The Airstream Classic 345 Motorhome was Airstreams flagship product for the 1987 model year production. This Airstream is for sale at Colonial Airstream in Lakewood NJ. 1-800-265-9019 www.colonialairstream.com
I was an Airstream trailer mechanic 43 years ago in London Ontario Canada and there's nothing on the road that comes close to the quality and the look. I actually trained at the airstream factory in Ohio. This brings back many great memories for me. Thanks for posting this video.
wow.. how do you go about staring a job like that? 22year old here nearly donr with the schooling to work full time as a car tech, but i want to work heavy duty. i owned an rv for about a year last year (:
My late father wanted an Airstream very much. Sadly, finances never permitted it. I’d like to think he’s in Heaven, with mom, driving all over in a beautiful airstream.
Well thought out, Well engineered, Well put together = Fabulously Timeless - I'm seating in awe right now. I always wanted to see the inside of one of these Airstreams motorhomes, and there, you made it happen.
I as well. I bought it to live in while I had a house built. I only paid 3500 for it and it was in rough shape. I put 8k recently after being parked for 17 years and drove it to Florida from New Mexico and back to New Mexico. Very comfortable trip. So glad I kept it. I had several offers on it and some very generous offers but I’ve grown very attached to it and I would consider buying another one but I can’t see parting with this one. They are very interesting and unique. I did all the work myself and it’s been very rewarding. I’m fixing to pull the radiator and get a new core put in it. Still has the original radiator but electrolysis has ate it up. And I’m planning a trip to Michigan this fall. The P30 chassis is pretty durable from the 80s. Still runs real strong and the banks power pack is a plus to.
@@chery6030 over a 4800 mile trip I averaged 6.8mpg. I kept it under 60 but if you get over 65 it drops off to about 4.5-5. So it’s pretty bad but considering what hotels cost and sleeping on a strange bed and a strange toilet I would rather pay for the fuel.
I came down to comment on the awesome cast aluminum grill, and saw the impressive 2,803 who came before. Folks love Airstream for good reason. I'm now at an age where stuff sold in my 20's is treated like antique. My Grampa told me this would happen.
my heart goes out to those who preserve the beauty of times gone by. i"m sure it took a lot of care to keep this piece of art,in such nice condition. it makes the world a better place.
What I love about the airstream company is they don't mess with success. If it worked well in 87, it will work in 2017. As well, in a time where cheap RV's are pumped out of factory's (Jayco's for example), these will still be together in 20 years
Opinion Matters my 2013 probably won’t be.... or if it is, it’s because I’ve spent thousands switching out the cheaply made stuff. The dinette cushions very cheap, needed to replace every cushion in the thing. The steps into the coach are the steel garbage they use on all other RVs and you can’t switch them out for the aluminum ones they used to have because the opening is too wide. The windows used to be wrapped with metal and now they are not there’re just a single piece of glass.... The interior of airstreams used to have a vinyl coating on everything inside and now it’s just bear shiny aluminum.... Today you’re lucky to get 1/2 of what you pay for.
We as a young family and now as adults have always had an Airstream to enjoy. I never get tired of people asking "what does it look like inside?" I proudly show them. We are on our 4th. The 31 foot is the right size for us and they are beauties! Airstream forever.
One way to tell approximate milage is by the condition of the gas and brake petals. As told to me by an junkyard man when odometers only had 6 numbers.
a simple misspelling. arent we entitled a simple mistake once in awhile? lol. its all good tho. yes pedals can be replaced with ease. Hell you can buy the rubber pads at most places.
On an Airstream you just check the kitchen and bathroom for wear and tear. That's where all the use takes place. Restored quite a few airstreams and two 345's,
Patrick,,, You get the Major "ATTA BOY !!!" Reward for presenting the Best Videos... You take your time,,, You are not herky-jerky with your camera,,, very clear voice... You made this Classic proud... I'll be calling for a price and a chat... Jack in Little Rock
That’s a nice old motor home. Well maintained for it’s age. I wouldn’t do any more to it than a good cleaning on the interior, good maintenance and touch-up on the outside.
