“Do they still make those things?”
Every Airstream owner, sooner or later, hears this question. This indicates the degree to which the Airstream travel trailer has achieved iconic status. But if I were running the company, I’d find the question deeply troubling. I mean, if your potential customers don’t even realize you are still manufacturing your product, you’ve got a serious problem. It’s particularly ironic when you consider the history of the brand.
Can you imagine what Airstream’s founder Wally Byam would say? 
The flamboyant Byam had a knack for landing Airstream in newspaper headlines. His marketing stunts were such sheer genius, we’re still admiring them 50 years later.
The guy took a group of Airstreams across Africa — AFRICA — and he did it FIFTY YEARS AGO. Can you imagine the cost and logistics and danger? But he did it because he knew it would pay off. It paid off, and for decades.
Recently, some enthusiasts attempted to organize a 2009 caravan to mark the 50th Anniversary of Wally’s boldest adventure. Their plan was to follow in Byam’s footsteps, and take a caravan from Capetown, South Africa to Cairo, Egypt. After a couple of years of planning… they gave up. The logistics of planning an African caravan proved overwhelming in 2009; so how did Wally do it in 1959?
If Wally was alive today, he’d likely be planning a LUNAR group caravan in collaboration with Richard Branson’s Virgin Galactic outer space ventures. Okay, the notion of taking Airstreams to outer space may seem a little extreme, but the point stands: Byam’s chief brilliance was in the marketing department. He grabbed the bull by the horns. He invested money, energy, and creativity in the marketing effort. He was not a brand manager; he was a brand evangelist.
Wally Byam’s passion firmly planted Airstream into American consciousness. In many respects, the company is still feeding off the momentum that he created, so many decades ago.
So, this video? This one’s for Wally.
Ok Sean YOU SOB…..I want a Airstream now! What a great video! Wally would be overwhelmed. If that does not make people want to run out out and buy an Airstream I don’t know what will. Great job, 10 stars!
Matt
Thanks Matt! Yeah, this one is for the Airstream lovers. We had a great time at the factory — you can full hookup camp there for $10 a night. We got our leaks fixed, met some cool people, and learned a lot too.
Wow! That was a great video, Sean. You make me want an Airstream with your infectious admiration of the brand. Keep up the great work!
Thanks Tom! Glad you liked it. Yeah, this one took me a while to pull together, but I am happy with the result.
Interestingly enough, next month is the 50-year anniversary of Wally Byam’s “Capetown to Cairo” caravan across Africa. A group was trying to put together a commemorative African trip this year to celebrate (Kristy and I actually thought about participating) but it got canceled due to the current assorted dangers in Africa.
Looking back, especially considering the road conditions and lack of RV infrastructure in Africa, not to mention the assorted dangers, you gotta wonder… How in the heck did he pull that one off? And in 1959? 😀
hey Sean………..any thoughts on making the Airstream Shine. Mirror finish…could look good, Seemore might just like it!
Matt
Matt, I’m sure someone out there is more knowledgeable than me on this point, but I think the older Airstreams (prior to 1965) were made without clearcoat, while the newer Airstreams (after 1965) have clearcoat.
The clearcoat is a little different from automotive paint clearcoat, but it’s the same idea. It prevents the aluminum from oxidizing and discoloration. Every once in a while it’s probably a good idea to have the trailer recoated.
The upshot is that I think the newer Airstreams are usually not polished to a shine like the pre-1965 vintage units.
The units without clearcoat need an occasional polishing. I do like the shine, though! Maybe someday we’ll get a vintage Bambi and polish her up.They always seem to polish up nice.
Hey congrats on the award!!!!!!! AWESOME AWESOME AWESOME!!!!!! Great job!
Thanks Matt! Actually it is really cool that someone at Tripbase took the time to view our site and award us a Travel Blog Award.
Lately, I am BLOWN AWAY by the amount of stuff available on the Web. I mean, the amount of content in the blogosphere is overwhelming, and then you’ve got all of the corporate stuff. So it means a lot when people take the time to wade through all of that material to visit our humble website. THANK YOU for your visits and support over the years!!!
Hi Sean.
I’m never quite sure how to do this without seeming to be annoyingly forward, but I just happened to be at the airport here in the Netherlands on Tuesday and was able to take a pic of the airstream that’s parked outside the front entrance. Don’t know much about what the deal is, but I just thought it was kinda cool. You’ve got me noticing these kinds of things now, dang it.
I’m not too clued in as to just posting the photo, so I’ll copy and paste the site. Scroll down the page a tad.
http://thecaretakerchronicles.blogspot.com
Best to you and Kristy…
Bob.
need to watch my spelling….I meant Kristy….
Hi Bob, that’s a great photo!
As you say on your blog, you never know where Airstreams will show up. A fellow recently posted a photo of one residing on a rooftop in San Francisco (no one seems to know exactly how it got there). I love that sort of stuff.
I have been to that Amsterdam train station before. About 10 years ago I hopped a train from Amsterdam to London (immediately after arriving in the Netherlands via plane from Atlanta). That was a long day.
BTW, I fixed the spelling (hope you don’t mind) and with regard to being “annoyingly forward,” it’s impossible! We’re on the Internet! 😀
Seriously, I am an introvert in the real world, but no one is really “shy” online. An introverted blog would be a pretty quick read, lol
Thanks for posting. Nice to see you are still out there!
Sean,
How nice it was to see the line in production, and the mentioning of the historic African Caravan. Having planned the 50th Commemoration of this historic caravan, I can tell you how much or a logistics nightmare it has been for me, and it is only a three day rally with a tiny 68 mile round trip caravan. Thanks for mentioning the African trip, and I still hope you may have time to join us next month to celebrate it.
Steve
Thanks Steve, and I salute YOU for planning the commemorative rally of the African trip! Your solution to creating a rally was quite brilliant, and I’m glad the 50th Anniversary of Wally’s adventure will not go without recognition.
For those who don’t know, Steve has planned a rally from Cape (Girardeau), Missouri to Cairo, Illinois. The rally will take place 50 years after Wally Byam’s “Capetown to Cairo” Africa trip. As I said: brilliant! Wally would be proud. 😀
Thanks Sean. I hope we get a few more folks to sign up before our upcoming deadline. To caravan, break bread, and hear stories from an original caravan member who was also Wally Byam’s 2nd cousin will be a real treat for everyone. It’s a once in a lifetime opportunity when you think about it.
I think I need to purchase one of your shirts as a prize. How fast can you get it here ya think?
Steve, we will be happy to donate a couple Long Long Honeymoon shirts to be prizes — just let me know where I can send the shirts (maybe send me a DM on Facebook).
We would LOVE to attend the caravan, but I’m afraid we’re going to have a scheduling conflict. My sister, a physician in the Navy, recently returned from a deployment in Kuwait. I think she is planning to visit us that weekend. We’ll see how it all shakes out. I agree with you that it’s a once in a lifetime opportunity!
Did anyone ever write a book about the Cape Town to Cairo caravan? Would love to read it!
BTW..checkout this Dodge concept truck for a tow vehicle!!!
http://dodgetruckworld.tenmagazines.com/articles.asp?page=tenarticle&aid=3742
Ray
Ray, I’ve never seen a book specifically about the Capetown to Cairo caravan, but I too would love to read one.
And yes, that looks like a serious truck!