Research by WBCCI Number?

[Rmajka1240]

Bought my first airstream. 1968 tradewind with "1240" numbers on it. Any info.would be amazing. Thanks

[tx70amb]

Hello Joe, in August of 2009 I purchased a 1970 Ambassador with the ghost
#19047. That international Ambassador was last titled In Oklahoma. I was wondering if you could provide any history on how the number was assigned when you have time freed up for that type of research. I can also thank you now for other information you have shared on the forum as I near completion of my 1970 trailer.

[RollFast]

Can I jump in here please.
We are in the process of renovating a 1961 AIRSTREAM Flying Cloud that has a set of numbers under the front window that reads 50794.
Im not sure if these are the WBCCI club numbers but it does have a Wally Byam Club sticker above the back window.
I do know the Flying Cloud did spend some time in Florida.
Would love to know some info about the trailer we are renovating.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by RollFast

Can I jump in here please.
We are in the process of renovating a 1961 AIRSTREAM Flying Cloud that has a set of numbers under the front window that reads 50794.
Im not sure if these are the WBCCI club numbers but it does have a Wally Byam Club sticker above the back window.
I do know the Flying Cloud did spend some time in Florida.
Would love to know some info about the trailer we are renovating.

I just saw this post, but have already answered your email. I will not repeat everything here, but I will say that the 50794 is NOT a WBCCI club number, as the highest number ever issued was in the 32000s.

[88Limited]

We just came into possession of a 1988 34' limited with the ghost letters of 2455. I was hoping to get a little history on the numbers. Is it possible to have the same numbers registered to my wife and I?

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Baby Zeppelin

Hi Joe, we purchased out 2018 Airstream nearly three years ago, and instantly joined the WBCCI. We were given number 1297. I was surprised to get such a relatively low number, and am curious to know what previous members had it, and if it went on any caravans. Thanks!

Hi Baby Zeppelin,
I normally answer these questions for owners with ghost outlines of big red numbers on their Airstream, but seeing that you're a WBCCI member, I'll give you little info about the first assignee of #1297. #1297 was first assigned by the club in 1958 and the first assignees were Rolla & Sylvia Moore of Portland, OR. The Moores appear to have remained members thru 1964. In 1965 #1297 was reassigned to someone else.

An interesting discovery about the Moores is that in the Membership Directories they are credited with one numbered caravan:

• Caravan 1 - Central America Winter 1951-52.

There is a mystery, though, as I have a roster for the 1951-52 Central America Caravan and the Moores are not listed on that roster. Did they go or not? Hard to say. In any case, they did not join the club when it was formed in 1955, instead joining in 1958. We might speculate that if they did participate in the 1951-52 Central American Caravan perhaps they did not travel in an Airstream, since the early caravans were open to all brands. Maybe in 1958 they finally bought and Airstream and joined the club. We will likely never know for sure.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Evaldez

Just purchased a 1970 Airstream with the number 23693 on it. Looking for history on it if anyone can help. Thanks

Hi Evaldez,
WBCCI #23693 was first assigned in 1970, thus first appearing in the 1971 Membership Diretory, so that is very appropriate for a 1970 Tradewind. Here is how #23693 has been assigned over the years:

• 1971-2002: Leo A. & Patricia Thomas, Grove City, OH (1971), Houston, TX (2002), no caravans.
• 2003: Unassigned, but did not check further.

It would thus seem that the Thomas' purchased your 1970 Tradewind new in 1970 and immediately joined the club. We cannot know if they owned it their entire time in the club or if they upgraded to a different Airstream at some point during their membership, but it seems that they would have owned it at least until they moved to Texas (not sure when they did that). That is all I can tell you. Enjoy your Tradewind!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Stephluna

anyone know how I go about finding any info about the number #24343

Last answer for tonight.

Hi Stephluna,
WBCCI #24343 was first assigned in 1971, thus first appearing in the 1972 Membership Directory, so I cannot offer any guesses about who may have owned your 1967 Ambassador before 1971. Here is how #24343 has been assigned over the years:

• 1972-83: Robert & Barbara Seaman, Bayville, NY (1971), Christian, MS (1983), no caravans.
• 1984+: Unassigned, but only spot checked a few directories.

