white top

[Voyager]

Back in the '60s when my father first started buying Airstreams I remember seeing Airstreams in California that had painted white tops. Was this a special model or just a local fad? These were not Argosys.
Richard

[Pahaska]

Current Airstreams have white tops to stay a lot cooler in the direct sun. Not noticeable unless you are up on a ladder or hill.

[InsideOut]

I think what you are thinking of is the "Cruisette". It was a small Airstream made for weekenders...it had fewer amenities than it's big brothers, but it was also more economical. Kinda a "beginner Airstream"...alot of them have since been stripped of their white painted tops. They were only made for a year or so - 1951. Here's a link for additional info & pictures.

The Cruisette, at 15 feet, was the smallest Airstream made. A plain model with no bathroom or refrigerator, the outside was painted all white above the beltline, and was marketed as a weekend getaway machine to the California High Desert.

Actually, there also is a great article by Fred Coldwell - the VAC Historian in the most recent Vintage Advantage about the Cruisette and it's features...as well as the other 50's models.

Shari

[Chas]

Some people still choose to have the roof of their A/S painted white, to cut down on the heat and to have less clearcoat and polishing hassles. I have considered it on mine but think it looks strange on the vintage units, they have a more curved roof which allows more of it to be visible. Like Pahaska says it is true that some if all of the new models have white roofs, they have flatter roofs which are somewhat less visible.

Chas

[Voyager]

Thanks for the info. These were lagre (for the 60's) Airstreams. The white tops to keep things cooler make sense.
Richard

[j54mark]

I believe I am correct in saying that the current white roofs are applied by Alcoa - that it is not just a paint sprayed on by Airstream. Has anyone any experience with applying either a white roof coating or paint on an older unit? It does seem to offer some advantages.

Mark

[Pahaska]

j54mark

You are right that the current white finish is as supplied by Alcoa as is the current aluminum clear coat on the balance of the trailer..

[dmreilly10000]

I remember seeing a vintage picture of a bunch of airstreams in Egypt (or maybe Iran) on one of Wally Byum's legendary rallies and several of them had white tops.

[tulips]

We are "newbe's" to this website and this question probably dosn't belong in replies. We own a 1952 Cruisette which is in very good condition (desert life). We would like to fix it up, but leave as much as possible original. Does anyone know where we can find info on interiors, original equipment ( stove, refer, etc.)?
Also tell us what would have been the correct procedure for posting this question.
Thanks, Tom & Ulla

[flyfshr]

Greetings Tom & Ulla,
Welcome to the forums. If you're seeking advice on restoration and/or repair, you've come to the right place. There is a spot on the forums where trailers are listed by year and model. This would be the place to post your questions so others can find your queries.

Ask away and post pictures when you can.

FF

[53flyingcloud]

Latest issue of Blue Beret has an articule on polishing an Airstream and, in it..the author mention the brand name of white paint that he used. I'll see if I can find it..Will update post .

ciao

UPDATE: The white paint used is called, Interlux Blue Glo White, found at boat supplies source.
Interlux Blue Glo

[till]

Richard,

I know what your talking about. I started a thread along this line too.
Here it is...

[Voyager]

Thanks all for the info. I have 2 Airstreams, a 1971 silver 31' and a 1969 27' that has been painted white (the whole trailer) sometime in its life. There is very little if any difference in temp between them.
Richard

[smily]

Yo Flyingcloud,

Guess what unit that guy in the BB, who shines AS's, belongs to?

You got it, THE SCCU

He is known as "Fred" here on the forum.

Smily

[Fred]

I have two A/S also, A 64 Bambi and a 74 29' . Painting the top white made a big difference in the temp. Here in the south anything will help. I can touch the the top at high noon but were the paint ends you can cook an egg.

[53flyingcloud]

Thanks Smiley and Fred...

I was wondering what to use when the time came to do the top..Now, you've saved me lots of hours in searching time..`
Thanks again..

[till]

I hope I don't get in trouble for this, but I took a picture of the picture out of the book. I think this is the photo that Voyager is talking about.

[Navigator]

Counted 3 of them.
Now where and when was that?
Dick

[till]

That is just part of the picture. I had trouble getting that much to come out right.

According to the caption;

Jerash, Jordon. 45 trailers left Los Angelels in 1963, covered 35 countries in 14 months. Photo: Fran Hall

I counted about a dozen in the whole photo. There is one more in the lower left, but it is hard to make out through the glare.

[till]

A different view....