[A/S] Re: International as a trim level

["overlander_64" <overlander64@xxxxxxxxx>]

Greetings Betty!

Airstream has always seemed to have some inconsistency in its 
application of model names.  The first use of International dates 
back to the 1950s and was an upgraded trim level that also included 
a water purification device as well as other upgrades, and this 
continued through the 1979 model year - - the basic coaches were 
typically referred to as Land Yachts while the premium coaches were 
identified as International Land Yachts  for example prior to 1980 
you could have:
 - - Sovereign Land Yacht (the basic coach)
 - - or
 - - Sovereign International Land Yacht (the premium coach)

Starting in 1980, International became a series designation that was 
applied to coaches of varying lengths - - with the second series 
being the Excella II.  It isn't clear to me which was considered the 
premium series - - but if the empty weights are any indicator the 
Excella II was heavier by about 100 pounds at each length so it may 
have been the more deluxe (assumption being added options = more 
weight).

According to the Vintage Airstream Club website 
(http://www.airstream.net/FAQ/FAQ_1.html), Beatrice owned Airstream 
from July, 1969 through July, 1979 - - with Thor Industries 
acquiring Airstream from Beatrice.  So, it would seem that Beatrice 
Foods was owner of Airstream during the time that the model names 
were dropped (at least as they were known in the 1950s through 
1970s).  Argosy coaches never had any model names with the sole 
exception of the Minuet - - and then there were three lengths 
available in the Minuet series (6.0 Metre/6.7 Metre/7.3 Metre).

You can find the story of when model names (related to length) were 
used by scanning the Airstream Weights and Measures page at:

http://www.airstream.com/airstream/product_line/customer_service/docs/weights-1.pdf 

Kevin D. Allen
WBCCI/VAC/Free Wheelers/Computer Club #6359
1964 Overlander International/1999 GMC K2500 Suburban (7400 
VORTEC/4.10 Differentials)
1978 Argosy Minuet 6.0 Metre/1975 Cadillac Eldorado Convertible (8.2 
Liter V8/2.70 Final Drive)