Most of today’s large Class A motorhomes follow the same formula. Place a box on top of a bus-style chassis, slap some swoops on it, and make the interior look like the interior of a hotel in Las Vegas. For a short time, Airstream had the antidote to boring coaches. This is the Airstream 360 Classic, a 36-foot beast with an all-aluminum body, a bus chassis, and a hearty Cummins diesel for propulsion. Who cares about a new coach when you can ride in this?
This find comes courtesy of VanGuy on our lovely Discord server. VanGuy sent me a link to an Airstream 345, which sent me down a rabbit hole. The Airstream of today sells a lineup of what it calls Touring Coaches, but these are all vans that cost as much as a house. It wasn’t long ago when Airstream coaches were so much cooler. Forget vans with aluminum-style wraps. Airstream used to sell full-on Class A Motorhomes with aerodynamic aluminum bodies and practically bulletproof drivetrains. These weren’t just tiny rigs, either, but motorhomes long enough to satisfy even some of today’s length-obsessed buyers.
One of them was the Airstream 360 Classic, a rare model believed to have sold in the dozens. It stretches 36 feet from bumper to bumper but retains that iconic Airstream style. Even better was the powertrain choices, which included reliable Cummins power. One of these rare beauties has come up for sale.
An Airstream Experiment
For most of its existence, Airstream has been known for its “silver bullet” travel trailers with riveted aluminum bodies. For decades, Airstream resisted industry trends including the rise of the motorhome and expandable interiors through slides. Much like Harley-Davidson, Airstream knew what worked and largely stuck with it.
Winds of change came in the early 1970s. Then Airstream president Chuck Manchester saw a hole in the RV market for a line of premium yet mid-priced campers. Airstream, a brand that some saw as the crown jewel of American RVs, dipped its toes into this lower end of the market carefully. It introduced a new line of RVs, Argosy, that blended patented Airstream character with experimental ideas the brand wasn’t willing to introduce into the main line just yet. You can thank Argosy for Airstream’s famous wrap-around panoramic windows.
In 1974, Airstream introduced its first-ever motorhome, the Argosy Touring Coach. These still had riveted aluminum bodies like Airstream trailers, but rode on a Chevrolet P-30 chassis with a lumpy gasoline V8 for propulsion. By 1979, the Argosy motorhome experiment was determined to be so successful that Airstream started selling motorhomes under its own brand name.
At first, Airstream sold these motorhomes as the compact 24-foot and the 28-foot Excella and International, but the brand started to get a little silly. During the 1980s, Airstream experimented with adding feet of length to its coaches, producing a 31-footer, a 32.5-footer, a 34.5-footer, and a massive and rare 37-foot coach.
The 1989 Airstream 370LE was a gargantuan unit for Airstream and at the time, it was also the largest Airstream ever produced.
It rode on a Gillig bus chassis and it’s believed that Airstream didn’t even produce 20 of them. They rarely ever come up for sale. Today, these coaches are known as the “Classic” series and are coveted by Airstream collectors.
The Beast
In 1993, Airstream introduced an ever so slightly smaller coach that would become another rare bird. This is the Airstream 360.
Airstream brochures pitched its 1990s motorhome line as something someone would treat themselves to after years of hard work. These were the flagship RVs of Airstream’s lineup and the brand targeted existing luxury Class A motorhome owners or Airstream trailer owners who were ready to step up. Amenities advertised in the motorhomes included doors with oak panels, real wood Venetian blinds, planked oak veneer flooring, and handcrafted cabinetry.
Part of what made an Airstream motorhome different was its construction. The coach bodies were constructed out of hand-riveted aluminum like the trailers, but unlike the old Argosy motorhomes, these new buses employed heavy streamlining. This made the new Airstream motorhomes look futuristic and Airstream advertised fuel economy gains of up to 30 percent, too. Airstream went as far as to say its motorhomes drove like luxury cars thanks to their great outward visibility, high comfort, and better handling thanks to a low center of gravity from the lightweight body.
All of this was great, but the Airstream 360 Classic had an ace up its sleeve. The standard 360 rode on a 208-inch wheelbase Chevrolet chassis with a front-mounted 7.4-liter Chevy big block gasoline V8. That coach was plenty fine, but for Airstream enthusiasts, the holy grail is the higher model, which rode on a 228-inch wheelbase 20,000 GVWR chassis by Spartan.
