Did I find a '62 from a World Caravan?

[overlander63]

Originally Posted by Sugarfoot

Growing up near Port Everglades, I remember in the 60's some autos had an oval tag, usually on the rear near the license, that designated the country of origin if it was privately owned and had been shipped overseas or to the US. My uncle's shipped Mercedes had one designating Germany (don't remember the exact letters) when he moved back to the states.

Germany would be "D". IIRC, others are "GB" for England, "FR" for France, and "IRE" for Ireland. It's been a while since I've had to know this, but those are the ones I'm pretty sure about.
United States would be "USA". These oval stickers or tags would be mounted next to the license plate, so local law enforcement would know what country the tag was valid in.

[Overlander & Sea]

Originally Posted by flyfshr

The trailer with the number 8511 is sitting on the ground but the bunkhouse model is in the air and is viewed from the side, can't see any of the numbers.

I love a good mystery.

Brad
FF

On edit: The scare light on the streetside matches the one on the Burkhart book photo on page 107.

Sorry, my mistake, I was looking at one, thinking about the other. I would not a very good detective. Did PeeWee go on this caravan? If so, think he might have some info?

[59 GlobTro]

Originally Posted by Overlander & Sea

Sorry, my mistake, I was looking at one, thinking about the other. I would not a very good detective. Did PeeWee go on this caravan? If so, think he might have some info?

In Thank You, Marco Polo PeeWee isn't listed as a caravanner, and the author wrote that Helen Byam Schwamborn only accompanied the group to Singapore to begin the Around the World Caravan.

Lori

[flyfshr]

I believe I found another picture of this trailer in an earlier Vintage Advantage newsletter in an advertisement for the DVD's mentioned earlier. It sure looks like it with the CB antenna location and everything. It looks to have duct tape or some other temporary type of patch on the curbside rear.

http://www.airstream.net/members/Vin...0Issue%204.pdf

Look on page 26. I still say this is the one and it DID go on the Caravan.

Brad
FF

[streamer23]

Originally Posted by 59 GlobTro

The only family from Miami, Florida was McGregor Smith's. He was the author of Thank You, Marco Polo.

~Lori

You are correct.McGregor and Jackie Smith.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by till

In the photo of the flying bunk house there looks like a blemish or is it a reflector below the bathroom vent. In your photo of the rear 3/4 view the paint is gone and maybe a dent? Anyway they are in what appears to be the same spot to me.

I think what you see is the teardrop clearance marker light.

Doing some more stripping I can objectly say the last 3 numbers are 472 and the first is probably a 6

So it looks like this the Paul and Thelma (Ruth) Ross coach on the 63-64 world tour #6472

I think the best way to use the stripper as an Airstream History Dectiv3e in this case is counter intuitive. Instead of using a mild stripper sparingly when I used a strong stripper liberally the surface paint over the original number reacted differently than the rest of the surface making the number kind of readable.

[azflycaster]

To keep it original, you could change your WBCCI numbers to 6472. The number does not appear in any of the recent membership directories.

[Lumatic]

Originally Posted by azflycaster

To keep it original, you could change your WBCCI numbers to 6472. The number does not appear in any of the recent membership directories.

My current number 12121 was picked to come close to the original number on my 71- 21212. While it doesn't have the history that 6472 does it is a neat number. I will contact WBCCI and see if there is any way to have a second number to keep the history intact. Anybody hear of WBCCI doeing this? I suppose if worse comes to worse my wife could take out a second mebership.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

I will contact WBCCI and see if there is any way to have a second number to keep the history intact. Anybody hear of WBCCI doeing this? I suppose if worse comes to worse my wife could take out a second mebership.

The only way I have heard of it happening is to pay for two memberships ~

Shari

[Sugarfoot]

Lumatic, congrats on finding a legacy Airstream. Looks like you've got enough provenance there to support this trailer's history.

[streamer23]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

Seal Beach is right next to Long Beach. The people I got it from said they got it in Long Beach. There is one Ross listed by Dexknows in Long Beach. Not surprisingly his name is not Paul or Thelma. Guessing that Paul or Thelma would have been in their 40s if not 50s in 1963 that would make them in their 80s or 90s now. I left a message for this Ross dude. Let's see if he calls back.

Has he called back yet?

[66Overlander]

Wow, I just found this thread. Since I wrote the artilce in the Spring 2008 VAC Vintage Advantage Newsletter about #8671 from the 1963-64 Around the World Caravan I have been trying to dopcument other survivors from this and the 1959-60 Cape Town to Cairo Caravan. So far there aren't too many documented survivors from either caravan.

I've only skimmed this thread (gotta go to bed soon), but I'll add that according to Thank You Marco Polo, a few trailers were modified for additional ground clearance in India. Perhaps yours is one of those. I know I'd like to learn more about your trailer and add it to my slowly growing database. And yes, I agree that if the number is 6472, it is the Ross' trailer. I have the WBCCI numbers of all participants on both Caravan's (minus a discrepancy or two that occasionally shows up in old photo's). The Ross' lived in La Puente, California at the time of the Caravan.

I'm gong to have to read this thread in more detail tomorrow. Good night!

[Silverhobby]

The information in this thread is amazing. It is wonderful to find you own a trailer with so much travel history associated with it. I am happy for you.

[LHall]

Marshall,

Congratulations on your new Trailer. It is also cool to see another '62 Ambassador.

[Lumatic]

I'm on the road so right now and I don't have regular internet access. In answer to an above post, I have not heard back from the Ross family I contacted in CA.

[jerrypeterma]

man this was some great info, I can't add to it. but good luck on the investigation

[Lumatic]

I am looking for a copy of "Thank You Marco Polo" to use in connection with researching Ol #6272. I checked with Amazon and they want $45 to $350 for a used copy. Can we make deal?

[clancy_boy]

Originally Posted by Lumatic

I am looking for a copy of "Thank You Marco Polo" to use in connection with researching Ol #6272. I checked with Amazon and they want $45 to $350 for a used copy. Can we make deal?

OK - this worked for me when I was looking for the Cape Town to Cairo book from the early 60's. Do a library search nationally for the book. Start calling libraries that have the book and ask if they "sell" books that have not been checked out in many years - you will be surprised...... It's a trick I have used before for several books I wanted that are out of print. GOOD LUCK and interesting find in the trailer - wishing I was that lucky.....

[azflycaster]

In case you did not make it to the RMVAC this year. Fred, the VAC historian talked about Marshal's trailer one night and produced this picture. I took a picture of the projected image and I'm sure there is a better copy around. The third trailer on the left is the one that Marshal now owns. The picture was taken just outside the Kremlin in Moscow.

[NatchezBear]

What a Great old Airsteam. I noticed you have one 89 toyota 4x4 rim Mine has 3 wish we could trade. I like the old AS rims but these look great on her too so Im just gonna get one more. i look forward to learning the history of your As.
NatchezBear