1981 Excella-II

(New body style)

Ohio Only
No more California trailers

The Excella of 1981 is different than the prior years, as it is a style level that is available in many lengths, with 25′ being the most common.

I included a couple 1981 trailers to show how the DOT compliant SAE standard serial number (VIN) number on these later trailers is deciphered:

1981+ AIRSTREAM VEHICLE IDENTIFICATION NUMBER SYSTEM

The VIN is a 17-character field, which includes a “check digit” in the 9th position. (characters I, O, Q are not allowed)
Example: 1STGEAU36MJ000001
Listed below is an outline of the VIN:

“SSS MMMMM X IMMMNNNN”

FIRST SECTION (SSS)
Mfg., Make, Type.
The first section consists of three characters which uniquely identifies the vehicle manufacturer, make, and type of vehicle. SAE has assigned Airstream Inc. the following identifiers:
1AB Argosy Travel Trailer
1ST Airstream Travel Trailer
1SC Airstream Commercial Trailer
45Z Land Yacht Travel Trailer
4UJ Integrity 5th Wheel

SECOND SECTION (MMMMM)
Type, Series, Body Type, Length, Axle Configuration.
Consists of five characters, which uniquely identify the following attributes: type of trailer, series, body type, length, and axle configuration.

Type of Trailer (4th position)
A. Center Bath-Rear Kitchen
B. Corner Rear Bath, Modern Design 10/1/01+
C. Corner Rear Bath
D. Center Bath, Center Kitchen, Triple Slide
E. Not Used
F. Center Bath, Split, Front Kitchen
G. Center Bath, Roadside
H. Center Bath, Curbside
J. Center Bath, Split
K. Rear Bath
L. No Bath
M. Center Bath, Roadside, No Dinette
N. Side Aisle Bath
P. Center Bath, Center Kitchen, Bay Window
R. Not Used
S. Commercial
T. through Z. Not Used

Series (5th Position)
A. Argosy
B. Classic 4/4/01+
C. Motorhome, Front Gasoline Engine, Workhorse Chassis
D. Sovereign
E. Excella
F. International 11/7/01+ (Previously Funeral Coach)
G. Motorhome, Front Gasoline Engine, Chevy
H. Limited, 60th Anniversary Travel Trailer
J. Motorhome, Front Diesel Engine
K. 70th Anniversary Model 8/29/00
L. Limited
M. Bambi
N. Bus Type Motorhome, Front Gasoline Engine, Ford
P. Safari
R. Audiometric Unit
S. Commercial Unit
T. Bus Type Motorhome, Rear Engine Diesel, Freightliner
U. Transporter (Bus)
V. C-Body Mini-Motorhome *2/1/02 (Previously Legend)
W. Bus Type Motorhome, Front Gasoline Engine, Chevy
X. Motorhome, Rear Engine Diesel
Y. Land Yacht
Z. Integrity 5th Wheel

Body Type (6th Position)
The body type is listed below in alpha characters.
A. Semi-monocoque, 96” narrow body, continuous curved, shiny aluminum Shell, contoured window glass, frames and doors.
B. Semi-monocoque, 102” wide body, continuous curved, shiny aluminum shell, contoured window glass, frames and doors, roadside slide-out w/lounge.
C. Semi-monocoque, 102’ wide body, continuous curved, shiny aluminum shell, contoured window glass, frames and doors, galley/bedroom slideout.
D. Not Used
E. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, single door, fiberglass exterior, bus type front end, no slide-out.
F. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, single door, fiberglass exterior, 5th wheel body.
G. Framed shell, 96” wide body, swept surface, single door, fiberglass exterior, Land Yacht LE body style.
H. Semi-monocoque, 96” wide body, continuous curved, painted aluminum shell, contoured window glass, frames and doors; double door.
J. Framed shell, 96” wide body, swept surface, single door, painted exterior.
K. Framed shell, 96” wide body, swept surface, single door, painted exterior, basement.
L. Framed shell, 96” wide body, swept surface, painted exterior, 5th wheel body.
M. Framed shell, 96” wide body, swept surface, fiberglass exterior.
N. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, single door, fiberglass
exterior, bus type front end, single curbside slide-out.
P.-T. Not Used.
U. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, single door, fiberglass exterior, bus type front end, roadside slide-out.
V. B-Van, high roof, (Ford).
W. B-Van, high roof, (Dodge).
X. B-Van, high roof, (Chevy).
Y. Semi-monocoque, 102” wide body, continuous curved, shiny aluminum shell, contoured window glass, frames, and doors.
Z. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, fiberglass exterior, standard front end, no slide-out.
1. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, fiberglass exterior, standard front end, with slide-out.
2. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, single door, fiberglass exterior, bus type front end, galley/bedroom slide-out, basement model.
3. Framed shell, 102” wide body, swept surface, single door, fiberglass exterior, bus type front end, galley slide-out, basement model.
4. Semi-monocoque, 102” wide body, continuous curved, shiny aluminum shell, contoured window glass, frames and doors, roadside slide-out w/dinette.