Loaded in the rear of this frame was none other than the famous Cummins 5.9-liter straight six. In base form, it’s tuned to 190 HP and comes paired with an Allison AT-542 automatic transmission. An optional upgrade saw the power kicked up to 230 HP and the transmission swapped for an Allison MD 3060.
Connect it all together and you have the recipe for a good rig. You get Airstream’s durable aluminum body propelled by a dependable drivetrain. The luxury is just icing on the cake, and these coaches look fantastic inside. This 1994 Airstream 360 Classic is largely original on the outside, but the seller says it has seen some upgrades:
Fully Custom Updated Interior NEW: Custom carpet in cab, white faux marble engineered flooring, vinyl wall coverings, pewter handles/knobs on cabinets/drawers, custom made window valances. Custom set of interior reflective sun blocking window covers. USB wall chargers. Samsung Smart TV and Blue ray DVD player, ROKU center speaker, wireless subwoofer and 2 surround speakers. UPGRADES: Coach rewired to run both air conditioners. Original oak cabinetry/hardware updated/refinished to lighter look. Cedar lined closets w/custom shelving. Two newer Coleman Delta TX 13.5K BTU A/C units. Wineguard Roadstar 2000 TV roof antenna w/wall mount amplifier. Bluetooth amp/radio system.
Kitchen and Living Areas NEW: Moen Kitchen faucet, sink water filter system, glass tile backsplash. Reupholstered: White LEATHER sofabed and DaVinci Dinette white UltraLeather , both convert to beds. Bedroom Smart TV and Blue ray DVD player. Newer Norcold 2 way refrigerator. Corian solid surface countertops, Double basin sinks with matching covers, 3 Burner stove w/Corian lid, Microwave/Convection oven. Bathroom NEW: vinyl wallcovering, ceramic toilet, Moen faucet, glass tile backsplash, hardware, upgraded cabinets and floor.
Driver Cab Area Newer white leather AIRSTREAM FlexSteel all electric rotating loaded captain chairs w/arm rests. NEW: Kenwood Carplay/ Appleplay radio, Bluetooth, AM/FM CD, DVD touchscreen satellite radio, w/color back up camera system, 6 speakers. Dash tablet mount. Original backup camera and dash monitor. Trumpet air and electric horns. Cruise.
Other upgrades include four 100W solar panels, a 60-amp solar converter, a 3000W inverter, four lithium house batteries, AGM starting batteries, a refreshed electrical system, and more. The seller even claims that they had the window seals redone, the aluminum polished, and the lights upgraded to LEDs.
In terms of other factory systems, the coach still has a working 6kW Onan generator, an 80-gallon fresh tank, a 39-gallon gray tank, and a 39-gallon black tank. Oh and the good news is that this one has the upgraded Cummins 5.9-liter diesel with 230 HP and the six-speed Allison automatic.
It’s believed that there were only a few dozen of these made, but other claims point to about 50 of these being out there. What I can say is that these coaches aren’t common at all. Of that number, it’s believed even fewer were equipped with diesel power. So, this is almost a unicorn of sorts. Is its rarity and upgrades worth the $99,975 asking price on Airstream Marketplace? I’m not sure, but this 1994 Airstream 360 is certainly a great RV for someone. If you’re interested in possibly heading to Concord, North Carolina to pick this up, check out the ad by clicking here.
Today, Airstream no longer makes coaches like this, and that’s a shame. It would be interesting to see what Airstream could do with today’s technology plus its classic riveted aluminum construction. Until then, Airstream’s cool aluminum motorhomes are still out there, but you have to look back a few decades to find them.
First set of railroad tracks you go over or just an intersection with a high crown in the middle of the road and everything between the wheelbase is coming out. Followed by the rear end overhang catching and wiping the slate clean.
Yeah, this is not a rig you want to stray very far from the highway with. That said, it’s really really cool if all you’re doing is highway miles from RV park to RV park. Not my cup of tea, but to each their own.
Ok, I usually prep myself on these RV articles to be disgusted by the price, but $100k for that seems like a steal.
If this thing were to suddenly appear in my driveway, I’m not sure what I would do. I don’t think I could manage to get it out onto the road, much less make it out of the city I live in without beaching it somewhere. I do not recommend bringing this thing into the former mill towns of the Northeast. I assume the western half of the country is a better place for it.
That being said this thing is really freaking cool. I dig it.
I’ve only briefly looked into RVs before being discouraged by the eye watering prices for Class Bs, like the modern Airstream/Mercedes Sprinter mentioned in this article.
