1957 Flying Cloud #8142

[RacerRodney]

Well, I THINK I did enough homework to determine this is a 1957 Flying Cloud "whale tail". Partially rebuilt by the seller we got it from but lots more work needed!

[Bubba L]

Looks great. Identical layout as ours. Congratulations on your acquisition. There’s a Captain Jones’ Flying Cloud Registry that you can read that shows those that have Flying Clouds from the year 1950 to 1963. Let me know if you want yours on the list and we’ll enter it. Good luck and have fun with the whale tail.

[Bubba L]

I’m still confused about a California made Flying Cloud having a whale tail. It may be a 56. I know 57 was the first year to change the number of end panels. Maybe 66Overlander (Joe) can give us some insight.

[InsideOut]

Based on the #8142 VIN it is a 1957 Flying Cloud built in CA. Looks nice! Enjoy it!

You say it still needs work - whatcha gonna do? Nice polish job!

Shari

[Bubba L]

Shari, what I’m confused about is Rodney’s VIN #8142 is listed on the Vintage Airstream Archives in both years, 56 and 57. I thought the California built Flying Clouds only had the whale tail on the trailers built from 54 through 56. Interesting.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Bubba L

Shari, what I’m confused about is Rodney’s VIN #8142 is listed on the Vintage Airstream Archives in both years, 56 and 57. I thought the California built Flying Clouds only had the whale tail on the trailers built from 54 through 56. Interesting.

Hmmm...you're right, I've never noticed the duplicate numbers before. Could have been built in '56 but not registered until '57. Record-keeping was not Airstreams strong point back then...I agree, it's probably a '56 (IMO, a very good year!) based on the endcaps.

But the Vintage Photo Archives also says..."Mid year the conversion was made from the 13 panel end caps to the 7 panel end caps, and gone from the California models was the “whale tail”, but the teardrop wheelwells were kept." So, who knows!

Shari