1977 travel trailer

History of the Airstream Argosy

By: Author The Drivin' & Vibin' Team

Posted on Published: August 20, 2018  - Last updated: April 30, 2023

Today we’re excited to explore the history of the Airstream Argosy!

We’ve been getting to know our Airstream Argosy for about 7 months now. We bought it sight unseen in January, and knew it was a big project. It was completely gutted and had no floors, but we saw the potential to build our very own dream rig.

We love all things vintage and currently live and travel in our vintage Fiber Stream travel trailer . When we started considering a larger space, this unique travel trailer came right to us! We had loved the style and look of the Argosy, ever since we found out about them, so we jumped at the opportunity to own and renovate one!

So what is an Airstream Argosy exactly? We’re going to tell you all about the airstreams long lost cousin.

What Inspired the Airstream Argosy?

In the 1970’s Airstream wanted to create a mid-price option for buyers, with the same great design and features of the classic airstream. They opened a plant in Versailles, OH and the first Argosy’s were released in April 1971. Argosy’s were almost identical to airstreams, but with some twists. They were painted, the endcaps were made of steel (because it was more cost effective) and it was the first experiment with the front wrap around windows. They had many layout options to choose from, ours was originally had a rear bath and two twin beds. In our new layout, it will more closely resemble the Argosy 28 double bed model with the center bath.

The Airstream Argosy also experimented with “Minuet” models, which were much lighter an designed to be towed by cars. The Minuets were a foot narrower and the first years even had aluminum floors and partitions. They were made from 1977-1979 and had 3 different sizes –  the 6.0 Metre (20′), 6.7 Metre (22′), and 7.4 Metre (24′) Minuet. We have the 7.4 Minuet and its unique size makes it easy to tow, but does present some challenges in trying to re-arrange the original layout because of the width.

In 1973 they released a class a Motorhome branded with Argosy which eventually led to the classic shiny airstream motorhome.

The Airstream Argosy plant closed in 79′ due to the economy during the fuel crisis. It reopened in 1986 with some wild new designs with fiberglass end caps and a square design. These models were nicknamed the “squarestream.”

At first, the Argosy’s were not welcomed in  Wally Byam Caravan Club  or allowed to participate in their activities, due to their “almost airstream” status. Today, Argosy trailers are recognized as rare and unique part of the airstream history. They are welcome at Airstream events and rallies across the country.

Why are They Painted?

Some say that the Argosy was painted because they used imperfect, lower grade aluminum or discards from the Airstream factory and the paint may have hidden scratches, dents or discoloration. Other folks would disagree because many have been stripped and polished and showed no imperfections. The end caps are steel though, so they won’t polish up and would have to be painted anyways. I personally think this was probably one of the biggest reasons to paint the whole trailer.

We will be stripping the paint off our Argosy soon, to prepare for a new paint job. We may leave some shiny aluminum exposed, depending on the quality of the aluminum. We’ve removed the vinyl stripe and so far so good, but we’ll let you know what else we find under there!

Our Airstream Argosy  Renovation Journey

Its been a difficult journey tackling a project this big and essentially rebuilding a trailer from the floor up, with no experience whatsoever. We’ve learned a lot of skills and start each day willing to work hard and do our best. I’m proud of what we’ve accomplished and theres still a long way to go, but we’re getting there.

If you want to see what we’ve done so far, check out our post –  Vintage Airstream Renovation: Subfloor, Frame & Axels  This process took much longer than expected, but we have a solid foundation and we’re ready to start wiring, insulation and plumbing soon!

If you want to read more about the history of the Airstream Argosy, these are the articles I referenced for info – by  Airstream and Tin Can Tourists

[…] Source link […]

We have a Argosy 28 motorhome. Its a blast to drive around. It is a big hit at car shows, with it’s orange shag carpet and orange velour seats. The orange rounded countertop pulls it all together. Now it is a big hit at Countryside Motel and RV sites in Door County Wi. .

very cool did not know such a rv existed good to know, seems they are being pulled by cars is it because they are a lot lighter than the regular airstreams? I think they look like a fiberglass airstream, best of both worlds would be cool.

Yes, they are much lighter than typical Airstreams. They did experiment with Fiberglass end caps later on down the line.

