Vintage Airstream Photo Archives

This is our most requested feature – photos of vintage Airstreams listed by year and length. Without any Airstream history books, or any official Airstream guides, this listing of models and large collection of photos was developed over a period of years, and is the only way many people get to see what many of the models look like, how they changed over the years, and find comparison images for that missing part or feature on their model. This listing is the most complete an accurate one available anywhere at this time.

Official Airstream records are nonexistent (thrown out) and production and models was inconsistent, especially between the multiple California and Ohio factories. I have had the fortunate assistance from individuals who have supplied some early production run information and industry records. If you have any additional material or information that would help, please contact us with any insight you might have. The sole purpose of this listing is for education. Prior to standardization in 1965, model names and serial number format was loose & casual. Not all trailers were made at all factories, some were made for only a year, and rarely did the model name appear on the trailer until the ’60’s. Model names were also recycled in later years. The Caravanner of the ’50s had little in common with the 70’s version. Sub-Model names such as the GlobeTrotter and Trade Wind of the late ’40’s Liner series became real model names later in the ’50’s. Airstream experimented with layouts & built custom trailers to further confuse the issue. Many model names were just marketing ploys, and never existed on a nameplate. The 1950’s 18 footers and 22 footers were notorious for this. It is best to think in terms of year and length. I have captured most of these nuances, but am always open to learning more.

The ability to complete this matrix comes from you. If you have photos of your trailer that you can send, please do so along with the year, serial number, length and any model information. Both interior and exterior shots are ideal. If you don’t have a digital camera, but have prints, please e-mail us for directions where to send them. We’ll scan them and return them back.

Trailer lengths can be confusing. Even though they are measured “bumper to ball”, they rarely came out even feet – they always landed some where in the middle at about 8″. Years were just as confusing as many were registered as the year they were sold instead of the year made – and Motor Vehicle Dept’s made many mistakes, too. Many times trailers are registered after sitting unused, and are mis-identified. Airstream usually started their model year in September of the prior year, just like automakers. Best bet is to use the serial number for accuracy . Send your serial number and I’ll decode it. There is no easy way to list decoding procedures, as it varied from year to year and plant to plant. My notes are now 30 pages long.

Year
 
 
 
 
1936
 
Silver Cloud 15' Clipper
 
 
 
1937
 
Silver Cloud 15' Clipper
 
 
 
1938
 
Silver Cloud 15'Clipper
 
 
 
WWII
 
 
 
 
 
 
1947
(June)
 
Liner 22'
 
 
 
1948
Wee Wind 16'Trailwind 19'Liner 22'
 
 
Whirlwind 28'
1949
Wee Wind 16'Trailwind 18'Liner 22'
 
Limited/ Cruiser 24'Whirlwind 28'
1950
 
Clipper 18'Liner 22'

Flying Cloud 21'
 
Cruiser 24'/25'Whirlwind 28'
1951
Cruisette 15'Clipper 18'Liner 22'

Flying Cloud 21'
 
Cruiser 25'Liner 32'
1952
Cruisette 15'Clipper 17'Flying Cloud 21'Byam Traveler (OH)

Byam Holiday (OH)
Cruiser 25'Liner 32'
1953
 
Clipper 17'

CA & OH 18'
Flying Cloud 21'Byam Traveler (OH)

Byam Holiday (OH)
Cruiser 25'Liner 32'
1954
  CA & OH 18'

Wanderer 18'
Safari 22'

Flying Cloud 22'
Byam Holiday (OH)Cruiser 25'/26' Liner 29'/30'
1955
Bubble 16'CA & OH 18'

Wanderer 18'
Safari 22'

Flying Cloud 22'

Panorama (O-3700)
Byam Holiday (OH)Cruise/Overlander 26'Liner 30' "Sovereign of the Road"
1956
Bubble 16' 

Caravel 16'
CA & OH 18'Safari 22'