Four years ago...this Airstream is surely traveling around and being enjoyed by new owners.Was that a bidet sprayer in the bathroom? Extra class, right there.
I seriously love these old Airstream Motorhomes, since my divorce back in 1999 I've been putting my life back together and making plans for the future, I could seriously see myself moving into one of these and parking it next to a small machine and fab shop / Man Cave with a patio area Between the two. Small, Comfortable, Simple. And still with the ability to travel when needed or when I would want to.
I am going to sell my house soon. I really want one of these. I was thinking of buying a fancier newer motor home but THIS is what I want. Is this available as a diesel?
Lol right? Why don't we just tear down all the old buildings and crush all the old cars and just build new ones every three years? Wait no every year lol. I mean who wants this old thing right? Lol Yeah new is always better lol, lol, lol....
@Peter Evans I right what do we even need any historical anything for? Lololol lol. I mean let's just keep building new everything constantly. It'll give all the shiftless people on unemployment something to do and then spend their money on. We can also keep raping the the earth for raw materials that way. Hey maybe those smart Chinese can help us build cheap disposable things. I'm SURE it'll all be safer. Safety first right. Hahahahahahahaha lol.
@Peter Evans you must be one of the most stupid people I have ever came across🤣 litteraly everything made to day is disposable junk designed to last 3yr max. They cannot even make houses properly now you complete twerp. Keep your modern "made In china" tech and we shall take care of our older well made stuff that doesn't break down constantly. The fact you even insinuated modern tech is anything but tat is beyond the pale.
@Peter Evans "safe buildings" ? All buildings are safe till you fill them with flammable stuff. Bricks and mortar have never caught fire you tool of a boy.
I've looked over thousands of Airstreams over the past 40 years and this, to me, is the ultimate luxury home on wheels. Big shout to anyone involved with the Airstream group, boy did you make one hell of an airship with the Classic 345 Astrovan! Respect.
This was an excellent demo, Patrick! Slow panning, showed details, pointed out stuff, all without a hard sell and thank goodness no music! Very soothing to watch. I would love to buy an Airstream like this. It is a project and costly to upgrade, but quality van and worth it. What is it priced at please? Thank you for the demo!!
my best guess.. in the condition its in, being as old as it is, probably 8-10k i could be grossly off because of the collector factor of airstrram, but really, RVs tend to be wayyy more bespoke than cars and theyre all somewhat collectible
@@rajgill7576, Dad has one of these. An 86'. He paid $16k, and it was in about the same shape as this one. That was a pretty good deal 4 or 5 years ago! I built a scaffolding to replace the AC's! We've replaced the fuel pump at the tank, faucets, some pex, fresh water pump, new fridge, microwave, way better vent fan, spot light, backup cam, weather stripping, new tires were a good $2,200! lol, but gotta do it, they go bad just sitting, so think "time" on tires, not just wear. We peck away on upgrades, repairs, here and there. You buy it, then drop $3,000 on tires and batteries, then you've got something you can troubleshoot. We've had a blast using it, but working on it has been fun too! You see, you screw something on, then grab a beer out of the fridge, sit back and admire your handy work! lol
I LOVE this Airstream , would only hope and dream to find one like it someday. I just want to live on the road, go wherever the wind blows me. If I don't like the looks of a place or it is too busy , somebody at Walmart gives me some crap, no problem, I just ease on down the road to another town. The life of Riley! I was never happier than when I lived in my camper . Can't wait to get back to that life.
IMHO, this is what an Airstream motorhome should look like, streamlined, aerodynamic, attractive, perfect size, between 25' and 35'. Most motorhomes I've seen look like bricks on wheels, with almost no shape whatsoever.
Yep love these motorhomes (and I can't even drive nor do I come from the US we don't really have Airstream's here in Scotland, well we probably do but I'm not aware of anybody who has one). I think Holiday Rambler did a great job in the late 89s/very early 90s as far as the roundy bullet shape, a little better than Airstream in some places, just my opinion though, still a great company.
