Truly “Special Series” Airstream
As many of you know, 1969 was the start of the so-called “Beatrice” years and a complete body style change for the Airstream trailer. By changing the belt-line, adding 6” in width and giving the endcaps a fuller look, one would think the 1969/1970 model years would have nothing in common with the 1968 and earlier models. But in fact, they do on the inside of the trailer. In 1969 the cabinets were still just like the cabinets found in other 1960’s trailers (wood lower cabinets with locker style top storage). The 1970 model year was the start of the famous “Tambour” era, with the roof lockers using that material in a roll-up fashion, moving away from the locker style storage, though still using the 1960’s style wood lower cabinets. By 1971, Airstream had moved to tambour for top cabinets and access to some lower cabinets in the kitchen along with a faux wood grain material giving the Airstream a more updated modern look on the inside to match the newer updated look on the outside. Below you will find a 1966 (left) interior vs. the 1969 interior (right) showing the same full wood cabinets, standard lockers. Below those images you will find the wood cabinet/tambour 1970 interior and the last of the 60’s influence.
As in the past, in 1969/1970 Airstream offered the public the two standard trim levels of trailers, the “Deluxe Land Yacht Series” and the “International Land Yacht Series” pretty much following the same basic trim levels of trailers in the 1960’s. In the 1969/1970 model years, they also offered a third package in the smaller trailers of 23’ and less and that would be called “Special Land Yacht Series”. Please note, the “Special Land Yacht Series” designation manufactured in 1969, was only available in the Caravel and Globe-Trotter models, not the Safari 23’ trailer. By 1971, Airstream had dropped the “Special Land Yacht Series” designation models all together making those trailers even more desirable for many vintage Airstream enthusiast. What’s make the “Special Land Yacht Series” such a “Special Series” is due to the rear side-bed/bath layout. By taking away wasted space in the rear, it gives more livability room in the front of the trailer. Remember, there was a time (years ago) if you were tired, you went and laid down on the bed, not the couch like many do today. I can remember my grandmother saying, “The couch is for sitting, not sleeping” “If you’re that tired, go laydown on the bed”. The rear corner bed could be pulled out to form a double bed as well, while still providing bath access though very tight.
Now, let’s dive a little deeper into the model that was only produced a single year. The “1970 Special Land Yacht Series Safari” built for the 1970 model year only, offered in both “Double and Twin Models”. What makes the “23’ Safari Double” even more special IMHO, Airstream figured out a way to take a “Globe-Trotter 21” rear and combine it with an “Overlander 27” front end. Basically, the sleeping area with a very small trailer, and the living area of a much larger trailer for those that like a larger living area. The Safari-Twin model did the same, though utilized the Globe-Trotter rear, the Overlander mid-section and the Trade-Wind front providing a fixed dining area/twin beds in the front, but providing very little “living area” in the trailer. So, what’s all this mean, you might ask. It means, the “1970 Special Land Yacht Safari” is even more distinctive since it has both wood cabinets and tambour roof lockers, in a 23’ length with the unique layout discussed earlier for a single year only trailer. Let’s add one more feature, that is possibly most interesting, there is a small bath sink placed between the rear bed and bath, allowing owners to easily clean up before bedtime, but not having to enter the wet-bath area. Three “Special Land Yacht Series” lengths were offered in 1970 to include the 18’ foot Caravel, 21’ foot Globetrotter, 23’ foot Safari and comes equipped with an automatic water system (including Univolt marine water pump and 50 gallon polyethylene water tank) ; Univolt electrical system to provide power at all times to all interior lights and fans (in addition to the 110 volt wiring for convenience outlets) ; 90 ampere 12 volt battery; a battery charger with protective voltage regulator; backup lights; two 5 gallon gas bottles; a sealed unit space heater with circulating fan and heater ducts; combination electric/gas refrigerator; 6 gallon gas water heater; a modern fiberglass combination toilet-shower room; marine type toilet; a bathroom exhaust fan; and a polyethylene holding tank to provide toilet convenience away from a sewer hook-up. With all these simple features, the “Safari Special” still comes in at just under 3,500 lbs. This small, yet large trailer can be towed by many smaller SUV’s today. Looking carefully below, you will see how they took the full kitchen area forward of the Overlander, combined with the bed/bath area going back of the Globe-Trotter to create the “Safari Special”. By using this deviation point, Airstream made a large living area Airstream with all the compactness of a smaller trailer.
As a side note: like many others, when the Waddell’s went looking for our first Airstream trailer, we had a preconceived trailer in mind. A mid-1960’s Globetrotter/Safari, in great shape and at a fair price. We searched the internet (remember the web in 1999/2000) from Virginia to Texas and just couldn’t find the right trailer for various reasons.
After months looking, not far from our house, a 1970 Airstream 23’ came up for sale, price $5,000 title in hand, nice original trailer. Not knowing Airstreams, I called a buddy who had a 1974 Overlander asking if he wanted to ride along and look at this trailer which was about one-hour away. After really looking over the Airstream, which was in very good condition, but I personally still not feeling the love, my buddy Jan looks at the guy and says, “Give us a few minutes, I need to have a conversation with Paul in the truck”. Please know, Jan was like the older brother/father figure to me in life. Sitting in the truck, he says,“It’s a nice trailer, in your budget, close to home, what more do you want? How long have you been looking? How much more will you spend continuing to look at trailers? Cut the man a check and let’s take it home”. Taking the advice of a dear friend, the man was paid, the trailer hooked up, down the road we went, and the Airstream is still in the family today after 25+ years of ownership. At the time of purchase, we just had no idea how special this Airstream would become, along with the year, the model, the layout, and its unique blend of the 60’s and 70’. It was our first trailer and to this day, every time my wife and I step inside of it, we look at each other and say, “This is such a great trailer”. FYI, in the picture above you will see a baby swaddled up at the age of three months. The trailer is now owned by that baby, our daughter Virginia. It will be fun to watch her make memories of her own in the trailer she started out in over twenty-four years ago, and that is what makes it a truly “Special Series”.
Until Next Time,
Paul Waddell
Region-2 VAC Guy