1965 airstream land yacht

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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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An Old Airstream Is Transformed Into a Midcentury-Inspired Dream Machine

After repeatedly declining a client’s request to renovate a 1965 Airstream Overlander Land Yacht in Arkansas, custom fabricator Eoin Murphy and designer Robin Grundy-Murphy finally relented after five years.

With its original aluminum facade polished to a high shine, the fully restored Airstream is designed to go off-the-grid with rooftop solar panels with an inverter, a composting toilet, and a large water tank.

"We decided to say yes at the beginning of 2017," says Robin, who runs the design practice BORIEN Studio with her husband Eoin. "We were moving back to Ireland permanently in the spring of 2018, so we thought it would be amazing to have this as our final project in Canada before we left."

The Airstream was christened the Navajo Maiden after a postcard the couple found inside the Airstream with a picture of a Native American woman and the words "Navajo Maiden" on the front.

Thrilled, the Airstream owner shipped the vehicle up to Toronto and gave the Irish-Canadian creative couple full reign over the design. His only requests were a vintage sunburst wall clock and a finished result that evokes "a midcentury modern art piece."

Furnishings fold away to create a sense of spaciousness in the compact Airstream. The vinyl floor is from Altra floor in the UK.

"I was excited to have a midcentury brief, which obviously works perfectly given the time it was made," notes Robin. "I was conscious that I didn’t want this to be a film set. This would be a modern updated take on the midcentury design. I knew that Steve would not necessarily be traveling or sleeping in it often, so it was more of an entertaining space which could adapt to a family adventure once grandchildren arrived."

The magazine rack originally found on the wall of the Airstream was replicated at the bottom of the dining banquette.

The dining area converts into a double bed. Natalie Crittenden at Haversack Leather did all the upholstery.

The renovation process, which spanned 13 months, began with a thorough gutting of the interiors—Eoin and Robin found multiple animal nests and a live possum when they first opened the Airstream. The pair worked diligently to preserve relevant and original elements, including all of the original badges, which they replated in brass.

BORIEN Studio saved and replated all of the original badges in brass for a striking contrast against the silver aluminum.

While restoring the Airstream, the creative duo took inspiration from futuristic salt flat race cars. They streamlined the exterior, and polished the original aluminum to a high shine.

Before: The original walls were clad in aircraft aluminum, however Eoin and Robin found that the material overwhelmed the space. As a result, they painted much of it white.

The exterior’s elegant character carries over to the interiors. While the redesigned Airstream stays true to its original midcentury spirit, the vehicle also integrates an abundance of modern luxuries—like a Bose sound system and air conditioning units, which are hidden from view. Rooftop solar panels allow the Airstream to stay powered off the grid.

"I based the whole palette off the orange wall sconces," says Robin, who purchased the lights off Ebay from Denmark.

A sliding pocket door reveals a bathroom made from a solid piece of maple, machined by a robot, stained pink and layered with an Alexander Girard-inspired vinyl on top that's finished in resin. The composting toilet negates the need for a sewage tank.

Since the airstream would be used for entertaining rather than serving as a home, Robin preserved the open-concept layout and visually divided the front and back of house with a timber architectural screen in the centrally located kitchen.

BORIEN Studio designed and built all of the woodwork from Canadian Ash. "The trees are being decimated by beetles, so we wanted to preserve this beautiful wood within the bus," says Robin, who is pictured at the kitchen.

Cedar & Moss lights are installed above the robin's egg blue sink.

A securable ceramic pendant light by Brooklyn–based potter Helen Levi hangs above the ash countertop. Robin purchased a bar kit with 1960s World's Fair glasses as a nice surprise for the client.

A leather banquette dining area occupies the front of the space and converts into a double bed. The bathroom and kitchen with a sofa and bunk occupy the middle. In the rear is a "chill out" day bed area that Robin says is "a definite nod to the van life, hippy culture."

Cables clip onto the ceiling to support an upper bunk, while the bench folds out into a bed. The Airstream can sleep seven comfortably.

The day bed in the rear of the Airstream serves as the "chill out zone."

A redwood and teak folding rocking chair and loveseat are strapped to the back of Airstream with a bridle created by leatherworker Remco at Vanderhyde Toronto.

Related Reading: The Best Campers and Trailers For Less Than $40K , 10 Tiny Trailers to Take on an Adventure

Project Credits:

Architect of Record: BORIEN / @borienstudio

Builder/ General Contractor + Cabinetry: Eoin Murphy at BORIEN

Interior Design: Robin Grundy Murphy-BORIEN

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1965 Overlander “Land Yacht” in Ocean Springs, MS

Location: ocean springs, mississippi, asking price: $28,500 $25,000 (final sale price).

Vehicle Features

Model Year: 1965
Type: Trailer
Model: Overlander Land Yacht
Length: 26FT

Contact Info

Seller: Private Owner
Name: SOLD!
Phone: SOLD!
Email: SOLD!

More Details & Pictures

1965 Airstream Overlander “Land Yacht” (Renovated)

Specs: * 1965 Airstream Overlander * 26 ft, clear title in Mississippi, well taken care of. * No slides. * Approximate dry weight: 3950 (I pull this with a Toyota 4Runner)

Sleeping specs – plenty of space to sleep * Four bunk beds * One full bed in the front which pulls out to king size

Updated in 2020:

* Floors are totally new throughout and in great shape (luxury vinyl plank style) * Installed new stainless-steel sink, faucet (with pull down sprayer), butcherblock countertops in kitchen * Replaced old toilet with a new one (residential size/taller), Dometic 310 series. Also has a sprayer (nice if you want to forgo toilet paper usage). * replaced all lights with LED ones. Some also have USB plugs for easy phone/electronics charging all over the camper. * Replaced old Dometic fridge with a new electric, stainless steel one. * Added electric standing freezer * Lots of extra wire baskets and hooks on the walls for storage, keys, dog leashes, etc. * Shoe racks/storage added right by the door. * 22” TV in the front of the camper * New sink and hardware installed in the bathroom. * When we replaced the old sinks we also updated the plumbing throughout.

Other notes: * We keep this under covering year-round when not in use. * Currently there is no oven inside – we’ve been camping for years and never once used one inside so we didn’t replace it when we renovated the camper. However, it would be easy to modify the countertop to add one or simply cook with a portable induction cooktop (which is included in the sale). The gas hook up is still in place, if you’re looking to modify. Or it would be easy enough to install an electric one. * This is a 1965 Airstream so the outside is not perfect. She looks great, but has a few dings and cosmetic things, as seen in the pictures. * The curtains, bedding, TV and the majority of what you see comes with the sale as well. * Original rollout, freestanding awning included – we’ve never used it while camping, we use a pop-up tent, but the awning is in good shape and currently stored in the camper under the bench.

* Quick breakdown of what was bought in late 2020 and added to the camper (all stainless steel & all come with this sale):

new refrigerator
new upright freezer 1.1 cubic
new microwave
new toaster oven
new portable induction single burner cooktop

* As of typing this, the A/C works very well (super cold) * We keep a dehumidifier running in it 24/7 when not in use to take out excess moisture in the air.

Last Updated on May 23, 2021 by AirstreamAds

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