[…] If you want to learn about the History of the Airstream Argosy and why its painted, check out this article. […]

You forgot to mention Argosies were also made in Cerritos, CA. As the ‘outside paint shop’, we painted probably hundreds of these neat trailers. Indeed, we thought that Airstream decided to build the Argosy to use up some water marked aluminum panels because when they got to us, there were many skins that had minor water corrosion from being stacked. That couldn’t ever be buffed out perfectly, so voila, the Argosy! Prior to this,1971 – 1974, I was a very early employee at Revcon, a motorhome company that was a direct descendant of Airstream. John Hall, Wally Byam’s stepson, designed Revcons. Heck we stole many of our workers from the Cerritos plant because they had experience in riveting and such. The difference between Argosy/Airstream/Revcon is that the riveted skins pretty much never go away as do all of today’s RVs Great coaches all.

Tin Can Tourists

The Original Vintage Trailer and Camper Club

Years Built – 1972 to Present

Produced in Backus, Minnesota by Eveland’s Inc

The Scamp Story

“Without continual growth and progress, such words as improvement, achievement, and success have no meaning.” The Scamp 13′ trailer was the first and only trailer produced in the early years. In 1975, five hundred trailers were built, followed by six hundred in 1976, then jumping to well over seven hundred in 1977.

In July of 1971 Duane Eveland was involved in remodeling damaged mobile homes. A factory representative from Boler American stopped by and watched. Eventually, the Boler salesman asked if he would like to manufacture trailers for Boler. The Boler trailer was designed in Canada and Boler American was a company attempting to develop the US market. Duane was interested and together with his brother Gerald Eveland and sister Gladys Coffland negotiated a contract with Boler in which Eveland’s Inc. would manufacture trailers and Boler would market them. Boler had their own problems and went out of business late in 1972. This left Eveland’s Inc. with molds but no marketing company. Duane, Gerald, and Gladys discussed things, came up with the name Scamp, and began building and marketing their own trailer.

The first years were hard. The old Ford garage in town was being rented for production space (for the unbelievable sum of $25 per month). The building wasn’t too good. After heavy rain, pieces of the ceiling would be lying on the floor. But by the end of 1972 about 130 trailers had been produced. More space was needed so the vacant grocery and café at the other end of the street became additional manufacturing space.

A government inspector came along, looked at the Ford garage building, especially the roof and condemned the structure, resulting in Eveland’s being forced to build the first building out on the present site of Eveland’s Inc. This was the summer of 1975. The following year another building was built parallel to the first one with an office attached to the front. At that time the whole Scamp factory moved out to the present site along highway 371. After about eight more additions the building was angling in various directions.

Fire and Rebuilding

On Friday, January 13th, 2006 the main Eveland’s Inc. (Scamp) factory caught on fire. It was an electrical fire of some kind which started at about 5:00 pm. The main manufacturing plant along with all the fiberglass production molds, tools, equipment, inventory, and the main office with most records was totally destroyed. This resulted in Scamp being without a main plant until December of 2006.

Scamp’s rebuilding process involved building a new 37,000 square foot manufacturing and office facility on the same spot as the previous building. The rebuilding process allowed and forced Eveland’s Inc. to upgrade molds, and equipment, making our new building and tools superior to the old structure.

During the first years only the Scamp 13 foot trailer was produced. As mentioned above about 130 were built the first year. The following year was much the same, but by 1975, five hundred trailers were built, six hundred in 1976, and seven hundred seventy in 1977. These trailers were all basically the same, but it was decided that diversity was needed so the 16 foot Scamp was developed in 1978. Three years later the 19 foot fifth wheel was added. During the following years, floor plans and options became the focus of change. Presently the 13 foot, 16 foot, and 19 foot trailers are the sizes manufactured with a variety of floor plans and optional equipment.

Initially Duane Eveland, Gerald Eveland, and Gladys Coffland comprised the board of directors of Eveland’s Inc. Duane bought Gerald and Gladys shares in 1983 and ran the company himself until May of 1989, at which time he retired. At that point, Kent Eveland, Duane’s son became the general manager and eventually president of Eveland’s Inc.

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1977 GMC MotorHome

This 1977 GMC MotorHome is a 26-foot model that is said to have undergone a cosmetic refurbishment prior to its acquisition by the seller in 2020. Finished in off-white with orange and burgundy stripes, it is powered by a 455ci Oldsmobile V8 that sends power to the front wheels via a three-speed Turbo-Hydramatic automatic transmission. The interior features a dining area, couch, bed, and a bathroom with a toilet, showerhead, and sink. The kitchen area is equipped with a microwave, sink, an oven, and multiple wood storage cabinets. Additional features include central heating and air conditioning controlled by a dial-type thermostat, a side-entry door, fold-out awning, rear receiver hitch, Kenwood AM/FM cassette stereo, roof-mounted storage box, and a generator. This MotorHome is being offered at no reserve in Denver, Colorado with a clean Minnesota title in the seller’s name.