It would thus seem almost a certainty that Seamans owned your 1967 Ambassador at some point during their time in the club, though we cannot know when. It would seem likely that they owned it after their move to Mississippi since you are located in Texas, but that is a guess. That's all I got. Enjoy your Ambassador!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Rmajka1240

Bought my first airstream. 1968 tradewind with "1240" numbers on it. Any info.would be amazing. Thanks

Hi Rmajka1240,
WBCCI #1240 was first assigned in 1958, but we really only need concern ourselves with 1968 and after. Here is how #1240 has been assigned over the years according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1958-76:Ernie & Florence Tuggle, Joliet, IL, no caravans.
• 1977-78: Unassigned.
• 1979-84: Ralph & Virginia Mayberry, Pittsburg, TX (1979), Ridgely, TN (1984), no caravans.
• 1985-86: Unassigned.
• 1987-92: William R, & Anna Bales Lissel, East Wynwyrd, SK, Canada, no caravans.
• 1993-94: Unassigned.
• 1995: J.D. Little, Royal, AR, no caravans.
• 1996-97: Unassigned.
• 1998: Paul & Nancy Pappas, Pensacola, FL, no caravans.
• 1999: Unassigned. Did not check further.

Since none of these are near you in New York, I have no good guess which might be the prior owner of your 1968 Tradewind. Perhaps a dealer decal or emblem from a location near one of the hometowns of these previous #1240 assignees will give you a clue. Good luck!

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by tx70amb

Hello Joe, in August of 2009 I purchased a 1970 Ambassador with the ghost
#19047. That international Ambassador was last titled In Oklahoma. I was wondering if you could provide any history on how the number was assigned when you have time freed up for that type of research. I can also thank you now for other information you have shared on the forum as I near completion of my 1970 trailer.

Hi tx70amb,
WBCCI #19047 was first assigned in 1967 before your 1970 Ambassador was built. Here is how #19047 has been assigned over the years since 1970:

• 1970: Unassigned.
• 1971-84: Paul & Cecil Matthiesen, Enid, OK, caravans N2 - Post International Rally Caravan 1973, N4 - Post International Rally Caravan 1975, N5 - Post International Rally Caravan 1975, and 114 - Alaska 1977.
• 1985+ Unassigned, but only spot checked a few directories.

Thus we can be pretty sure that the Matthiesens owned you 1970 Ambassador. I would guess they bought it new and joined the club in 1970, thus being first listed in the 1971 Directory. We cannot be certain if they owned it their entire time in the club, but it seems likely since was last titled in OK, which means they would have taken it on their 4 caravans, including the one to Alaska. Unfortunately I cannot tell you which Post International Rally Caravans they participated on. There were several offered each year, but the records do not exist to indicate which specific one they participated on.

Enjoy your Ambassador! Consider joining the club when you get done with it and maybe take a caravan of your own.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by 88Limited

We just came into possession of a 1988 34' limited with the ghost letters of 2455. I was hoping to get a little history on the numbers. Is it possible to have the same numbers registered to my wife and I?

Hi 88Limited,
WBCCI #2455 was first assigned in 1959. Here is how it has been assigned since your 1988 34' Limited was built:

• 1988: Unassigned.
• 1989-2005: R. Cal & Donna Freeman, Midland, TX, caravans U10 - Spring Fling to Nashville - West Texas Unit 1990, U39 - Swing Through Texas - West Texas Unit 1992, U94 - East Through East Texas - West Texas Unit 1994, U242 - Bluebonnet caravan - Unit West texas 2000, U284 - Texas Trek to Sugarcreek - West Texas Unit 2001, & N31G - Louisiana Cajun Caravan 2002.
• 2006: Reassigned, details withheld due to privacy concerns.

The Freemans must have owned your 1988 Limited and likely took it on most or all of their caravans.

#2455 is unassigned in the 2020 WBCCI Membership Directory, but it is possible that the assignees opted to not have their information published or if unassigned when the Directory was published, #2455 may have been reassigned since then. You will have to check with the staff in the WBCCI main office to confirm if #2455 is available. You can reach Amanda at the WBCCI office using this email address: membership@airstreamclub.org or you can call 937-596-5211 during normal business hours.

Good Luck and enjoy your Limited!

[tx70amb]

Thank you Joe for providing that historical information and using your time to research my request. Thinking about that trailer making it to Alaska is exciting. Indeed, joining a club and taking a caravan in it myself sounds like a wonderful expedition. Thank you.

[88Limited]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Hi 88Limited,
WBCCI #2455 was first assigned in 1959. Here is how it has been assigned since your 1988 34' Limited was built:

• 1988: Unassigned.
• 1989-2005: R. Cal & Donna Freeman, Midland, TX, caravans U10 - Spring Fling to Nashville - West Texas Unit 1990, U39 - Swing Through Texas - West Texas Unit 1992, U94 - East Through East Texas - West Texas Unit 1994, U242 - Bluebonnet caravan - Unit West texas 2000, U284 - Texas Trek to Sugarcreek - West Texas Unit 2001, & N31G - Louisiana Cajun Caravan 2002.
• 2006: Reassigned, details withheld due to privacy concerns.

