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1975 Argosy Airstream Restoration: How Margo Got Her Groove Back

ByHeather Painchaud Updated

Follow along as we restore our 1975 Argosy Airstream, Margo, after a tree fell on her! See before & after photos, power upgrades, interior DIYs and how we brought this vintage RV back to life.

A turquoise and white Argosy Airstream restoration features an open door revealing a small, modern kitchen. A black and white striped awning extends above, while a potted plant sits on the grass outside the steps.

You know how they say not to judge a book by its cover? Well… that goes double for vintage Airstreams.

Meet “Margo” — our beloved 1975 Argosy Airstream (manufactured in ’74), lovingly restored after a wild encounter with Mother Nature. She’s got curves, personality, and one heck of a story to tell.

Buckle up, I’m taking you behind the scenes of her glow-up — and trust me, it was no small project!

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A vintage turquoise and cream Argosy Airstream camper trailer with an extended awning is parked on grass near a lake. Black chairs sit outside, and flowers hang from a nearby lamp post, with mountains visible in the background, showcasing careful restoration.

Argosy Airstream: What Makes It Special?

If you’ve never heard of an Argosy Airstream, here’s a fun fact: these were the painted Airstreams — made in the 1970s and marketed as a more affordable option for middle-class families.

A vintage turquoise and white Argosy camper, recently enjoying an argosy airstream restoration, is parked on grass near a street lamp with a hanging basket of purple flowers. Trees and a foldable table and chair sit beside the camper.

They’ve got that iconic Airstream charm, with a colorful twist. Often new features, like wrap around windows, were tested out on Argosys before being adopted by the more popular airstreams.

A cozy camper interior in an Argosy Airstream restoration with a brown sectional sofa, geometric pillows, a round wooden coffee table, woven wall decor, and a black-and-white patterned rug. Light streams through a window with white curtains.

Now, Margo came to us in June 2024. She was a bit of a fixer-upper, but we saw her potential. Little did we know… fate had bigger plans.

A collage of Argosy Airstream restoration items including brass hardware, leather pillows, woven baskets, a black faucet, modern wall sconces, a ceramic sink, a striped awning, a floral rug, and decorative woven mats.

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Specs & Features

Check out the complete list of my Argosy Airstream finds on Amazon!

  • Length & Weight: 23 ft, 4000 lbs
  • Sleeps: 2–4 comfortably
  • Paint Colors: Wimbledon White & Lunar Green (vintage Ford shades — how cool is that?)
  • Power: 6 x Renogy 100Ah Lithium Batteries + 3000W Victron Inverter installed by August Customs
  • Awning: Amazon + Enterprise RV
  • Fridge: Retro beauty from Home Depot
  • Stove: Two-burner gem from Amazon
  • Boho Wallpaper: Amazon
  • Sofa Upholstery: custom from Bright Living Designs in Kelowna
  • Countertops: custom butcher block by Wade’s Wood in Kelowna
  • Flooring: sheet vinyl (because nobody wants LVP that separates and cracks – ask us how we know).
  • Curved Window Film: August Customs in Kelowna
  • Special Event Rentals: Yes! She’s available for weddings, shows & more (ask me!)
A cozy Argosy Airstream restoration featuring wood floors, black lower cabinets, wood countertops, a blue retro fridge, and a rear bed. Colorful floral wallpaper brightens the walls above the bed, with plants and kitchen items on the counters.

The Tree Incident That Started It All

Picture this: It’s August, we’re camping at Mabel Lake Provincial Park, soaking up summer vibes… and then — BAM.

During a late night thunderstorm (while we were in the RV and the kids were in a tent just beyond), a tree struck Margo. From inside, it sounded like the sky was falling.

The tree (about 14″ diameter, 40ft tall) dented her end cap, rolled down the side (slamming a window closed) and puncturing the kids air mattresses with branches (luckily avoiding the kids and tent). She literally saved us. What a legend.

That unexpected incident launched us into a full-blown restoration adventure. What started as “fixing a dent” turned into a complete gut job and major upgrade — inside and out.