I love it ! 😀 real ! American ! A American class ship. To me ? Timeless ! Oooozes class ! Quality ! Not like modern crap ! Much more character! I'd have it. Ha haha lol. Real heard turner! 😀😉
THIS MOTOR HOME was the premier coach in its day. From what I can see, it rivaled Prevost and the other "Luxury" motor coach homes today. What else could you expect from Airstream, when they set out to make the best travel trailer in the world, with a motor?
if only I could win the powerball, I would come all the way from colorado to buy an airstream from you. You are very thorough, you help me snoop in every nook and cranny of these homes on wheels. You explain everything. I sit here and tell you to open this door or that slide and you do. Like magic! lol. Thank you for helping folks like myself to dream a little.
This is nice, really nice. I like how the bathroom is separate from the shower. Plus with it being older you know it was well made. Unlike how stuff is just thrown together today. Then they wanna charge you a small fortune for junk.
Talk about your house on wheels , believe me this pure luxury . My family and I lived in a Rv for years, if we could have afforded a Motor Home like this one,wow even today that old baby makes most RVs look really cheap. They don't make them this good any more,unless it' cost at least a million$ . This is a beautiful mother home. Well built.
@@tzuten the only thing that competes with these is a bluebird wanderlodge it might even be a step up from these since its chassis is made by a bus manufacturer using buses made for a million miles use.
Wow that Airstream is beautiful 😍 how much is it did it get sold? Also being a historic vehicle in fabulous shape makes it a museum on wheels whoever owned it must of loved it I can see by the care it must of had all these years and still looks 😃 GREAT!!!
Wow. This was great to see how this unit has held up. Ahead of it's time by a long shot. Looks great. Clean her up and she's ready. Excellent craftsmanship. I wonder how much she sold for.
@@colonialairstream Your welcome. Its extremely rare to hear a good speaker these days, too often we hear people saying things like: cool. l mean. err. Umm. And all the rest of the parrot speak. But you are different , you have not gone this way, your brain has the ability to process the things you want to say without having to search for the words. You don't hesitate, you use words that are common and not trying to impress the listener with your knowledge of the dictionary. Your attention to detail is good the viewer has their questions answered without having to ask them. I therefore appoint you the position of Grand Master of You Tube presentation. You could have a great future in the field of gum flapping. FYI I had five years education, l mostly educated myself and enjoy hearing a good speaker. Thank you.
I've driven and repaired a lot of these working for an Airstream dealer in Ohio,this one was finally starting to improve,rear air ride axle helped,always felt they were overpriced but if you drove one in a extreme storm this thing would cut thhrough it like butter. Were definitely better with wind and passing big rigs,all in all a pretty decent Airstream 😊😊
Glad they left it alone for the most part. My parents had a newer model with a Diesel engine, same Nutone food processor and a rear bedroom with a shower-over-bathtub and sliding door (glass or Plexi). They had a TV, antenna and hookups for their laptop. Some of the lighting was fluorescent. They used to take it on the road for the whole summer (sometimes into October) and go on Airstream Caravans with a group of other Airstreamers and take over RV parks and public fields, by means of an itinerary, moving on to the next one and doing the same. Sometimes they'd go on one tour and pick up another on the way to friends and family. This was during the time when Caravan meant something else.
What a piece of history; well made and maintained. Glad to hear it was sold. Had to laugh knowing it was a trade-in, so someone is continuing with life on the open road! 👍
+1 ... If time stood still.. All original "vintage" is very hard to come by, scarce even. .. What was the drive-train used? Chrysler V8, GM, or Ford V8? .. Transmission brand /type? ... A retro-fit modern air suspension coupled with a modern 2023 yr. drive-train would make this 1987 Airstream Classic 345 a real find. .. As an example. Fit a modern-day GM V8 diesel, or the I-6 Cumming's diesel and 10-speed auto gearbox (GM/Ford) is very doable. .. A great platform. . . Thanks for the tour Herr Patrick .. Cheers, Vail, Colorado
Patrick, you give an excellent tour! It is evident that you went over everything and rehearsed in advance. No um's or errrr's, and you never said, "and here you have your...". Low key and comfortable, not all hyped up. Really good. Look at that: over 28 minutes in one take! Hollywood would be jealous.