Produced from 1973 until 1978, the MotorHome was designed and built in-house by GM, with the interiors completed by the Gemini Corporation of Mt. Clemens, Michigan. This example is reported to have undergone a cosmetic refurbishment under previous ownership and is finished in off-white with burgundy and orange side stripes. Features include chrome bumpers and trim, a fold-out side awning, a ladder, rear-mounted receiver hitch, and a rooftop luggage rack, air conditioner, and a storage box, which the seller reports shows signs of cracking.

The polished eight-lug steel wheels are wrapped in Firestone tires with a full-size spare affixed to the rear. The RV features adjustable air suspension for the back four wheels, and stopping power is provided by front discs and rear drums.

The cabin features orange fabric-upholstered captain’s chairs along with matching shag carpeting and a brown vinyl wraparound dashboard. Amenities include a central storage tray with dual cupholders, a Kenwood AM/FM cassette stereo, air conditioning, sliding side windows, and rocker switches for vehicle functions.

The three-spoke steering wheel sits ahead of a faux woodgrain-accented instrument panel housing an 85-mph speedometer, a combination gauge for fuel level, coolant temperature, and oil pressure, and a VDO oil temperature gauge. An air pressure gauge along with controls for the air suspension are found to the left of the driver, and an aftermarket tachometer is mounted atop the dash. The five-digit odometer shows just under 84k miles, approximately 5k of which have been added by the seller.

The living space features a fold-away dining table with two chairs across from a couch that can be converted into a bunk bed, as seen in the gallery below. The kitchenette includes a countertop with a built-in sink, an oven, a microwave, and multiple storage cabinets. The seller reports that replacement flooring was installed during the aforementioned cosmetic refurbishment, and the 6,000-watt generator has been repaired.

A bathroom with a toilet, sink, storage area, and handheld shower sprayer is adjacent to the rear sleeping area which contains red curtain-lined windows along with overhead storage compartments. Additional features include a reading lamp above the bed, along with a dial-operated thermostat controlling a central heating and air conditioning system.

The 455ci V8 was shared with the Oldsmobile Toronado and sends power to the front wheels through a Turbo-Hydramatic three-speed automatic transmission. An oil change was performed in September 2020, and the seller reports that the house and chassis batteries have been wired together. The transmission is said to hesitate when shifting into reverse if the engine is cold.

Areas of corrosion on the chassis are noted by the seller, and additional underside images are provided in the gallery below.

An engine start video is provided above, and a video of the generator is viewable below.

Video Gallery

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BaT Essentials

• Chassis: TZE167V100066
• 84k Miles Shown, TMU
• 455ci Oldsmobile V8
• Three-Speed Automatic Transmission
• Front-Wheel Drive
• Off-White w/Burgundy & Orange Stripes
• Orange Fabric-Upholstered Captain's Chairs
• Rooftop Storage Box & Air Conditioner
• Receiver Hitch
• Fold-Out Awning
• Kenwood AM/FM Cassette Stereo
• Front Air Conditioning w/Central Heating & Air
• Dining Area w/Folding Table
• Convertible Bunk Bed/Couch
• Kitchen w/Oven, Microwave, & Sink
• Bathroom w/Toilet, Sink, & Shower Head

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• 1977 Motorhome

1977 Motorhome RVs for sale

Motorhome 1977

Dockweiler, California

Posted Over 1 Month

1977 Dodge Lindy runs REGISTERED sleep 6-8 people stop by anytime lets make a deal 323-208-8638

Blackhawk, South Dakota

It is 1977 RV has 48,000 miles on it. Every thing works but regfrag. dont work.

1977 dodge motorhome

New Cumberland, West Virginia

360 2bl ,411 gear,  with genator

1977 GMC 26' Motorhome

Fenton, Michigan

This 1977 GMC 26’ Motorhome is an American Classic. Stars and Stripes Assault edition. Made famous by Stripes, the 1981 Bill Murray comedy. Own a piece of GMC history. These GMC Motorhomes were built by General Motors and they’re the ultimate recreational vehicle. A lower center of gravity. Front wheel drive and panoramic views from the extra-large windows. For more pictures visit us at http://www.psi42.com/1977-gmc-26rsquo-motorhome-stars-and-stripes-assault-edition.html Nothing can stop you in this Motorhome. It needs a little work to bring it up to full operating condition, but most major components are in great shape. It’s well equipped and about 95% original with the following upgrades and repairs: Heavy Duty Trailering package. Newer tires and air bags. Wipers and windshield washer pump. New microwave. New wheel bearings. Fresh oil, change. New fuel lines and power steering lines. New headlamps. All work was performed by the professionals at Cinnabar Engineering in Sandusky Mi. Strong running 403 cu V8 Oldsmobile Toronado motor with 127,000 miles and a ton of life left. Asking $11,250. VIN# TZE167V102283. Call or text us at 810-853-7222

