Journey with Confidence RV GPS App RV Trip Planner RV LIFE Campground Reviews RV Maintenance Take a Speed Test Free 7 Day Trial ×
 

Go Back   Airstream Forums > Airstream Community Forums > Our Community > Airstream History
Click Here to Login
Register Vendors FAQ Community Calendar Today's Posts Search Log in

Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Display Modes
 
Old 03-24-2011, 07:50 PM   #1
Rivet Master
 
Roadrunner's Avatar
 
1978 29' Ambassador
1974 25' Tradewind
1974 27' Overlander
Indiana , Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 677
Blog Entries: 7
Landyacht History?

What was Wally's thinking for bringing our the "LandYacht" travel trailer series? What is different about these trailers? Just curious...thx!

Bob
Roadrunner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2011, 08:16 PM   #2
Site Team
 
Aage's Avatar
 
1974 31' Sovereign
Ottawa , ON
Join Date: May 2008
Posts: 11,219
Images: 25
The theme in the AS names seems to rotate around two ideas: glamour and mystique.

A Caravan moving across the sands of the Sahara, a Globetrotter (which is self-explanatory) is perhaps off on a Safari, the phrase Sovereign of the Road invokes royalty, and so on.

One oddity; the Romany was meant to invoke the Gypsy spirit. Apparently, the name must have been a bit too exotic for the Airstream buyers, since there are very few of them about today, and the name was eventually discarded.

The Flying Cloud is another old name that was recently revived, and talks of dreams, perhaps soaring.

And finally, a Land Yacht invokes a large, luxurious earthbound craft, and an International has an air of "savoir faire" and a vehicle with no bounds.

Personally, I find them all well-chosen. Unfortunately, over the years the names have been somewhat smeared making comparisons to older trailers difficult. For example, my Sovereign is also an International Land Yacht.

Another bit of fun, huh?
__________________
“Courage is being scared to death, but saddling up anyway.”
...John Wayne...........................
Aage is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 03-31-2011, 08:58 PM   #3
Rivet Master
 
Roadrunner's Avatar
 
1978 29' Ambassador
1974 25' Tradewind
1974 27' Overlander
Indiana , Pennsylvania
Join Date: Sep 2003
Posts: 677
Blog Entries: 7
Thanks Aage....makes me want to go get another Airstream...the only problem: which one!

Bob
Roadrunner is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2011, 10:27 PM   #4
3 Rivet Member
 
Uzzah's Avatar
 
1976 31' Sovereign
Bothell , Washington
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 176
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aage View Post

Personally, I find them all well-chosen. Unfortunately, over the years the names have been somewhat smeared making comparisons to older trailers difficult. For example, my Sovereign is also an International Land Yacht.

Another bit of fun, huh?


i was wondering about this too. I also have a sovereign that says International on a large plaque amid ships, and of course a lovely font that says the best of all (IMHO) LandYacht. when someone asks me, "what kind of AR to you have?" i'm not sure what the answer actually is... and i own the trailer! I didn't actually know which was the actually model till i started reading this forum.
__________________
Did you want fries with that?
Uzzah is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-23-2011, 10:45 PM   #5
Rivet Master
 
Forrest's Avatar
 
Aurora , Colorado
Join Date: Jun 2002
Posts: 645
Images: 21
Quote:
Originally Posted by Aage View Post
One oddity; the Romany was meant to invoke the Gypsy spirit. Apparently, the name must have been a bit too exotic for the Airstream buyers, since there are very few of them about today, and the name was eventually discarded.
Gypsies protested the usage of Romany by Airstream since that word is representative of their language and culture. Legend is they camped out at the factory until their demands were met.
__________________
Forrest
Out for coffee!
Forrest is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-24-2011, 04:25 AM   #6
Restorations done right
Commercial Member
 
