?

Thank you for your help : )

Keith Brenner

[Bubba L]

Welcome to the Airstream world. Got kinfolks that live in Ft. Fun. We make it by Longmont once a year. To answer your question, try 66Overlander (Joe). He is the WBCCI Historian. Nice guy. Good luck

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by brennerk1

We are new owners of a well-cared-for 28' 1980 International Airstream. We noticed the other day at one time there must have been WBCCI numbers on the front of the Airstream. We could make out the #12118. Can someone help us out with the history of this camper?

Thank you for your help : )

Keith Brenner

Hi Keith,
What timing! I just posted this request for 1980 Airstream serial numbers:
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f14...ml#post2362926

Then I found your email. I will be happy to search thru our old paper membership directories and provide you the history of WBCCI #12118 when I have the time to do so (not at the moment). I might even get to it this evening.

In return, I hope you'll consider providing me your 1980 International serial number for my study. Thanks in advance.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by brennerk1

We are new owners of a well-cared-for 28' 1980 International Airstream. We noticed the other day at one time there must have been WBCCI numbers on the front of the Airstream. We could make out the #12118. Can someone help us out with the history of this camper?

Thank you for your help : )

Keith Brenner

Hi Keith,
WBCCI #12118 was first assigned in 1964 and the original assignees were last listed in 1980. #12118 has been reassigned at least twice since then. here is how #12118 has been assigned over the years according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1965-80: Andrew J. & Wilda Pease, Brewer, ME, no caravans.
• 1981-83: Unassigned.
• 1984-92: Houston & Ina Faye Pace, Dallas, TX, no caravans.
• 1993-95: Unassigned.
• 1996-2003: Robert & Margaret Hubbard, St. Albans, WV, caravan R147 - Region 4 From Coals Mines to Iron Mines 1991. Interestingly, the Hubbards changed their WBCCI # from 14199 to 12118 in 1995, suggesting that may have bought a "new to them" Airstream that already had the big red number 12118 on it, though this is a guess. If that guess was correct, perhaps they bought the Peases Airstream because ME is closer to WV than TX, but again that is a guess and we don't know if that was a 1980 International or some different Airstream.
• 2004: Unassigned. Did not check further due to privacy considerations. A 5-digit is less likely to have been reassigned since 2003 than a 4-digit number.

Since WBCCI did not keep records of the Airstreams owned by members, we are left to make guesses from the available clues. It seems unlikely, but not impossible, that the Peases would have bought a new 1980 28' International and then dropped out of the club the following year. Since you are in CO, I would think it more likely that your 1980 28' International came from TX than ME or WV, thus making the Paces the more likely prior owner, but this is not "proof". On the other hand, if you bought the trailer in another state nearer ME or WV, then the Peases or Hubbards might be a more logical guess. Maybe a dealer decal on the trailer suggests it was bought new near one of these states.

That's all I got. I hope it helps you discern some of the past history for your 28' International.

[brennerk1]

328T0J1623 I our SN#

Thank you so much for the info. To bad the club numbers are not linked to a SN#.

So what do you have going on for research with the SN#?

Now is there any way to do a national Vin number lookup to see who owned our camper in the past?

Thanks,

Keith

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by brennerk1

328T0J1623 I our SN#

Thank you so much for the info. To bad the club numbers are not linked to a SN#.

So what do you have going on for research with the SN#?

Now is there any way to do a national Vin number lookup to see who owned our camper in the past?

Thanks,

Keith

Hi Keith,
Thanks so much. With your SN the 1980 SN Log is up to a modest 8 entries so far. The log is really being used for a couple of purposes.

First to make sure we can decode 1980 Airstream (and Argoy) SNs, as Airstream does not seem to have records they can find about this one year only unique SN format, so we are developing it by studying numbers found "in the wild".

Second, to get a feel for how many 1980 Airstreams (and Argosies) were really made. There has been an oft repeated claim that "less than 100" 1980 Airstreams were made, but so far I have found 1980 Airstream SN's with the "last 4 digits" which represent the production sequence number ranging from 1102 thru 1673.

Based upon experience in other model years, I believe the first 1980 Airstream would have had sequence # 1101, so "1673" suggests that at least 573 1980 Airstreams (and Argosys) were built. "1673" was produced 7-16-80, so has to be near the end of production. I am hoping the log will confirm that production was continuous that Airstream did not skip a section of sequence numbers for some reason.

BTW, there has been a claim that only about 10 1980 Argsoies were built, a number that is so small we likely will never be able to confirm, especially because it seems that 1980 Argosy SNs were intermixed with Airstream SNs using the same sequence number string.

It is unfortunate that the club did not keep records of the Airstream SNs owned by members over the years because we get these types of requests frequently. All the club has to go on is "big red numbers" that were over the front and rear windows of many Airstreams, which represent the membership number of club members. Those numbers can be looked up and ownership guesses made.

You may or may not have success trying to locate previous owners via your state government. Reverse lookups used to be offered in many states the past for a fee, but I think are less available now due to privacy laws.

[brennerk1]

On our 1980 owners manual cover there is a sticker on it that reads “with 1981 Supplement.

[brennerk1]

So how close to the end of production do you think our airstream is? I guess you will have to collect more SN# to find out.

Do you have a live spread sheet that can be viewed buy everyone?

Thanks

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by brennerk1

So how close to the end of production do you think our airstream is? I guess you will have to collect more SN# to find out.

Do you have a live spread sheet that can be viewed buy everyone?

Thanks

Airstream model year changeover occurs in mid-May today. it was as late as October in the mid 1950s and has moved earlier over the years and I do not think was always consistent.

So far 1980 Airstream manufacturing dates seem to span from May 1979 (likely a prototype, Sequence # 1102) or June 1979 (seq. #1151, the 50th built?) thru at least July 1980 (sequence #1673, that last one documented so far). I would suspect changeover was likely no later than August 1st making yours (seq. #1623) pretty close to the end, only being 50 trailers before #1673.

Can you share the manufacture date from the serial number plaque? I would guess it would be in June or July 1980.

I will post the 1980 SN log periodically in this other thread, but have not done so since adding yours to it:
https://www.airforums.com/forums/f14...ml#post2362926