Yes! It was really good video! I don't like so much ofn talking-head-videos that the selöfie generation produces... And a calm voice is always nice to hear (many young women seem to talk like small children, I don't know why).
He did not have to rehearse, Andrea. It's obvious that he knows his business and the Airstream line, both old and new. . Excellent salesman. Very well done video of a great classic vehicle.
My house originally came with one of those. Exact model. Was neat. Unfortunately the main drive gear ended up stripping and then it became an eyesore as it was apart of the cabinet.
I worked in a couple RV dealers for a few years and actually went to the Airstream school in Jackson Center, Ohio and to the Argosy plant too. I was a certified Airstream repairman. That was forty years ago and I never saw one of these. I worked on many different makes of trailers and we did have some Argosy motorhomes, I don't think they were doing Airstream motorhomes in 1975 and 1976 and why I didn't see one. The dealer I worked for was the largest in the Chicago area so.................... Their reputation was deserved and even then, every now and then one would come in for repair that had been lived in and you can tell the difference.
Enjoyed your video! Look at the Google Maps sat view of 301 Dixon Street Lexington NC, on one side of the building is Dixon Street, click on the Business 85/US-29/US-70 highway on the other side of the building and choose the 2014 streetview, from there you can see about seven of these GMC RV's parked. I have not driven past here in almost one year, but they might still be there. The 2014 streetview from US-29 is the easiest to see thru the trees. I don't know the business that has thse GMC RV's.
As usual, thoroughly detailed and educational Video... I've wanted one of these Airstream RVs ever since their inception...!!! I'm curious (since this video was created last year), in knowing that if you still have this sweet Ol' Beauty On the Lot and What's its Price Tag or What Price did she drive off your Lot for the New & fortunate New Owners(-s)...??? Once again, thank you for being soooooooooo thorough... I know much, much, much more about this Model, than I've ever known before... Oh... I almost forgot... I'm diggin the patena and the spider crackage too...!!!
We love your trailer vids! You have become an old friend, even though you don't know us. We are shopping for our retirement and to full-time rv live. love the Airstream trailer so far. When, if you get an Airstream 5th wheel in please show it. Thank you Patrick B! Love and Shalom! Harry and Pam Brooks
HEY! PATRICK! THAT AIRSTREAM IS A EASY SELL! YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT BIZ! EVERY TIME ANY VIEW AN AIRSTREAM ON THE ROAD OR IF THEY SEE THAT FLAGSHIP MODEL 1987, THEN THEY WANT TO TURN TO AN AIRSTREAM!!! THAT'S - A - FACT - JACK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! YOU'RE IN THE RIGHT BUSINESS!!!!!!!!!!!!! DON'T LET ANY TELL YOU DIFFERENT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
olikat8 Ya buddy,the G M C's are rare and extremely expensive today, Travco or originally called a Dodge were nice for their day,just didn't like the solid axel up front,was always bad enough having the rear duals giving you a jolt. The early Argosy's were a test bed for the Airstrem and both early ones had a terrible ride do to being too light, what they called station one was about middle and would shake the rivetets out,we actually had to retrfit cables to tie the roof to the floor,after they went with iirspring rear suspension the rode much better,never buy a 1980 with the Isusu diesel engine, no turbo ran like a turtle, I cosidered them to be a deathtrap and you had to stand on the gas pedal to go 55,it actually wore out your foot,81 they put a turbo on and it was close to the 454. Revcon was a great coach also sharing the olds front wheel drive like the G M C. Then you had west coast coaches like Bear and Monaco, I drove a 40 ft Crown Royal back from Oregon to Ohio,rode soooo nice you could fall asleep,all air ride and air seat,built solid with heavy fiberglass wall panels and awesome interiors. Bluebird Wonderlodge was the premium coach of the day though,hell I've worked on and drove about everthing built back then and the newer ones really aren't that much different,the introduction of the slide out is about the only difference. . 😊😊😊
