Caravels, why do they sell for so much more?

[Airboss]

Oh yes they do get attention all right both in the campground and in my yard. I have had people stop to see my Caravel and Safari but never my 30 ft Limited.. I would like to have a 18 ft caravel also. I think they are pretty nice looking rigs. My ser. # is J O175683 Ralph

[safari57]

Originally Posted by Gen Disarray

Because Trade Wind owners arent letting go of the most desireable units

Ditto with Flying Clouds .

(I just couldn't help myself...... )

Barry

[Airboss]

Well what do ya know. The west coasters are now getting out of bed.. Morning gang... Opps its afternoon here..LOL

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

Fred, help me out here, but as I recall there were something just over 240 Bambi 16s produced between the Jackson Center and Los Angeles plants from 1961 to 1963. There were far fewer of the 17' '64 Bambi IIs produced. The 17' Caravel was produced in limited numbers from '65 to '67 based on the Bambi II shell, but with a different interior. '68 was a transition year and from '68-'71 or so they built the 18' Caravels. I've never seen any production numbers or even reasonable guesses on either the '65-67 or '68-'71 Caravels, but there weren't many produced compared to the larger trailers. All of the '60s and '70s vintage sub-21' trailers are pretty rare, and are commanding premium prices now. Roger

Hi Roger:

To my best knoweldge, Airstream has never released production figures by year and model, so we don't know how many were produced. I have beginning Bambi serial numbers for many years, but no ending serial numbers, so I cannot calculate annual production numbers.

The 16' Bambi was a 1961 mid-year introduction, but I don't have the beginning Bambi serial numbers for 1961, only the beginning serial number for 1962 and 1963. How many were made in 1961? The beginning serial number for the 1964 Bambi II is a different format than the beginning serial number for the 1963 Bambi, so I cannot calculate the difference between them to estimate 1963 production. California Bambi serial numbers may be continuous from year to year, but I'm missing the first 1961 serial numbers for each plant so begin with 1962 Bambi data. The Ohio plant "zeroed out" Bambi serial numbers for each year at "101", so we don't have any continuous serial numbers from which to estimate annual production. The best estimate of Bambi and other trailer production comes from gathering serial numbers from existing trailers.

I don't have production figures for any Caravels from 1965 to the mid 1970s. But they tended to be limited production models.

Another possible reason the short trailers command higher prices is they come up for sale less often than longer trailers. When someone buys a longer trailer for longer trips or full timing, its easier to keep the short trailer as a second or weekend trailer. There are probably more people with short and long trailers than with two or more long trailers. Combine that with lower production numbers and the absence of short trailer production for 25 +- years, and the higher prices are justified.

On the most recent VAP podcast, RJ Dial said he has been collecting Airstream serial numbers for years, and there were far more Bambis produced than anyone thought. He expects to release his production estimate figures later this year. Sorry I can't be of more help to you.

[Valhalla2Go]

This is a nice little trailer with nice features that you used to be able to build by ordering plans. Many of us dont have the skills but to pay $24k is a bit steep. Looks great!

Sundance

[Stefrobrts]

Wow! $24k for a teardrop?! You might as well hold out for a Caravel or Bambi and have a bathroom included

[monkeyboy]

I knew there had to be more to it than the size...thanks for all the info....

[Airboss]

Are ya sorry you ask??? LOL

[85MH325]

Originally Posted by 47WeeWind

Hi Roger:

To my best knoweldge, Airstream has never released production figures by year and model, so we don't know how many were produced. I have beginning Bambi serial numbers for many years, but no ending serial numbers, so I cannot calculate annual production numbers.


On the most recent VAP podcast, RJ Dial said he has been collecting Airstream serial numbers for years, and there were far more Bambis produced than anyone thought. He expects to release his production estimate figures later this year. Sorry I can't be of more help to you.

Fred... computers are a wonderful thing. I had forgotten I had this... Here's an email I received from Bill Scott a number of years ago regarding my old Bambi that I thought you'd find interesting:

Subject: [VAC] 61 62 Bambi
Date: Mon, 29 May 2000 11:57:21 -0500 (CDT)
From: wescott50@webtv.net (Bill Scott)
Reply-To: vintage@airstream.net
To: vintage@airstream.net




Roger, your Bambi, 16T232, indicates it is an Ohio made Bambi, early in
1962. The only way you can tell, is if the ID plate says Jackson
Center, OHIO. I think the "BAMBI" nameplate, did not appear until 1962,
above the ID plate. The OHIO made Bambi's also had the shower on the
door side and the kitchen sink on the roadside. Some late 62's and 63's
from Ohio, also had doors that opened from the left (non-suicide). I
would guess yours is a 1962. The Calif made Bambi's in 1961 had the mfg
date stamped below the serial number. The wheel well cut outs on the
62's and 63's were also different than the 61's. Since all 747 of them
were hand made, each one is a little different.
Let me know.

Bill

Roger

[clancy_boy]

All this deep thinking on why Caravels cost so much....... They epitomize the Airstream Dream of a self contained unit in its simplest form with all the key features packed in such a small space just like the modern Bambi. They have that cool Airstream shape, easy to tow, easy to store, easy to park, light weight, bathroom, basic kitchen, sleeps 4, etc.

I must agree with what others have said about the "lookers", mine gets as many stares as the newer one we have.

Caravels - they rock

[47WeeWind]

Roger:

Thanks for digging up that 747 production number from Bill Scott for the 1961-63 Bambi.

[safari57]

Originally Posted by Airboss

Well what do ya know. The west coasters are now getting out of bed.. Morning gang... Opps its afternoon here..LOL

late reply here. Just got up from my afternoon siesta. Life is good, a tad sleepy, but good.

Tomorrow, I just might think about mowing the lawn. Maybe.

Not that us Westcoast'ers don't have busy schedules or anything like that, but sometimes it takes a while to get us up to speed.

I had a Caravel equivalent, a '58 Silver Streak Chico model, 17', that I started a rebuild on but moved to the Airstream mid way and my neighbors are now doing a major on the SS. I really liked the size, tow ability of it, and the vintage aspect is key for us. We were already towing a 17' Boler with all the amenities (fiberglass and round shaped - they have their own cult like following and are very popular with the hotrod crowd) and realized that the extra footage provided by the Flying Cloud would make living in the trailer a couple of weeks or more at a time that much better. We didn't have that issue when we first met but too much good food (while camping of course) has made size a bit more of an issue . Many of our friends find the 17' size ideal still (skinny farts that they are) and keep the prices of that size of trailer right up there.

Barry

[me208070]

Caravels,Bambi and Globetrotters were only made for two months out of the year. If an order was not filled, you had to wait until the next year (winter)
Airstream did not make much money on smaller Airstreams, so they were in short supply from the get go.

1954 Wanderer
1956 Overlander

[moosetags]

The general rule of thumb for Airstream prices:


New and late model Airstreams - the bigger, the more expensive

Vintage Airstreams - the smaller, the more expensive

[G-STREAM]

Barry not all your friends are skinny farts! My 18' 69 Caravel is 8' wide! LOL

But yes the 17' Caravel's are skinner