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Sneakinup · 08-21-2005, 05:43 PM

Airstream Hype lives on!
In my never ending fix for aluminum related activities, I spotted an ad in the paper for an Argosy motorhome. $3000 or best offer. So, I had to check it out. As it turns out, it was a 1975 20' motorhome with a 350 motor. The guy in charge of selling it claims that an old friend had given it to him, ... title and all. He also told me that it had a new 350 motor, the 700 trans which was allegedly good, and the moho was capable of being driven. He did mention that most of the interior was gone, and that the owner had been cannibalizing it for one reason or another. I think I remember something about using parts for his home. I didn't want to know, so I didn't ask.

No matter what condition it would be in, a day out to see aluminum is always fun, so I enlisted the expertise of a fellow forum member whose knowledge of these beasts rivals only that of Wally himself, and off we went. The moho was located at an automotive shop... if you could call a junkyard with one building with a roof a shop. Anyways... the pictures are at the link below.

Argosy Moho

Oh yeah, he wanted $3000 or best offer for this vehicle. In my original conversation with him, he mentioned that it was made by Airstream and how solidly built they were. Surprisingly he didn't say they never leak, but we all know better. Hence, the Airstream hype has hit the masses. The bottom line is, that this motorhome wasn't worth $200 + towing. There were a few parts that would command some bucks on the black market (E-bay), but as for restoration purposes, it was a total basket case. FREE would have been too much money.

A few observations...

You had to walk on the frame in the trailer because the floor was so rotted away.
The bath was destroyed.
There was a $2000 dent in the back.
The motor was missing 4 of the spark plugs, and the unit had been towed in as evidenced by the seat belt wrapped around the steering wheel to keep it going straight.
The new motor... yeah, in 1975. The trans was surely toasted while being towed.

The rest of the plight is too numerous to mention. With that said, it really had potential!

norbert · 08-21-2005, 06:15 PM

no doubt the seller believed a sucker is born every minute, or he missed his meds....
norby

**Stefrobrts** · 08-21-2005, 06:17 PM

I am particularly taken by the adorable tiny motorhomes, so it breaks my heart to see one in this shape! That is very sad!

overlander63 · 08-21-2005, 07:13 PM

Oh. my gawd...

It makes the Argosy trailer I am trying to get rid of for free look like a brand-new Classic!

08-21-2005, 07:17 PM

No matter how nice they are, this one is trash. He should just scrap it for the aluminum. $3000.00? Thats funny. It doesn't look like it would be worth the effort to move it.

Sneakinup · 08-21-2005, 07:25 PM

This was a parts trailer for sure. For Free, and with a place to part it out, it would be worth a few bucks, but that is it.

I agree with Stef. Those shorties are so cool. It is a shame to see one in this condition.

ALANSD · 08-22-2005, 06:43 AM

at least we have another indication of how strong the resale values on our Motorhomes are

300 seems more reasonable.
I am reminded of a trip I took to see a one owner classic 280 that was for sale at 12,000. Seemed like a good deal until I saw it and drove it. Very scary. The price dropped to 6,000 before I even negotiated, and really could have been 5,000 which would have been fair for that one.