The Freemans must have owned your 1988 Limited and likely took it on most or all of their caravans.

#2455 is unassigned in the 2020 WBCCI Membership Directory, but it is possible that the assignees opted to not have their information published or if unassigned when the Directory was published, #2455 may have been reassigned since then. You will have to check with the staff in the WBCCI main office to confirm if #2455 is available. You can reach Amanda at the WBCCI office using this email address: membership@airstreamclub.org or you can call 937-596-5211 during normal business hours.

Good Luck and enjoy your Limited!

Joe,

Thank you for all that information! I have e-mailed Amanda.

[Treg]

She was bought from Gretna Nebraska. The owner only had her for a couple of months and decided not to restore.

[Radmandan]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

Chris, In your case, for WBCCI #4503 I find:

1981 - Walter & Helen Boronda - Lakeside, CA
1989 & 1991 - George & Lorna Coburn - Mound City, KS
1993 - unsued
1994 & 1995 - Henry & Willia Rapp - Campbell, CA
2001 - unused
2004 & 2005 - Michael & Marianne Keith - New Florence, MO

Another "well used" number!

Would you have info on #1716? my grandparents owned it from I think 1986-1990. It sold in 1990 in Okeechobee Florida. I am trying to find out if it is still around. I would love to eventually try to buy it for my mom.

Thanks!
Dan D

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Radmandan

Would you have info on #1716? my grandparents owned it from I think 1986-1990. It sold in 1990 in Okeechobee Florida. I am trying to find out if it is still around. I would love to eventually try to buy it for my mom.

Thanks!
Dan D

Hi Dan, You're lucky. I am online tonight. #1716 was unassigned in 1985 before being assigned to Donald & Carol Fielding in the 1986 thru 1989 WBCCI Membership Directories, in Margate, FL in 1986 and Okeechobee, FL in 1989. #1716 is then unassigned in 1990 & 1991 before being reassigned to a couple in Tacoma, WA in 1992, so it seems that whoever bought your grandparents Airstream did not immediately join the club using #1716. If they did join the club, they got assigned a new number. The club did not keep records of the Airstreams owned by club members, so I have no way of determining the serial number or who might now own you grandparents Airstream. Sorry.

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by Treg

New to us 1964 Overlander #4612
She was bought from Gretna Nebraska. The owner only had her for a couple of months and decided not to restore.

Here is how #4612 has been assigned over the years according to WBCCI Membership Directories:

• 1962-86: Clarence & Leolla Allen, Stockton, CA, caravans 30 - Western Canada Summer 1962 & 33 - Eastern Canada Summer 1963.
• 1987-88: Unassigned.
• 1989-90: Gerry & Ruth Edney, Odessa,TX, no caravans.
• 1991-92: Unassigned.
• 1993-2012: A couple (names withheld due to privacy concerns) from Murdock, NE, caravans:
  • U131 - Meandering to Massachusetts - Nebraska Unit 1995
  • U201 - Sandhills to Mountains - Nebraska Unit - 1998
  • U211 - Ozark Woodsy II - Nebraska Unit 1998
  • N29F - Florida Fantasy 2000
  • N30J - Viking Trail 2001
  • N31L - National Landmarks West 2002
  • R249 - Heart of America to Vermont - Region 8 2003
  • R254 - Gone to Texas - Region 9 2004
• 2013: Unassigned. Did not check further.

From your location in Nebraska and the "freshness" of the big red numbers, I will guess that the couple from Murdock, NE owned your 1964 Overlander and none of the previous assignees of #4612 did. Given the relative "recentness" of their membership, we cannot say for certain if they took it on some or all of thier caravans, as newer members sometimes own multiple Airstreams, maybe a modern one for caravans and casual travel and maybe a vintage one for vintage events. Given their almost 20 years in the club they could have also changed Airstreams at some point during their membership. Still it is interesting to think that your 1964 Overlander might have gone on some or all of their caravans. Sorry I cannot provide their names, but I hope you understand that the club values to privacy of it's members. I rarely provide names of people who were members after 1999 (and never after 2005) because of these concerns.

[aggiekim]

Hello! New owner of 1967 Overlander, and just joined WBCCI with our ghost number 13661. Any information on the history of this trailer would be appreciated!

[tejasdiver]

Hello! I am a new owner of 1975 Sovereign . Ghost number is 16808. I do have the info for who this number was registered to in 1991 with the East Texas Lakes Unit , but I do hope this number is still available for my membership .

[Baby Zeppelin]

Joe, a belated thanks for your 9/12 reply re. 1297. Interesting to know the early history of the number we were assigned. Thanks again!