51-Years-Owned 1973 Airstream Excella 500 Project

This 1973 Airstream Excella 500 project is a 31’ tandem-axle travel trailer that was purchased by the late owner in 1974. The floor plan features a front lounge area with a corner sofa bed, a galley, an aft bedroom with two twin beds, and a bathroom. The exterior is outfitted with front and rear window awnings along with a porch awning, alloy wheels, an extended rear bumper, equipment compartments, and utility connections. The trailer has been in storage for an extended period, and its operational status is unknown. This Airstream Excella 500 is now offered by the seller on behalf of the late owner’s estate with older hitch components and a clean Tennessee title in the late owner’s name.

Airstream began offering the Excella 500 as a limited-production model beginning in 1971. Production of the 500 continued through 1979, and other variants were offered into the 1990s. The aluminum exterior of this example features windows with screens, front and rear window awnings, a camp-side awning, and a folding boarding step in addition to an entry door with a separate screened panel, an extended rear bumper with integrated storage, equipment compartments, and Excella 500 badging. Additional equipment includes a tongue-mounted propane tank enclosure as well as utility connections for water, waste disposal, and electrical service. The operating condition of the mechanical systems, fixtures, and appliances is unknown. Dents and scratches are present on the left side of the body, one of the right-side windows is cracked, some of the trim is damaged, and the cover for the rooftop air conditioner is missing. The doorbell button is missing, and the seller notes a roof leak.

Five-slot 15″ alloy wheels are mounted with older 7.00-series Bridgestone tires that the seller notes should be replaced. The tandem-axle chassis is equipped with electrically actuated drum brakes, a manual tongue jack, a trailering wire harness, and safety chains.

The interior is outfitted with white-finished walls, curtains, carpeted flooring, and overhead lighting. The forward lounge area houses a corner sofa bed trimmed in floral-pattern cloth upholstery, skylight windows, a folding table, and under-sofa storage.

The galley is equipped with laminate countertops and woodgrain cabinets as well as a Magic Chef four-burner propane range, a residential-style power outlet, and an exhaust hood. The double-basin sink has a Dishmaster soap-dispensing faucet, and a Dometic refrigerator is on the opposite wall beside a pantry.

The aft bedroom is furnished with two twin beds along with a built-in nightstand, skylight windows, a ceiling vent, and an accordion-style privacy door. The seller notes that the carpeting has been removed. The adjacent bathroom has a shower with a seat and a tethered sprayer, a toilet, a sink, and a toiletries cabinet.

The seller notes rust on underside components, and additional underbody photos can be viewed in the gallery.