Frank's Trailer Works's Avatar
 
1962 26' Overlander
1961 26' Overlander
Vintage Kin Owner
Currently Looking...
Baltimore , Maryland
Join Date: Aug 2007
Posts: 5,545
Images: 2
Though I think Aege has made some very good points, Wally Byam had the sea in mind with these names also. What was the first model names? Clipper, Torpedo. The name, Flying Cloud, though it might evoke lofty thoughts by some was a very historic ship. The Caravel was also a small and very fast boat. The Pacer, yep, also a boat. Cruisette, the Silver Cloud, Falcon, Cruiser, Liner, you get the drift? Even Bubble has a nautical ring to it.
Then there is also the Wee Wind, Whirl Wind, Tradewind, Trailwind. All of these are nautical terms sailors use for types of wind.

I think with all this, it becomes obvious why it is a Land Yacht.

Oddly when looking into Safari as a name, I found that Airstream and Chevrolet both used the name Safari in 1954 for the first time. The Safari looks to be the perfect fit for a Safari. I wonder if the Safari could be ordered with safari windows like was standard issue on the Safari.
Frank's Trailer Works is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 01:02 AM   #7
1 Rivet Member
 
1976 31' Sovereign
Lecompton , Kansas
Join Date: Jul 2011
Posts: 10
Can any one tell me what the numbers stenciled on the front and back top panels mean?
The # is 4565
Thanks for the help.

Seeker
I have a 76 Sovereign
drbseeker is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 06:34 AM   #8
Rivet Master
 
AWCHIEF's Avatar
 
2006 23' Safari SE
Biloxi , Mississippi
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 8,278
Images: 33
Prior to his death Wally had built a blue water sailboat and planned to sail around the world. Sadly he died before he could live that dream.
Wally Byam yacht
__________________
MICHAEL

Do you know what a learning experience is? A learning experience is one of those things that says "You know that thing that you just did? Don't do that."
AWCHIEF is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-19-2012, 07:02 AM   #9
Rivet Master
 
c_lewis77's Avatar
 
1982 34' Limited
Brunswick , Georgia
Join Date: Feb 2009
Posts: 1,084
Images: 22
Quote:
Originally Posted by drbseeker
Can any one tell me what the numbers stenciled on the front and back top panels mean?
The # is 4565
Thanks for the help.

Seeker
I have a 76 Sovereign
Seeker:
Those are the WBCCI (airstream club) numbers. Each member is assigned a number and that is where they go. At rallies it is a great way to identify people. I suppose you cant just say "i'm in the silver airstream" .
The numbers go with the owner, so if you get a new airstream the numbers move to the new trailer.
The numbers have started to be recycled nowadays. I was assigned a low number. The ghost numbers on my rig were 5 digits. If you join WBCCI you can request the same numbers that are on your trailer if they have not been assigned to someone else.
__________________
1982 34' Limited
2000 Excursion V10 4x4
WBCCI #3321
TAC #GA-24
c_lewis77 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply


Currently Active Users Viewing This Thread: 1 (0 members and 1 guests)
 

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Hello from SPEED/Top Gear on History in our 73! Rutroe Member Introductions 69 10-16-2012 03:36 PM
94 airstream landyacht landyacht eBay Watch Airstreams on eBay 0 03-21-2011 08:00 PM
Airstream landyacht xl 330hp diesel sld ^^^1 owner^^^^ eBay Watch Airstreams on eBay 0 02-19-2011 10:10 PM
Airstream landyacht xl 390 class "a" motorcoach eBay Watch Airstreams on eBay 0 02-08-2011 05:00 PM
Airstream landyacht xl 390 class "a" motorcoach eBay Watch Airstreams on eBay 0 01-10-2011 01:30 PM


Featured Campgrounds

Reviews provided by

Disclaimer:

This website is not affiliated with or endorsed by the Airstream, Inc. or any of its affiliates. Airstream is a registered trademark of Airstream Inc. All rights reserved. Airstream trademark used under license to Social Knowledge LLC.



All times are GMT -6. The time now is 06:49 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, Jelsoft Enterprises Ltd.