A light gray Argosy Airstream trailer is parked in a forest with pine trees, showcasing a recent restoration. A fallen branch rests on top, a small black-and-white dog stands nearby, and a red Honda generator is next to the trailer.
A beige Argosy Airstream trailer with a large area of paint peeling off near the top rear corner, exposing the underlying surface—perfect for a restoration project. The trailer is parked near a garage on a concrete driveway.

Exterior Restoration

January Update

  • We connected with Tim, a hot rod guy with a passion for vintage rigs.
  • After an insurance battle (and a Canada Post strike for added drama), Tim got to work.
  • The dented end cap? Thankfully steel — much easier to repair than aluminum.
  • Her tires blew from old age when deflating her to enter the shop, so… hello white wall upgrades!
  • We gave her a full-body repaint in those gorgeous vintage Ford colors.
  • New running lights were installed, the door lock was fixed, and a retro awning ordered.

By this point, Margo was ready to come home for her interior makeover.

An Argosy Airstream restoration in progress: an RV interior features a gray sofa, black cabinets, light wood countertops, open drawers, scattered wooden panels, two metal hubcaps, tools on the floor, and a back wall with white tree-patterned wallpaper.
A man holding a cup stands inside a renovated Argosy Airstream camper van with wooden countertops, a stove, a bed in the back, and tools and materials on the floor, hinting at ongoing restoration work.

Interior Demo & Lessons Learned

  • We always planned to renovate her… we just weren’t planning to do it this soon.
  • The body shop’s interior work left us with a bit of a mess — cut skins, bad roof patches, old DIY wiring galore.
  • Looking back? We’d recommend starting with a vintage rig that’s untouched. That way you can start from scratch and not have to repair old or shoddy DIY jobs. But here we were — determined to make Margo shine!
  • Interior demo done, new flooring ready, primer and paint going up.
The interior of an empty, partially renovated Argosy Airstream shows exposed walls, wood-look flooring, plumbing pipes, tools, and a view into a small bathroom at the rear—perfect for your restoration project.
The interior of an empty Argosy Airstream mid-restoration features wood flooring, white walls, and a small window with white curtains. Tools and equipment lie on the floor, while exposed wires run along the left side.

Restoration Progress Timeline

March 2025

  • Windows got new weather stripping, paint and screws.
  • The step was painted with new grip tape installed.
  • Interior skins got primed with Kilz and fully repainted in Benjamin Moore Dove White – the same color we used in our Carriage House Build.
  • New sheet vinyl flooring installed with flooring glue.
  • Wheel wells insulated (thanks, bubble wrap hack!).
  • Bed & sofa frames built from 3/4” & 1/2” birch plywood — easy-lift hinges included.
  • New fridge test fit.
A partially renovated Argosy Airstream interior features unfinished wooden bench seating, open shelves, and large windows letting in natural light—a promising restoration project. The floor is covered with wood-look vinyl planks and tools are visible in the foreground.
Interior of an Argosy Airstream under restoration, featuring wooden flooring, an unfinished bed frame, exposed wiring, and a visible bathroom at the back. The space is bright with natural light streaming through the windows.

April 2025

  • More custom cabinetry built to fit those curvy walls. A challenge because the walls curve both vertically and horizontally.
  • Roof got extra leak protection with self levelling sealant.
  • Base built for kitchen cabinets & the new power system.
  • Plumbing and heating creatively re-routed (thanks to my handy gas fitter/plumber partner!).
  • Sofa cushions & butcher block countertops were ordered.

May 2025

  • We built kitchen cabinets ourselves — many hours of cutting, gluing, edging, and sealing birch plywood. The gorgeous color was a recommendation from my friend Colleen @ Lemon Thistle – Broadway by Behr.
  • A new awning was installed – thank you Enterprise RV!
  • Fridge vent cover + custom sofa cushions were added.
Two black batteries are stacked vertically on wooden supports with a small digital meter on top—typical of an Argosy Airstream restoration. Wires, cables, and additional electronics with coiled cords are visible nearby.
A blue Victron Multiplus-II inverter is mounted on a wooden wall in this argosy airstream restoration, with thick red and black cables, a large red battery disconnect switch, fuse, and other electrical components neatly installed nearby.

