Page 35 - Journal of Antiques and Collectibles Januray 2020
P. 35
spectrum. Fans are
still devoted, and
there are more
than a dozen
Airstream parks
around the country
and several enthu-
siast clubs. The
American govern-
ment also relies on
Airstreams to travel Wally (Wallace) Byam helped spark the imaginations of
thousands of intrepid road warriors. He said it best:
around the world. “Adventure is where you find it, any place, every place,
According to a except at home in the rocking chair.”
2007 article in the photo: Tiny Shiny Home, credit Tara Cox, 2013
Chicago Tribune,
the trailers are strapped down inside military cargo planes for as a
private haven and feature luxuries such leather seats, air conditioning,
televisions, and surround sound. According to oldtrailer.com, these early trailers were based on contemporary aircraft
engineering and designs . Here is a view of the rear of a 1936 Airstream Clipper
from the rear (above) and its interior (below).
Variety is King
But how do you
determine which Airstream
is right for you?
Condition is the first
concern, but beyond that,
factor in maintenance.
Airstreams may be hardy,
but if something should
happen, you will have
much more trouble finding
parts for models before
1970. Size is also a factor.
A few extra inches can
make a big difference.
1968 and earlier:
7’ interior width
1969-1993 (some 1994s):
7 1/2’ interior width
1995 (some 1994s) and
later: 8’ interior width
It is worth knowing Your Airstream can be what you make it, but be
that with realistic. Dreamers need to take into account that
most
Airstreams, the model they’ll be working with curved ceilings and that
name reflects the length while you may want to tile your bathroom, you have
(ie: Bambi 19 = 19’). to make the interior work with the bumps and shifts
Models also change of the road. There is no shame in calling in a
mid-year, so be aware if professional, particularly for electrical concerns, and
you are looking for a be prepared for a renovation to cost $10K and up.
specific size or look. For For many, however, the trials are worth it, and
more windows, stick with several resources are only a few clicks away for those
models post 1950, with looking to get moving. photo: The Lonely Planet
1960-68 having some of es v
the largest windows until modern units. Wait a little longer though and hi ch . Ar
some models post 1969 have skylights, known as “vista view.” It all o
comes down to personal preference and affordability. s & C aus
Earlier models in good condition or rare early models sell for around tr vi S
$30,000, but you could find a fixer-upper for under $10,000. There are Le
a plethora of sites online to begin the hunt, including Airstream’s web-
site, airstream.com, which has several resources for enthusiasts. Also,
check out airstreamclassifieds.com or try looking into a collector’s TH E C O N TE M PO RAR EF B 1 UA 3 G0 2 G 9 0 , 2
A Y
–
group like the VAC (Vintage Airstream Club). Bloggers also write WE I SH USE MU M T EH CJ .M OR G
J
about their experiences, and you may learn a lot about life on the road Support f fo or Levi Str auss: A H ist or y of Amerrican St y ty le is g ener ousl y pr o vided b y Maribelle and t ephen Lea vit t;
d S
und; Mimi and P
r.. F
alt
er Haas, Jr
Fu
et
err Haas F
und; T
Wa
Gaia F
from following their adventures in Airstreams and then maybe create DavidDa vid Ber B und; Lisa and Douglas Goldman F Fu unnd; E Ev v elyn & W tion; Colleen and Roberto Colleen and R obert D. Haas; D Haas; Dana Corvin and Dana C orvin and he
oundation;
cia Golldman Founda Goldman F
ohn & Marciaohn & Mar
erg
o
gFounda F
tion; J J
oundation;
oshland; K
ames K
f P
aulet
We
g, in honor o
t
some of your own. Harris W einber en; Michael Righi; Doroth hy y R ye e M er and David F Fr riedman, and C a therine and J Wa aldman. endr a
om Kast
axe; Da
and T
To
. S
ax
e; and Marilyn and Murry W
av
vid S
Vintage trailers of all types can be seen and appreciated at M edia Sponsor ship is pr o vided b y the San F r ancisc o Chr onicle and K QED .
oldtrailer.com where trailers ranging from Decoliner to Holiday House
trailers reflect the modern approach to living on the road.
