1968 airstream land yacht specs

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Remembering Airstream’s fanciest trailer: the Land Yacht

The nautically-themed trailer is out of production, but its memory lives on in other Airstream models

Airstream trailers have been nicknamed a lot of things: the Silver Bullet, a Toaster-on-Wheels, and even the Silver Twinkie. But the now iconic American aluminum trailer—especially its largest models—has also been known as a “land yacht,” thanks to its high-end design reminiscent of the largest ships on the sea.

Airstream lived up to this title in 2014 when it debuted what it called “the most luxurious Airstream ever conceived.” The special edition model—the Land Yacht 28 —boasted three rooms and was designed with the help of Mauro Micheli, head designer at yacht design firm Officina Italiana Design , with cabinetry from the Italian firm Tecnoform.

All of that impressive pedigree meant one thing for the Land Yacht: It was fancy. Designed to resemble a luxury watercraft, the 28-foot trailer slept six and came with boat-deck plank flooring, LED lighting, and Corian countertops. The master bedroom boasted a pillow top queen mattress, a 30-inch flatscreen, and plenty of under-the-bed storage.

The technology and decor was also first class. A powered pedestal table moved the dining room table out of the way to free up space, and a powered outdoor awning made shade accessible. The interior came in two color options, dark wood and cream or a lighter wood with dark grey seating fabric.

The Land Yacht started at $146,362 and because it was a special edition model, it had limited production.

“It doesn’t come down to how many Special Edition units we sell, it’s about creating truly unique models that allow our team, and those we partner with a creative outlet to try new ideas,” said Bryan Melton, General Manager of travel trailers at Airstream.

“When you remove certain constraints, you allow engineers and designers to maximize their creativity. The results are truly special, like the Land Yacht, which continue to make strong statements within Airstream’s prolific history.”

Not long after the debut of the Land Yacht, Airstream took many of that model’s favorite qualities and added them to the remodeled Classic trailer and their new line of Class-B luxury touring coaches . Today, the Land Yacht is still on the product page of Airstream’s website , but according to a reputable Airstream dealer in Colorado, the only Land Yachts still left for sale are in Canada.

For many Airstream fanatics, the Land Yacht will go down as one of the fanciest—and best designed—trailers in the company’s history. Take a 360-degree tour, over here .

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1968 Airstream Safari

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The airstream market. see similar markets, vehicle history, a timeline of events that we've detected for this vehicle., comparable recent listings. see related attributes next to the score..

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Airstream LAND YACHT Owner's Manual

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Luxurious Land Yacht: 1968 Airstream Caravel

The world of camper trailers has exploded over the last few months as consumers continue to resist taking to the friendly skies to get to their next far-off destination. R/Vs and motorhome sales have skyrocketed, with many dealers actively seeking out used models for consumers who don’t want to take the full plunge but would gladly snatch up a lightly used model. Of course, the truly stylish among us will still opt for the classic Airstream regardless of any cultural upheaval, and this desirable Caravel “Land Yacht” model is attracting some serious bidding action. Find the 1968 edition here on eBay in  with bids to $25K and no reserve.

The seller notes he hasn’t taken this Airstream down to the studs for a major restoration, but he has substantially updated it. The Land Yacht designation was typically assigned to travel trailers featuring the highest levels of luxury, but any hint of its original materials and fixtures have been replaced with new furnishings and other decor.

The seller notes the previous owner began the rehab and he took it all the way, including all new fixtures, utilities, cabinets, and furnishings. The floors were also updated with weak spots repaired and new vinyl plank flooring installed above, along with all new plumbing, electrical, and gas lines. Check out the cabin – doesn’t that look like a nice place to spend a weekend removed from society?

Despite looking fairly compact from the outside, the design of the Airstream – like most of its products – makes incredibly good use of a limited footprint. The listing notes that the interior featuresa multi cooker or a portable grill and that there’s a microwave stowed under the sink. There’s also this sharp fold-out sofa bed, measuring 48”x 72”, and a dinette that drops to a bed.

The counters all look super clean and fresh, and the same goes for the cushions and pillows. Even on hot days, occupants will be fairly comfortable thanks to a roof-mounted 13,500 BTU Attwood A/C unit. From where I’m sitting, the seller has done an incredibly thoughtful job of determining what the next owner would want in their travel trailer.

The list of improvements doesn’t end there, with the listing noting that there’s a new 30 gallon fresh water tank and pump along with a cassette-style toilet. The shower features a custom made pan with fully waterproof walls and floor, topped off by a white raptor liner coating. The body does have some dings and dents and the seller notes that he started brushing down the aluminum skin but you’ll have to strip away the clear coat if you really want the shine to pop through. Overall, very minor gripes for what looks like a vintage Airstream that has had a lot of thought put into the final build. I’d love to own a trailer like this, and hole up in it whenever the mood struck.