But don’t quite a few RV parks not allow “old” rigs in like this one? Saw a big thread on it on a forum. People with well maintained, but 10+ year old RVs being “banned” because park owners apparently think all old RVs are junk just waiting to be abandoned on their property. Supposedly some places will let you prove you are driving something worth keeping with pictures, despite the age.
It’s more that RV parks use that as an easy out if someone is a jerk and they want to get rid of them. If you keep your rig clean and well maintained, and don’t piss people off, they’re gonna let you in regardless of the age.
Sweet Zombie Jesus, that thing is meant to be on road, not on rails or float:O. I mean look at that wheelbase and rear overhang. How to hell do you make any turn that’s more than 10 degrees :O.
But othervise rather cool thing. I’ve got weak spot for silver skinned RV beauties.
It’s beautiful!
I would’ve wanted a luxury RV like this prior to Nov 5th. Now we’re putting in for a transfer abroad and selling our house which brings my desire to see America from the seat of a quirky aluminum motorhome to an end. If I was gay and/or trans our fear and need to go would be an order of magnitude worse.
Mercedes, what’s your plans?
I am staying here, at least for now. Sheryl’s plan is to use her law practice to fight for the gay and trans people who also stay behind. Many of her clients are poor gay/trans people or the parents of gay/trans kids who couldn’t afford the rates other lawyers in Chicagoland charge. She’s the reason a trans kid in a southern Illinois school district has the right to use the proper bathroom.
So, our plan is to keep doing what we do for as long as that remains possible.
Welcome to our existential dread for 20 or 30 of our friends. There is an amazing Brene Brown take on the election worth reading as we wonder if anything is worth doing anymore. Meanwhile back in the real world of Wisconsin, disappointment reigns supreme and we wish we would have been wealthy enough buy a second home in Costa Rica.
I <3 Brené Brown and am quite curious as to what / where you saw or heard that.
I wish I knew how to paste it here but I don’t know how to paste it here.
You’re doing the right thing. There’s no value in us staying to fight America’s plunge into an orange autocracy, but we can send financial aid to the institutions that fight fascism and injustice from anywhere. We donate regularly to the Southern Poverty Law Center and the ACLU, and I’m a Patreon for several political pundits like The Rational National & David Pakman, so I’m hoping there’s a Patreon for Sheryl as well.
For what it’s worth, I can’t bear to read the news now, so thanks for continuing to author stories here that distract us from the slow-motion catastrophe that’s headed our way.
Jesus, I’d be afraid to drive this thing anywhere east of the Mississippi River. There’s a lot of junk in that trunk, and no good way of judging where it’s going when you turn.
That ass is going to swing around and hit things.
Driver: Turns wheel…
Rear: “It’ll be 5, 10 minutes”
Costanza: “We’re living in a society!”
I’m not really into RVs but this thing is an absolute beauty. I think it could use another axle though.
These look like they are out of cheesy sci-fi movie, so cool. Had no idea they existed.
A lot of those updates added a great deal of weight to this behemoth.
I think at most they add 1,000 pounds. But scales are easy to find in Concord.
It’s a beautiful rig, but they’re proud of it for sure.
g’dammmmmmnnn that thing is huge. So bizarre to think of elderly person driving this who hasn’t passed a driving test in decades.
I can confidently say that this is almost certainly superior to any new 2024/2025 model motorhomes priced a slight hair under $100K
While these are certainly far better than the usual cardboard, fiberglass, and staples RV, they are still nothing like as good as a proper coach conversion motorhome based on an actual monocoque bus. Preferably with a proper 2-stroke Detroit Diesel in the tail. A 500hp+ 8v92T will move one along quite smartly. Call it 12.5 liters of fun.
They’re way cooler for sure, but just about anyone can work on a 5.9 Cummins!
Tho this is not gonna be fast…but I’m sure people can tune it easy enough and no emissions controls yet will make that easier…but it is a lot of ask for a 5.9.
There are only a few 2 stroke Detroit mechanics left, but it seems that maybe some others will be able to pick up the art via YouTube and remote consults.
Thanks for the shoutout! I didn’t even know I’d found something so rare, and I wasn’t even looking!
6bt/12v FTW! Also this is very cool and great article. Also could get a bit more power out of that just by adding an intercooler as these early 12v’s did not have one.
The overhangs!
Imagine the fun you would have exiting a parking lot with any kind of slope.
Departure angle: No
Jesus, watch that rear overhang! You might accidentally whip-tail a Miata while coming out of a turn.
A whip crack with ya swampy tail, and the Mazd was done.