Length (7th position)
The length is listed below in alpha characters.
A. 19’ to less than 20’
B. 17’ to less than 18’ *5/1/00
C. 16’ to less than 17’ *5/1/00
D. 20’ to less than 21’
E. 21’ to less than 22’
F. 22’ to less than 23’
G. 23’ to less than 24’
H. 24’ to less than 25’
J. 25’ to less than 26’
K. 26’ to less than 27’
L. 27’ to less than 28’
M. 28’ to less than 29’
N. 29’ to less than 30’
P. 30’ to less than 31’
R. 31’ to less than 32’
S. 32’ to less than 33’
T. 33’ to less than 34’
U. 34’ to less than 35’
V. 35’ to less than 36’
W. 36’ to less than 37’
X. 37’ to less than 38’
Y. 38’ to less than 39’
Z. 39’ to less than 40’

Axle Configuration (8th position)
Axle configuration code is listed below with numeric characters.
1. Single axle
2. Double axle
3. Triple axle
4. No axle

Check Digit (X) (9th position) see below.

THIRD SECTION (IMMMNNNN)
Model Year, Plant of Manufacture, Sequential Number.

Model Year (10th position)
A. 1980 L. 1990 X. 1999
B. 1981 M. 1991 Y. 2000
C. 1982 N. 1992 Z. Not Used
D. 1983 P. 1993 1. 2001
E. 1984 R. 1994 2. 2002
F. 1985 S. 1995 3. 2003
G. 1986 T. 1996 4. 2004
H. 1987 U. Not Used 5. 2005
J. 1988 V. 1997 6. 2006
K. 1989 W. 1998 7. 2007

Site of Manufacture (11th position)
The site of manufacture code in alpha characters is listed below:
J. Jackson Center, Ohio

Sequential Production Number (12th through 17th position)
This is the sequential production number assigned to each unit.

—————–

Check Digit
A check digit must be provided in each VIN. The check digit occupies the 9th position of the VIN.
To determine the check digit, first assign to each number in the VIN it’s mathematical value and assign to each letter the value specified for it in the table below.
A. 1 J 1 T. 3
B. 2 K. 2 U. 4
C. 3 L. 3 V. 5
D. 4 M. 4 W. 6
E. 5 N. 5 X. 7
F. 6 P. 7 Y. 8
G. 7 R. 9 Z. 9
H. 8 S. 2
Next, multiply the assigned value for each character in the VIN by the weight factor specified for it in the table below. Multiply the check digit by 0.
1st X 8 8th X 10 15th X 4
2nd X 7 Check Digit X 0 16th X 3
3rd X 6 10th X 9 17th X 2
4th X 5 11th X 8
5th X 4 12th X 7
6th X 3 13th X 6
7th X 2 14th X 5
Add the resulting products and divide the total by 11. The remainder determines the check digit. See chart below:
If the Decimal Remainder is: .09 .18 .27 .36 .45 .54 .63 .72 .81 .90 .00
The Check Digit is: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 X 0
Example:
VIN: 1 S T G E A U 3 ? M J 0 0 0 0 0 1
Assigned 1 2 3 7 5 1 4 3 _ 4 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 Values:
Multiply 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 10 0 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2
By Weight Factor:
Add Products: 8+14+18+35+20+3+8+30 +0+36+8 +0 +0 +0 +0 +0 +2
Divide 182 divided by 11 = 16.54. Disregard the whole number,
By 11: refer only to the remainder .54.
The remainder is .54, choose the check digit as 6. The example VIN will read as
follows: 1STGEAU36MJ000001.