May 2025

  • Final push before the big car show reveal!
  • Drawer slides, drawer fronts, pulls, and cabinet doors installed.
  • More patching on interior skins (sigh — one more round!).
  • Kick/access panel installed.
  • Wallpaper up, lights in, blinds updated.

June 2025

  • Counter tops installed – perfectly cut for the curves. And I was thrilled when the off cut from the largest counter could be used as a backsplash!
  • Our custom shelf was built and hung.
  • Final plumbing and gas hooked up and tested.
  • Sinks and stove installed.
  • We tiled the shower in penny tile and used a flexible grout – I’m hoping that it will hold up to the vibration of travel for camping!
A cozy camper kitchen in an Argosy Airstream restoration features a black sink, gold faucet, wooden counter, utensils in a holder, potted plants, and a couch with a patterned pillow. Woven wall decor and a window brighten the space.

Why We Love Margo

Despite the surprises (hello, falling tree!) and the endless hours of sweat and sawdust… restoring Margo has been a true labor of love.

She’s got charm, character, and all the modern comforts we wanted for our family’s adventures — with a nod to her retro roots.

A modern kitchen inside an Argosy Airstream restoration features dark cabinets with gold handles, a wooden countertop, a black sink, gas stove, potted plants, open shelving, and patterned decor accents. Natural light streams in through a window.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the bed big enough for the two of you?

Yep! We are used to close quarters with all of the backpacking that we have done over the years so this suites us fine and allows for an open flow to the space. We can easily convert it to a larger bed in the future if we want.

Is the fridge vintage? How is it powered and where did you get it?

The fridge is new (not vintage) and can be found in several fun colors through Home Depot. This model is a standard, household electric fridge. It runs by being plugged into 120v so we upgraded our batteries in the RV to handle the need for power.

How heavy is the trailer?

It’s about 4000 lbs dry (not loaded with water etc). We balanced the weight of the cabinetry on the right with the fridge and tile on the left. The water tank is at the front under the sofa which helps to ad weight over the tongue. Our 3500 Ram tows it beautifully with no issues.

Modern Argosy Airstream restoration with black cabinets, tan sofa with patterned pillows, small round table, potted plants, woven wall decor, a tea kettle, and a window above the sink letting in natural light.

Here’s a peek at Margo’s new-and-improved self!

A small bathroom in an argosy airstream restoration features colorful floral wallpaper, a white toilet, a light wood vanity with a round vessel sink, modern faucet, and window. Part of a bed and rug are visible in the foreground.
Cozy, modern Argosy Airstream restoration with a kitchen on the left, blue fridge on the right, and a seating nook with pink cushions and throw pillows by the back windows. A small round coffee table and decor complete the space.
A small desk with a light wood surface sits against a floral-patterned wall, evoking the charm of an argosy airstream restoration. Two round mirrors, a black wall lamp, vintage radio, potted succulent, and green plant complete the look.
A cozy Argosy Airstream restoration features a brown L-shaped sofa, patterned pillows, round wooden coffee table, rug, plants, and large rear window. Natural light fills the space, creating a warm, inviting atmosphere.
A close-up view through the curved window of an Argosy Airstream restoration shows two potted green plants on a wooden surface, brown cushions inside, and mountains and water reflected in the glass.
Cozy Argosy Airstream restoration interior with a brown L-shaped sofa, geometric cushions, round wooden coffee table with plants, black-and-white rug, wicker wall decor, and large windows letting in natural light.

This vintage Argosy Airstream restoration is one for the books! If you love our 1975 Argosy’s journey as much as we do, please help us share it on Facebook or Pinterest!

about heather

Hello, I’m Heather!

I'm an active mom of twin boys who is always looking for opportunities to inspire creativity through fun crafts, do-it-yourself projects and delicious recipes. This blog has been an integral part of supporting my little family and I am so grateful to have you become a part of our journey! Let's create together... Read more...

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