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Very nice Airstream, unfortunately for me, at 6’4″ the bed is just a wee bit short, LOL!! GLWTA!! :-)

At 6ft 4in ANY bed is just a wee bit short for you Moparman.

The interest in vintage trailers has been years in the making, Covid just accelerated and amplified the trend. The attraction is likely to last well beyond our current troubles.

I generally like vintage transportation related items, however, I would not consider a trailer from this era or earlier. By the late-70’s trailers had become substantially larger with more and better amenities. They tend to sell for less money than the current high bid of this featured trailer and can be towed by full size pick ups and SUV’s. If someone is looking for a trailer they can use on a regular basis, the decision should be pretty obvious.

If I were looking for a travel trailer I think this would be a great buy. Take a look at what $25k will buy as a brand new trailer and the moment you pull it off the lot you automatically have depreciation from your $25k investment. Buying a vintage trailer that has been refurbished to a high standard, as this one looks to have been, once you hook it to your truck, its still worth $25k.

I agree with you. I have a 1950 Spartan Royal Mansion. Almost perfect condition! I doubt the majority of 2020 trailers manufactured today will be around in 70 years. Most are made with particle board and pulp wood covered with plastic veneer.

“The Land Yacht designation was typically assigned to travel trailers featuring the highest levels of luxury…” that’s a negative, Ghostrider. Highest trim level was the International. I have had a ’67 Overlander Land Yacht for 34 years. It is not luxurious even by 1967 standards. And that part about “repairing” the floor? Yeah, many a flipper has tried that line. The words you’re looking for are “shell-off restoration”, otherwise you’re in for some expensive surprises. No doubt this thing has had some cash dropped into it, but the buyer is about to drop some more. Axle has a limited lifespan.. When was it last replaced? Was the roof reinforced before that 14×14 hole was cut in it to install that massive AC unit?

@Engident. Why would the axle need replacing as it’s only 53 years old, and I’m sure, has done very limited mileage in comparison to a 1967 automobile? Just asking. As for the aircon unit, as you say, let’s hope the roof was reinforced before installation.

It uses a torsion axle, with 4 rubber rods that wear out. There are no springs. See diagram, not necessarily the exact axle but the idea is the same. https://lh6.ggpht.com/_wsa0BGpYZXE/S9qHbhAxZuI/AAAAAAAABgU/hJu8QMkVOrw/s800/tde1.jpg

Thanks for that info. Engident. We live, and learn, every day of our lives. Very interesting even though it looks a trifle basic..

Fantastic camper. Brings back memories of an Airstream my grandparents had in the 1960s.

ken tilly UK, of course it’s a “trifle basic”. It’s a CAMPER. It amazes me how folks want to go “camping” but take along all the comforts of their luxurious home. Camping to me, here in Michigan, means sleeping in a tent, cooking over an open fire, bathing in the lake or river. Now that’s “basic”.

Hi Kenn. I meant that the axle was a trifle basic, not the Airstream. If I could download a picture of my first camping trailer that was really as basic as you could get, but my wife and kids loved it. It was a fold up but from there we went to a full 15ft caravan with a side tent. Now we were camping in luxury!

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2004 Airstream Land Yacht Review

I had a chance to take a Land Yacht on the road for several days and I decided that I’d do my best to look at this Class A with new eyes. Forget the Airstream history and influence and take this vehicle at face value. I think I’ve succeeded; certainly being able to spend five days in the unit helped, plus the 600 miles I put on the odometer. Still, my first impression is that this is a very different RV.

Airstream launched its first motorhome in 1979, a unit that pretty much mimicked the classic riveted aluminum body of its trailers. The Land Yacht, however, rolled out in 1989 and came with laminated fiberglass construction; a look that was much more traditional Class A. For 2004, it’s available in four floorplans from 26 to 33 feet in length. I tested the 30-footer with the only slideout in the bunch.

Built on a Workhorse gas engine chassis the Land Yacht is smaller than what its price might lead you to believe it should be. It’s also shorter and a little narrower than other Class As. But inside the quality of the fixtures and the artistic design accents hint at this Airstream’s target market; established and upscale. Another hint has to do with plenty of features that are standard on a Land Yacht but are optional on other makes. Overall though the best description of this unit is found in the company’s brochure; it says “The answer for those who want the spaciousness of a larger motorhome with the mobility of a smaller unit.” Currently I still have two teenage boys at home and when we travel a mule-train’s worth of stuff goes with us, so my initial impression was “why, would I want a smaller RV?”

