In 1929, Wally Byam purchased a Model T Ford chassis, built a platform on it, towed it with his car to a campsite, and painstakingly erected a tent on it. The effort was tiresome and unpleasant, especially when it rained. Spurred on by his first wife Marion, Wally built a tear-drop-shaped permanent shelter on the platform that enclosed a small ice chest and kerosene stove.
He then published an article that ran under the headline, "How to Build a Trailer for One Hundred Dollars." Readers wrote Wally for more detailed instruction plans, which he sold at a cost of one dollar each. The response was extraordinary, earning him more than $15,000. After building several trailers for friends in his backyard, "the neighbors started complaining that I was making too much noise, Wally observed, "so I went out and rented a building."
The Airstream trailer Company went into full production in 1932, when fewer than 48 trailer manufacturers were registered for business. Five years later, nearly 400 companies squared off against each other. Today, of those 400, only Airstream remains.
Wally in person was larger than life. While his suits were tailored in tasteful blues and tweeds, he liked to wear Wellington boots and plaid shirts with them.
Only improvements," was his familiar refrain.
VINTAGE AIRSTREAM AT THE MUSEUM
OF MODERN ART- NEW YORK
Airstream
Model : Airstream “Tradewind”
Made in Santa Fe, California, 1963
Purchased in 2013 ( 50th Anniversary) in Pinetop Arizona from a retiring Airstream repairman. For hire anywhere in New Zealand.
1963 was the last of the ‘hand built’ Airstreams with aircraft grade aluminum exterior and interior panels . In 1964 they started making them in a factory production assembly style operation. So this one has the most classic look.
Pinetop is a resort/ ski town town that sits at 7500 feet it also services the Apace reservation which is on the Eastern border and the Navaho on it's western side.
The Airstream is nick named 'Misty' and we towed her from Pinetop down into the Navaho reservation and across the Mohave desert.The temperature changed from summer snow, falling in Pinetop to 40C + . The old tyres on it couldn't hack the temperature change and one gave up about 20 miles outside of 'Needles' in California state ( incidentally Needles is on route 66 ).
After a bit of a mission and no snake or scorpion encounters we rolled it all the way to Ventura on the California coast. A few days of sorting it out, buying accessories and a few surfs in Ventura. We took it to the shippers based in Compton, South Central, Los Angeles. From there it arrived in Auckland and we finished the restoration from the ground up in 2014.
She has the original fixtures and fittings and a new American oak floor and the original pull out sofa bed. The chassis , tyres and electrics are reconditioned or new. She still has the character of a fifty year old that justs adds to her beauty.
It was a surprise in the US how many Americans admired 'Misty' we thought they would be far more common place, but these old ones are becoming hard to find.They're called 'whale tails'.
There are a few in New Zealand ( mainly late 70’s or 80’s models), but the one's with the so called 'whale tail' are the real deal and from the hey day. They are the rarest and best looking Airstream , but I would say that!
My 1963 is a vintage Airstream and is an American icon of design quality engineering, part of the American dream.
They are made with aircraft grade, light weight, Aluminum panels and riveted together just like a plane fuselage. The shape is all about aero-dynamics. The less drag the easier it is to tow.
They say that vintage Airstream owners get 'Aluminum Fever' , and I have a dose of that.
She is an authentic style icon where design and purpose meets striking form.