The Wally Bee

[85MH325]

In #3 Wally's Trailers, and Who Slept Where, Pee Wee has a photo of the Wally Bee, a 1956 prototype fiberglass Airstream. In 2002, Bud Cooper found the trailer in Toni Ruiz's storage lot in McAllen Texas and published some photos in the Vintage Advantage along with Toni's phone number.

I was going to call Toni several years ago, and didn't get around to it, and then when I saw Pee Wee's photo in that thread it reminded me to get to it! My wife called her today, and she said she finally just sold it about three months ago to someone named "Luke" who lives north of Denver. She said she believed that "Luke" is an Airstreamer or Airstream dealer.

So, does anyone know who "Luke" may be or where the "Wally Bee" might have ended up? This is a one-off trailer that ought to be saved as a true Airstream prototype.

Roger

[LHall]

Yes the trailer was purchased last year by Luke in CO. He made a stop by our 4CU Vintage Restoration Rally with it last April he trailered it back from Texas on a flatbed trailer. It was in pretty sorry shape, but knowing Luke, it is in the right hands. I am not sure what his plans are but I am quite sure they will be appropriate for this cool little trailer.

[Lumatic]

I think I have Luke's contact info somewhere. If you send me a PM or email I will try and forward it to him.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

In #3 Wally's Trailers, and Who Slept Where, Pee Wee has a photo of the Wally Bee, a 1956 prototype fiberglass Airstream. In 2002, Bud Cooper found the trailer in Toni Ruiz's storage lot in McAllen Texas and published some photos in the Vintage Advantage along with Toni's phone number. . . . . So, does anyone know who "Luke" may be or where the "Wally Bee" might have ended up? This is a one-off trailer that ought to be saved as a true Airstream prototype. Roger

Hi Roger:

There is a clue hidden on page 9 in the Fall 2008 issue of Airstream Life magazine. You can rest assured the Wally Bee is in very good hands.

[85MH325]

Unfortunately, Fred, I don't receive Airstream Life, and it doesn't appear that back issues are available for viewing on the site.

Can you tel me what it said?

Roger

On edit: I did find this:

http://airstreamlife.com/mcclure/200...ounds-camping/

[Lumatic]

I saw the Wally Bee at the above mentioned rally. Basically it was just a shell, no windows no interior. We were speculating if there ever was an interior and may have just been a initial design concept. I think I remember there were a couple of versions. One a seamless body the other put together in 2 halves.

[47WeeWind]

Originally Posted by 85MH325

Unfortunately, Fred, I don't receive Airstream Life, and it doesn't appear that back issues are available for viewing on the site. Can you tel me what it said? Roger

The cost of being informed = $16.00 per year. And back issues are available by mail from the website. Paper still has some beneficial uses.

Nevertheless, it was my one-page article about the rescue of the Wally Bee, with a little history and background thrown in. It will be a challenge to get the Wally Bee rolling again, but Luke has plenty of experience repairing fiberglass and trailers. The Wally Bee is in good hands. And as Forrest's blog and others here have shown, notwithstanding its present poor condition the Wally Bee has already visited two Airstream rallies in less than a year.

More information and photos of the Wally Bee and other fiberglass Airstreams can be found in the Summer 2007 issue of Airstream Life beginning at page 34.

[centennialman]

Luke is awesome with trailers and trailer repair. The Wally Bee could not have ended up in better hands. He is the man for the job

[85MH325]

That's excellent, everyone! Thanks for all the good info. Best of luck to Luke and the Wally Bee!

Roger

[PeeWee]

Picture taken by Helen Byam Schwamborn

[wheel interested]

Looks like a Scamp or Casita. Pee Wee what can you tell us about the billboard in the background. Was that at one of the factory locations?

[PeeWee]

How many millions of people viewed this sign? I don't know. But this sign over a +/- 12 year period was probably even seen by billions.

It was on the west side of the I-5.

The sign tells it all...what a billboard.

When the plant moved to Cerritos, the sign and trailer came down. It is almost a fact that Airstream could have gone into the pigeon guano business. Thank goodness the sign wasn't adorned with a 30 footer.

Pee Wee

[BIGED52]

PeeWee, The sign is Great! Does anyone know what happened to the trailer that was up on the sign? I really think the Wally Bee looks like a cool proto type. Was it ever produced at all? Was it built with a interior? I love all this A/S history. Thank you for posting on this site. Ed

[PeeWee]

Originally Posted by BIGED52

PeeWee, The sign is Great! Does anyone know what happened to the trailer that was up on the sign? I really think the Wally Bee looks like a cool proto type. Was it ever produced at all? Was it built with a interior? I love all this A/S history. Thank you for posting on this site. Ed

The sign Airstream, truly was full of bird doo. It also was only a shell weathered by smog, rain and unknown cruds. It was dismantled and was put to sleep. The Wally Bee was a proto only. But the fiberglass guru working at Airstream, Marius Hansen, did use it on a Mexican and Central American venture.

Pee Wee