Motorhome 1977 Dodge

1977 Dodge motorhome runs and drives good 2016 tags & smog everything works inside come see anytime 3031 S. Vermont ave Los Angeles, Ca 90007  text me 323-418-2280

1977 GMC Motorhome

Savannah, Georgia

Check out this Motorhome - it is worth buying! Complete financing shipping facilities and warranty is available.

London, Kentucky

1977 Gmc Motorhome , 1977 GMC Coca Cola Coach Motorhome. Excellent condition. Owned for over 21 years. Numerous updates. Over 17,000 spent in 2001 at Cinnabar Engineering. Can provide receipts/invoices. This is an excellent motorhome. Great for a collector and/or hitting the open road. Asking $25,000. Serious calls only between 8 a.m.-8p.m 606-864-8502 $25,000.00 6068648502

Motorhome Dodge 1977

Los Angeles, California

1977 dodge motorhome Field/Stream RUNS great sleep 6-8 people Registered - Smog  No leaks stop by anytime to see it  bring some CASH lets make a deal 3100 S. Vermont ave la, ca 90007 or text 323-208-8638

1977 Dodge estab motorhome

1977 dodge motorhome runs great lights water and power work No stove sleep 6-8 lot of sleeping space call or text 323-208-8638 NO EMAILS THANX

1977 GMC motorhome Kingsley 26'

Plymouth, Michigan

Model Kingsley

Nearly original, unrestored, but expertly maintained by Cinnabar engineering in michigan. Many upgraded parts including tires, alternator, exhaust, airbags, battery isolator, power converter, belts, hoses, tune up , carb rebuild , furnace, water heater , refrigerator , fresh water tank, headliner, blinds, hitch (for bike rack), etc. starts and runs great. Previous owner states that the engine and trans were rebuilt at the mid 90,000 mile mark. Lots of receipts and manuals. It does not have leveling jacks, but has leveling airbags

1977 GMC 26' Royale Motorhome

Denver, Colorado

This is the most honest and original GMC Motor Home that you will find on the market!! drives very well, all parts still in great shape, few minor paint scrapes along the wheels, interior in perfect condition!Rust free undercarriage Twin beds & bunk Rear Bath model 3 burner stovetopAll original interior One roof air conditioners Zip Dee awning Polished Alcoa aluminum wheels Original yellow Imron paint Macerator

1977 Dodge Titan Class A Motorhome

Novi, Michigan

1977 Dodge Titan Class A Motorhome in Excellent Condition This Beautiful Motorhome is in great running condition perfect for a family vacation or if you just want to have a bit of camping adventure. 47,000 Miles No smoking No pets 3 beds Bath room with a shower Kitchen with a fridge and stove It also has Dinette Table and chairs perfect for family time meals Full Financing and Nationwide Shipping Available to Qualified Buyers MAKE: Airstream Inc EXTERIOR COLOR: White

1977 GMC motorhome with generator, aluminium wheels and large cloth awning

El Paso, Texas

Model Eleganza

Good looking 26 foot GMC mtorhome, You know the hype so I'll get to the facts: It has new starter and master cylinder. Needs engine rebuild or another Toranado 455 engine. all the parts are there. Now jJust the body, a/c's, generator,and windows are worth $4000! But I don't want to part it out and I can't afford the rebuild. Maybe you can. Tranny is good. 26 feet long weighs about 11,500. Call for more info

1977 Ford Chateau motorhome .. 22 feet long .. studio on wheels

Saratoga Springs, New York

1977 Ford Chateau call or text 518-409-1671 for any info or to see motorhome .. it functions as needed and is a studio on wheels with bathroom kitchen and sleeping quarters for 6 .. negotiable .. thank you for looking and have a nice day

1977 motorhome .. 22 feet long .. studio on wheels

call or text 518-409-1671 for any info or to see motorhome .. it functions as needed and is a studio on wheels with bathroom kitchen and sleeping quarters for 6 .. feel free to text for pictures and ill reply with pictures back to your phone .. negotiable .. thank you for looking and have a nice day

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