DIY Network

Restoration Resources and Airstream History From "Classic Rides" episode DCLR-201

Host Kevin Tetz shares some great Airstream restoration resources including the Airstream company website, The Wally Byam Caravan Club, Airstream Forums and Airstream Life magazine. Then he takes a trip down the Airstream history road, including vintage footage and photos, factory tours, 1970's television ads and current Airstream models.

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Airstream Restoration Resources:

• Find an owner's manual for your specific Airstream model.

• Old magazines and advertisements also give examples of how to re-decorate an Airstream to its original style -- or research and find new styles.

• Wally Byam Caravan Club, Inc. (WBCCI) was founded in honor of Wally Byam, the creator of Airstreams, in 1955. This club is a good place to find out repair tips, advice and other helpful hints about Airstreams from other Airstream lovers and owners.

Host Kevin Tetz was lucky to find a 1970 sales brochure for the project Airstream. Be sure to check all avenues for resources before starting your restoration project.

Here's a fun blast-from-the-Airstream-past photo!

Figure A

Note: The ghost number (figure A) on the project Airstream was actually a WBCCI that was given to the previous owner.

• The Internet is also helpful in answering any questions you might have about Airstreams. There are countless websites that cater to the Airstream enthusiast. Many of these websites includes forums and message boards chockfull of owners willing to help with any question you may have concerning your restoration project.

Note: Be sure to check the Resource listings, below, for some great Airstream information.

	Figure B
	Figure C
	Figure D
	Figure E

Airstream History

• In the '30s Wally Byam, mentioned above, brought the Airstream to life by incorporating aircraft construction methods to his trailer designs.

• On January 17, 1936, the Airstream Trailer Company introduced the Clipper Travel Trailer (figure B) and an American legend was born.

• Over the next decades Byam led a crusade to bring the Airstream to the world (figure C) -- and the world to Airstream owners. His adventurous caravans traveled from Africa and Egypt to Europe and the rest of the world.

• When the economy boomed after World War II, Americans hit the road en masse -- and anywhere that was any place to be, there was an Airstream travel trailer. In fact, caravans and rallies were a common occurrence.

• Airstreams have a unique aerodynamic design and flexible, lightweight aluminum (figure D) construction. In fact, it was proven that a bicycle could pull an Airstream trailer.

• They're still made the same way today as they were in the '50s with sheets of aluminum over a frame much like a classic airplane design. The shells are then attached (figure E) to the chassis.

• Then the interior units go in, along with the interior aluminum.

Did You Know? More than 60-percent of all Airstreams ever built are still rolling down highways today.

In the next segment the project Airstream will be inspected by a RV expert.

RESOURCES :

Airstream, Inc.
419 West Pike St.
PO Box 629
Jackson Center, OH 45334-0629
Phone: 937-596-6111
Fax: 937-596-7939

Historical Photographs and Film
Vintage Airstream
Website: www.vintageairstream.com
and
Vintage Airstream Club
Technical Advisor and Founder: Bud Cooper
Website: www.airstream.net

Wally Byam Caravan Club (WBCCI)
Website: www.wbcci.org

Airstream Life Magazine
PO Box 74
Ferrisburg, VT 05456
Phone: 802-877-2900

GUESTS :

Xavier Taylor
RV Expert
Phone: 865-388-3298 (cell)