The answer to that question (in part at least) is the on-road manners of the Land Yacht. First the lower profile of the unit reduces the hi-centered sway that some taller units suffer from and the relatively short length eliminates front-end bounce on uneven pavement. The 8.1 L gas engine, pulling this weight, is very strong with ample low-end torque and it cruises easily at (or over) the highway speed limit. With the cruise control set, the coach required a minimum of attention, it felt good, moved easily through traffic and its mirrors and windows afforded good sightlines. I enjoyed my drive of several uninterrupted hours – no white knuckling with this unit. I even found that vacuums and cross winds from passing trucks and bridges had no effect on the unit. My only criticism would be about a small amount of wander in the front end, which required me to work the steering more than I thought was necessary.

A nice feature on the Workhorse is a digital information centre on the dash that includes an instant fuel consumption figure. I noted that it read roughly 9 mpg at roughly 70 mph or 10.7 mpg at 62 mph; figures that I considered reasonable to good.

Its low aerodynamic shape with a split windshield that sits at a 40 degree angle no doubt contributes to its fuel mileage. The driving area is elegant with leather seats (fully powered and reclining) and hardwood accents. The instrument panel is well laid out with easy to read switches, including a generator start switch, front fan controls and the hydraulic leveler touchpad. The driver’s door has a power lock and window.

An in-dash backup camera can be swiveled with the touch of a button to point the camera down for backing in or swiveled up to watch following traffic on the highway. In addition, because the Land Yacht has a rear window over the bed, there is a clear line of sight via the rearview mirror to the back of the unit.

In the salon the brocade material on the foldout couch, in the slideout, is rich as is the carpeting, window treatments and cabinets.

The dinette table, just inside the door, has an expandable leaf, and there are two extra folding hardwood chairs in the hanging garment closet.

A key feature in the coach is the unique round sink. It defines the centre of the coach and creates a visual break between the kitchen and salon. The sink has a cover that doubles as counter space. Below it are pair of cupboard doors that match the curve of the sink and countertop – very elegant looking. The galley comes with a three-burner range with cover, exhaust hood, a convection microwave oven, oak cabinetry, Corian countertops and a residential style Moen faucet. The refrigerator is skinned in a bare steel look. Overhead there are two skylights, with shades, and there are also two Magic Fans that open and close automatically.

Lighting in the coach is a mix of recessed fluorescent fixtures and individual lights throughout. Many of these lamps can be aimed and with separate switches on each you can have as little or as much light as you need. The bedside lamps in particular are nice.

There are two AC units, both roof mounted low-profile types. One is dedicated to the bedroom, the best place to have air conditioning. The furnace is one centrally located heating unit. During my late fall excursion I had the heater running constantly. Temperatures dipped well below freezing at night and hovered just over it during the day. The system (run off a main thermostat) worked just fine and had no trouble keeping the coach warm. Over the course of five days I went through only about half of the 90 lb of propane on board. It helps that the Land Yacht features a rear automotive heater that really pumps the heat into the coach while you’re driving.

A 20-inch LCD flat screen TV mounted in the main salon with a multi-position swingarm is not only a space saving idea, but the variations in positioning means it can be watched from the table, couch, front seats or even while working in the kitchen. A smaller 14-inch TV in the bedroom can be tuned to different channels or a video signal if your viewing tastes differ from those of your guests. Headphone plug-in over the queen-size bed allows silent viewing or can be switched to listen to the radio.

The bathroom area layout has the full-size shower with glass door on one side of the hallway and the toilet and vanity on the other side (with its own door). If you leave this door open you have a spacious bath and change area open to the rear bedroom. If you choose you can also close the sliding pocket door from the bedroom and have complete privacy.

Interior storage on the Land Yacht is adequate, but outside the low-profile construction of this RV makes the basement section small and narrow. For instance a standard milk crate won’t go through the side compartment door. At the rear, under the window, there is a so-called “trunk”. This is the largest storage space access on the coach. At almost waist height it’s handy for getting things in and out of, but I found that the barrel and pin latch system it uses kept sticking. It’ll need lubrication from time to time.

A large part of the Land Yacht’s appeal is its unique shape, paint schemes and reflective tinted glass. In addition to the two-tone paint, it sports polished reverse chrome bud wheels – even the rooftop mechanicals are color co-coordinated.

If you are thinking of a nice two-person coach; something a bit smaller yet unique and rich, the Land Yacht is worth a look.

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