Flying Cloud 22'

Caravanner 22'
  Cruiser/Overlander 26'

Custom 26'

Henry Ford's 26'
Liner 30' "Sovereign of the Road"
1957
Bubble 16'Ohio 18'

California 18'
'Flying Cloud 22'

Custom (OH) 22'

Caravanner 22'
  Overlander 26'

Custom (OH) 26'
Liner 30' "Sovereign of the Road"
1958
Pacer 18'

Bubble 16'OH Bubble 16'-Intl
Ohio 18'

California 18'
Falcon / Custom 22'

Flying Cloud 22'

Custom 22'

World Traveler 22'

Caravanner 22'
 Overlander 26'

Custom (OH) 26'
Liner 30' "Sovereign of the Road"
1959
Pacer 18'Ohio 18'

California 18'
Safari 22'

Falcon 22'

Flying Cloud 22'

Custom 22'

World Traveler 22'

Caravanner 22'
Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'

Custom 26'
Ambassador 28'

"Sovereign of the Road" 30'
1960
Pacer 16' CA & OH 18'Safari 22'

Falcon 22

'Flying Cloud 22'

World Traveler 22'

Caravanner 22'
Trade Wind 24'

Custom 22'
Overlander 26'

Custom 33'/35'
Ambassador 28'

"Sovereign of the Road" 30'
1961
Bambi 16'Caravel 18' (Ohio)

Globetrotter 19'
Safari 22'

Falcon 22'

Flying Cloud 22'
Trade Wind 24' Overlander 26'Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1962
Bambi 16'Globetrotter 19'Safari 22'

Flying Cloud 22'
Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1963
Bambi 16'Globetrotter 19'Safari 22'

Flying Cloud 22'
Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'

Custom 35'
Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1964
Bambi II 17'Globetrotter 19' Safari 22'Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1965
Caravel 17'Globetrotter 20'Safari 22'Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1966
Caravel 17'Globetrotter 20'Safari 22'Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1967
Caravel 17'Globetrotter 20'Safari 22'Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1968
Caravel 17'Globetrotter 20'Safari 22' Trade Wind 24'Overlander 26'Ambassador 28'

Sovereign 30'
1969
Caravel 18'Globetrotter 21'Safari 23' Trade Wind 25'Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Sovereign 31'
1970
Caravel 18'Globetrotter 21' Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'

Caravanner 25'
Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Sovereign 31'
1971
Caravel 18'Globetrotter 21'Safari 23' Trade Wind 25'

Caravanner 25'
Overlander 27'Sovereign 31"

Excella 500 31'

Ambassador 29'
1972
 
Globetrotter 21'Safari 23'Trade Wind 25' Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1973
 
Globetrotter 21'Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1974
 
Globetrotter 21'Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1975
 
Globetrotter 21'Safari 23'Trade Wind 25' Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1976
 
Globetrotter 21'Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'

Caravanner 25'
Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1977
 
Globetrotter 21'Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'

Caravanner 25'
Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1978
 
 
Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'

Caravanner 25'
Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1979
 
 
Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1980
 
 
Safari 23'Trade Wind 25'

Caravelle 20',22',25'
Overlander 27'Ambassador 29'

Excella 500 31'

Sovereign 31'
1981+Body Style ChangeCalifornia factory gone
 
 
 
Excella-II

Argosy

(by Airstream)
197220'22'24'26'
 
197320'22'24'26'28'
197420'22'24'26'28'
197520'22'24'26'28'
197620'22'24'26'28'
197720'22'24'26'28'

30'
Minuet 6M

Minuet 6.7M

Minuet 7.3M
197820'22'24'26'28'

30'
Minuet 6M

Minuet 6.7M

Minuet 7.3M
197920'22'24'26'28'

30'
Minuet 6M

Minuet 6.7M

Minuet 7.3M

Airstream Oddities


A fun collection of unusual conversions, modifications and uses...