Vintage Airstream Club vs Classic Airstream Club

[DFlores]

What is the story on these two groups, are they two different groups or just an evolution of the same group.

[Hittenstiehl]

We had not heard of the Classic Airstream Club. We had heard of the VAC, the Vintage Airstream which is an intra Club of wbcci. When I Googled the classic Airstream Club a small WordPress article came up. It listed members and had an application and said it was a intra organization of wbcci. It said membership was open to all people that had a classic Airstream. Does that mean the Classic Model of a particular model of Airstream?

[Hittenstiehl]

So no sooner had I pondered here than I saw this in the recent Blue Beret. A short article explaining the new intra club.

[DFlores]

Originally Posted by Hittenstiehl

So no sooner had I pondered here than I saw this in the recent Blue Beret. A short article explaining the new intra club.Attachment 325306

That is where my question came from, saw same article, but VAC website is still up with different officers

[smithcreek]

Wouldn't that list of eligible trailers/motorhomes cover 99% of the WBCCI members?

[OTRA15]

FYI the "fine print" . . . :

VAC: https://vintageairstreamclub.com/

At the bottom of the application page, it says your Airstream must be 25 years or older.

https://vintageairstreamclub.com/join/


CAC [as of 10/11/18]: https://classicairstream.wbcci.net/
__________________________________________________ __________________

"The Classic Airstream Club regular membership is open to all members of Wally Byam Airstream Club who own an aluminium [sic] Airstream Recreational Vehicle (trailer or motorhome) with the iconic aerodynamic shape, regardless of its age (not exclusively “ Classic” models). Whether your trailer is one, two, or three axle, you qualify!" [added]
__________________________________________________ __________________

[switz]

Younger than 25 years Airstream model owners can join as Associate Members.

[Hittenstiehl]

Sorry DFlores for my redundancy.

[Peter417]

So the classic airstream club is like the vintage airstream club (I believe there are provisions in VAC that allow people to join who do not own a vintage airstream) where anyone in the main club can join. They just chose the name "classic" and that is a current model of airstream. The club has nothing to do with this though?

https://www.airstream.com/travel-trailers/classic/

I remain confused.

[Hittenstiehl]

I always thought the classic club was for folks who owned a model or version of Airstream that was titled Classic.

[Stefrobrts]

Originally Posted by smithcreek

Wouldn't that list of eligible trailers/motorhomes cover 99% of the WBCCI members?

It sounds like the 'No Argosys, Interstate, Nest, or Basecamp' Club.

[wkerfoot]

Classic means the "classic" look, which includes Argosys.


Bill

Originally Posted by Stefrobrts

It sounds like the 'No Argosys, Interstate, Nest, or Basecamp' Club.

[66Overlander]

The CAC (Classic Airstream Club) and VAC (Vintage Airstream Club) are two separate intra-clubs (sub clubs) within WBCCI.

The CAC is open to any club member owner of a rounded, riveted, aluminum skinned Airstream regardless of age, only ruling out squarstreams, square motorhomes, B-vans, etc. that do not look like "classic" Airstreams. I am not clear if 1970s "classic" shaped Argosys are allowed, but 1980s "square" Argosys are not allowed. It's aims are defined in the article posted above.

The VAC is actually open to ALL club member Airstream owners regardless of age or trailer/MH shape/style. The 25 year old limit really only applies to running for office within the VAC and participating in Concours De Elegance judging at the annual WBCCI International Rally. The VAC generally invites any member Airstream owner to participate in all of its activities. The VAC is for those that appreciate older Airstreams, even if they don't own one yet (or anymore).

[Hittenstiehl]

Thanks 66Overlander for the explanation.

[rideair]

Though I understand that any WBCCI member can be a member of either VAC or CAC to some degree depending on the year of the trailer owned, I've always looked at the VAC vs. CAC in this way. Again, I understand the 25 year rule, etc...

If you look at the body style of the Airstream trailers, there was a change from 1981 to the 1982 model year with the front windows.

Most of the trailers in the VAC years ago were the 1981 and older body styles since they had a "Vintage" look.

Most of the trailers in the CAC were the 1982 and newer body styles since they had the more "Classic" look.

Now with any trailer being a 1995 model year and older qualifying as "Vintage" trailer, everything I just said goes out the window, though I personally still think it applies if you're looking at the "trailers" body style and not the trailer "registration" year.

I have a 1996 trailer that could be in the VAC next year, but would never in my mind personally look at it as "Vintage", IMHO it's a "Classic".

Enjoy,

[66Overlander]

Originally Posted by rideair

Though I understand that any WBCCI member can be a member of either VAC or CAC to some degree depending on the year of the trailer owned, I've always looked at the VAC vs. CAC in this way. Again, I understand the 25 year rule, etc...

If you look at the body style of the Airstream trailers, there was a change from 1981 to the 1982 model year with the front windows.

Most of the trailers in the VAC years ago were the 1981 and older body styles since they had a "Vintage" look.

Most of the trailers in the CAC were the 1982 and newer body styles since they had the more "Classic" look.

Now with any trailer being a 1995 model year and older qualifying as "Vintage" trailer, everything I just said goes out the window, though I personally still think it applies if you're looking at the "trailers" body style and not the trailer "registration" year.

I have a 1996 trailer that could be in the VAC next year, but would never in my mind personally look at it as "Vintage", IMHO it's a "Classic".

Enjoy,

I do not see 1981-82 as a significant shell change. 1982 was merely the first year for panoramic front windows on Airstreams (though they were previously used on 1970s Argosys) and panoramas were only an option in 1982+ Airstreams as the previous small front wing window setup was still used, but on a much smaller number of Airstreams into the early 1990s. The basic Airstream shell shape did not change in 1982 - it changed in 1969 and 1994, with the 1994 shape then being tweaked slightly in 1995/96 when "wide bodies" were introduced.

That said, I do still agree that generally the Airstreams owned by CAC members are "newer" than Airstreams owned by VAC members. The biggest difference, though, is the focus of the CAC vs VAC, with the VAC focusing on caravans and the VAC focusing on celebrating vintage Airstreams at rallies and on occasionally on vintage caravans. The biggest VAC event of the year is the vintage Airstream open house at the WBCCI International Rally. The CAC offers nothing similar.

[InsideOut]

Originally Posted by 66Overlander

The CAC (Classic Airstream Club) and VAC (Vintage Airstream Club) are two separate intra-clubs (sub clubs) within WBCCI.

The CAC is open to any club member owner of a rounded, riveted, aluminum skinned Airstream regardless of age, only ruling out squarstreams, square motorhomes, B-vans, etc. that do not look like "classic" Airstreams. I am not clear if 1970s "classic" shaped Argosys are allowed, but 1980s "square" Argosys are not allowed. It's aims are defined in the article posted above.

I think CAC also excluded "wide body" trailers when they came out.

I've always thought the biggest difference is the CAC focuses on 'silver trailer' caravans and the VAC focuses on the care and feeding (re: restoration) of vintage Airstreams at vintage focused rallies and occasionally with vintage caravans (say to an International Rally) where there is always lots of 'show & tell' events.

Shari

[kevinkatz]

maybe one is for old people and one for classic people?