Quote:
Originally Posted by lauralachanc
Howdy ... I just purchased a 1959 Land Yacht ... and would like the history of Land Yacht's. I noticed that it was made in Calif. I am looking forward to visiting with you as I get into this project.
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Howdy back:
Welcome to the Forums and congratulations on purchasing an Airstream to use while your SS Clipper is being restored. Those are great looking trailers.
From
1958 to
1962, "Land Yacht" on an Airstream meant it was built at the factory as a self-contained travel trailer made for boondocking, with a propane stove, propane water heater, propane interior heater, potable water storage tank,
12 volt water pump,
12 volt lights and fans, and a black water holding tank, all in additional to 120 volt a.c. lights and electrical outlets. The 1958-1962 base model "standard" Airstream trailer was like a "park model" that required city power (120 volt a.c.) to be fully functional because it had an ice/electric (120 volt a.c. only) refrigerator, a 120 volt a.c. only electric water heater, 120 volt lights and fan and had no
12 volt battery or 12 volt light system (excpet maybe one 12 volt overhead light that ran off the tow vehicle battery).
Beginning in
1963, the "standard" 120 volt a.c. only Airstreram models were dropped and all Airstreams were built as self-contained "Land Yacht" trailers that, in addition, could be plugged into 120 volt a.c. when at a campgournd or park. "International Land Yacht" Airstream trailers were self-contained trailer that had additional features and better grade appointments than the plain "Land Yacht" trailers. Note that grey water or wash water holding tanks were not added until about 1974.