olikat8 Ya buddy,the G M C's are rare and extremely expensive today, Travco or originally called a Dodge were nice for their day,just didn't like the solid axel up front,was always bad enough having the rear duals giving you a jolt. The early Argosy's were a test bed for the Airstrem and both early ones had a terrible ride do to being too light, what they called station one was about middle and would shake the rivetets out,we actually had to retrfit cables to tie the roof to the floor,after they went with iirspring rear suspension the rode much better,never buy a 1980 with the Isusu diesel engine, no turbo ran like a turtle, I cosidered them to be a deathtrap and you had to stand on the gas pedal to go 55,it actually wore out your foot,81 they put a turbo on and it was close to the 454. Revcon was a great coach also sharing the olds front wheel drive like the G M C. Then you had west coast coaches like Bear and Monaco, I drove a 40 ft Crown Royal back from Oregon to Ohio,rode soooo nice you could fall asleep,all air ride and air seat,built solid with heavy fiberglass wall panels and awesome interiors. Bluebird Wonderlodge was the premium coach of the day though,hell I've worked on and drove about everthing built back then and the newer ones really aren't that much different,the introduction of the slide out is about the only difference. . 😊😊😊
Patrick, nice job as usual! After viewing the ‘73 - ‘78 GMC Motorhomes, that Airstream borrowed quite a few of their concepts from them, e.g. front and rear panoramic windows, awning, dual tires with independent suspension, sans the axles (the GMC had an inflatable air suspension, not sure if Airstream had it or not), interior screen door, folding table that folds and stowed away, etc...
I believe the decal area on the outside you referred to as "checkered" is actually called 'crackling' on older things with the underneath surface showing through. Thanks for the tour.
Would love to own that the RV in this video.. Currently have a 1998 Four Winds Windsport 38' and this Airstream has 10x the amount of storage that mine does.. damn.. the way they designed this thing is perfect.
Colonial Airstream have you ever come across one with a built in cassette player for the back of it?5Love the quality of the furnture we rented an RV recently the blinds are so junky now most of them just see to be paper love the wood blinds
im not sure you could easily get glass for this. youd likely have to put money down from a shop that would have to have the bus onsite to make measurements and design the replacement and install it. im shooting from the hip on that though. there might be a few places that specialize in it and have templates for certain things based on previous jobs theyve done but i would be surprised if there were more than about 2 or 3 in the country.
Too bad they don't make 'em like this anymore. And not enough old (and good preserved) ones are left, for any decent money What would be perfect with this Airstream 345 Motorhome, is to connect a small Airstream trailer behind it. And to have that trailer converted into a 'garage' for a classic (Rover/Austin) Mini (for local trips and grocery-runs)! Yup! That would totally work for me! (^^,)
Fascinating & beautiful work. This looks like something my Dad would have loved. Mom, not so much! Unfortunately, Dad had a stroke & couldn't handle this after. So lovely to see real wood.... Well cared for. It could be a great deal for the right buyer... NOT a minimalist!
Nah, they are actually very easy to drive. Kind of like a bus, so easy to drive them too and parallel parking is a breeze in a bus! Backing too, just learn to use your side mirrors a lot. ; )
Wow! The 80’s...these were my times I grew up in. We were entering the age of fast evolving technology. This baby was must have been considered top of the line for the average consumer... The 70’s and 80’s baby! Good times for me !
I love the way you present Airstreams products, you can tell you're passionate. I live just down the street from Canada's biggest dealer, Can Am RV, but considering MSRP is adjusted from American prices, we may choose to come to Colonial just to deal with you guys (and maybe you can also fill us in on some of your great urban exploration experiences!) Keep up the awesome work!
Great history guide to this classic RV. Your appreciation for this unique piece of art and Americana is very welcome. Thanks again! Curious to know what it sold for
I know nothing about RVs, but I am impressed at the build quality and materials, and how it has held up for 30 years. Looks like you could drive away and use it as, or even be worth investing small money into modernizing a little. I hope it went to a good family who used it and took care of it. I just bought a camper trailer this year. I was so unimpressed with the build quality for the money I spent.
Airstream is a name I remember from my childhood.I still notice when I see them on the road.I even new as a kid that airstream meant quality.good walk thru.