January 2020 33
still devoted, and
there are more
than a dozen
Airstream parks
around the country
and several enthu-
siast clubs. The
American govern-
ment also relies on
Airstreams to travel Wally (Wallace) Byam helped spark the imaginations of
thousands of intrepid road warriors. He said it best:
around the world. “Adventure is where you find it, any place, every place,
According to a except at home in the rocking chair.”
2007 article in the photo: Tiny Shiny Home, credit Tara Cox, 2013
Chicago Tribune,
the trailers are strapped down inside military cargo planes for as a
private haven and feature luxuries such leather seats, air conditioning,
televisions, and surround sound. According to oldtrailer.com, these early trailers were based on contemporary aircraft
engineering and designs . Here is a view of the rear of a 1936 Airstream Clipper
from the rear (above) and its interior (below).
Variety is King
But how do you
determine which Airstream
is right for you?
Condition is the first
concern, but beyond that,
factor in maintenance.
Airstreams may be hardy,
but if something should
happen, you will have
much more trouble finding
parts for models before
1970. Size is also a factor.
A few extra inches can
make a big difference.
1968 and earlier:
7’ interior width
1969-1993 (some 1994s):
7 1/2’ interior width
1995 (some 1994s) and
later: 8’ interior width
It is worth knowing Your Airstream can be what you make it, but be
that with realistic. Dreamers need to take into account that
most
Airstreams, the model they’ll be working with curved ceilings and that
name reflects the length while you may want to tile your bathroom, you have
(ie: Bambi 19 = 19’). to make the interior work with the bumps and shifts
Models also change of the road. There is no shame in calling in a
mid-year, so be aware if professional, particularly for electrical concerns, and
you are looking for a be prepared for a renovation to cost $10K and up.
specific size or look. For For many, however, the trials are worth it, and
more windows, stick with several resources are only a few clicks away for those
models post 1950, with looking to get moving. photo: The Lonely Planet
1960-68 having some of es v
the largest windows until modern units. Wait a little longer though and hi ch . Ar
some models post 1969 have skylights, known as “vista view.” It all o
comes down to personal preference and affordability. s & C aus
Earlier models in good condition or rare early models sell for around tr vi S
$30,000, but you could find a fixer-upper for under $10,000. There are Le
a plethora of sites online to begin the hunt, including Airstream’s web-
site, airstream.com, which has several resources for enthusiasts. Also,
check out airstreamclassifieds.com or try looking into a collector’s TH E C O N TE M PO RAR EF B 1 UA 3 G0 2 G 9 0 , 2
A Y
–
group like the VAC (Vintage Airstream Club). Bloggers also write WE I SH USE MU M T EH CJ .M OR G
J
about their experiences, and you may learn a lot about life on the road Support f fo or Levi Str auss: A H ist or y of Amerrican St y ty le is g ener ousl y pr o vided b y Maribelle and t ephen Lea vit t;
d S
und; Mimi and P
r.. F
alt
er Haas, Jr
Fu
et
err Haas F
und; T
Wa
Gaia F
from following their adventures in Airstreams and then maybe create DavidDa vid Ber B und; Lisa and Douglas Goldman F Fu unnd; E Ev v elyn & W tion; Colleen and Roberto Colleen and R obert D. Haas; D Haas; Dana Corvin and Dana C orvin and he
oundation;
cia Golldman Founda Goldman F
ohn & Marciaohn & Mar
erg
o
gFounda F
tion; J J
oundation;
oshland; K
ames K
f P
aulet
We
g, in honor o
t
some of your own. Harris W einber en; Michael Righi; Doroth hy y R ye e M er and David F Fr riedman, and C a therine and J Wa aldman. endr a
om Kast
axe; Da
and T
To
. S
ax
e; and Marilyn and Murry W
av
vid S
Vintage trailers of all types can be seen and appreciated at M edia Sponsor ship is pr o vided b y the San F r ancisc o Chr onicle and K QED .
oldtrailer.com where trailers ranging from Decoliner to Holiday House
trailers reflect the modern approach to living on the road.
January 2020 33
