GMC motorhomes
 

What do you get when you piece together an Oldsmobile Toronado drivetrain complete with the 455 stretch it out to your choice of 23 or 26 ft. throw in some dash touches from a Sedan DeVille and include everything and the kitchen sink? the 1973-78 GMC motorhome (just as a disclaimer I borrowed most of this stuff from http://gmcmotorhome.com/faq/what.html and http://www.gmcmi.com/basic-history/ ) :gmc2:

Re: GMC motorhomes
 

Used to be a bunch of them on the road back-in-the-day. They were considered a very high-end unit. I can't remember the last time I actually saw one going down the road under it's own power.

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Coolest motorhome ever!

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They are cool. Buddy of mine lived in one and used it for work travelling the western part of the country for a few years.

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They are still out there: http://csd.craigslist.org/rvs/4622005771.html
26 foot Eleganza located in Ft Pierre SD, call for details. this unit is in original condition, ready for restoration. 406-442-6462, ask for Dave.

Re: GMC motorhomes
 

there probably 20 of them within 10 miles of here, they must have been popular around here

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This one looks like a good price for the condition: http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/ra...625578299.html
good tires, aluminum wheels, front wheel drive, good mpg , Onan generator, roof ac, air ride suspension, aluminum frame with fiberglass body-no rust . stored indoors during winter and most summers. this is a well cared for machine that has pleased its previous owners, I've owned this for 8 years now, it is still a conversation starter wherever I go. There is a following and collector market for this vehicle, parts are easy to find and these are easy to work on if needed.
This motorhome was fully built and designed by GMC in their plant.

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I wish I had a reason to own one.

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i've always thought they'd make the ideal car hauler chassis :D
i did see one burn to the ground on the side of the freeway, not much left after that
block and frame was pretty much it, melted the carb and valve covers

Re: GMC motorhomes
 

I have always liked those and think it would be cool to own one...And have been watching the ads but I really do not need one, or do I??
There are quite a few for sale on Seattle area Craigslist..

http://bellingham.craigslist.org/rvs/4657526063.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/rvs/4681086787.html

http://vancouver.craigslist.ca/pml/rvs/4670192029.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/see/rvs/4686948358.html

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/rvs/4689845435.html

And a few more not far away

http://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/4651089661.html

http://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/4678577654.html

http://spokane.craigslist.org/rvs/4651376301.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/4687820124.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/clc/rvs/4686241883.html

http://portland.craigslist.org/mlt/rvs/4684302199.html

http://salem.craigslist.org/rvd/4643088589.html

http://salem.craigslist.org/rvs/4655981377.html

http://bend.craigslist.org/rvs/4578473967.html

Edited by Forum Staff
 

Re: GMC motorhomes
 

Yes GM even tried to get Chevrolet into the RV game as well. The "Chalet Royale" was Chevrolet's version of GM's Motorhome program that was produced from 1973 to 1978. There are no notes in the files as to why the Chevrolet entry did not proceed beyond this July, 1972 clay model.

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A friend of mine from our local Pontiac club designed the interior for the GMC motor homes.

He also did the S/T Blazer, the original GTO emblems, the '61 Chevy front end, the '62 Chevy rear end, the '63 Grand Prix rear window and the '65 Grand Prix front end.

http://www.deansgarage.com/2012/gm-d...-sebring-1957/

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Recent thread:

http://67-72chevytrucks.com/vboard/s...ghlight=Deesen

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I always figured that those would have a really hard time getting up a slippery hill.

A really nice concept though if you're going to stay on the highway.

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ran across this old GMC Birchaven tub on the way to work yesterday :mm:

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/dt2fgibapl7...28114.jpg?dl=0

https://dl.dropbox.com/s/rsaab10ybdu...28230.jpg?dl=0

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These are cool. I missed this thread somehow. Must have been another because I remember posting pictures. There is one that is always at Spring Carlisle used by a vendor. Immaculate with 2-tone blue paint and Alcoas. I still see them around some. I can think of a few sitting in my area. This is a very nice one in a neighboring town I'm heading to shortly for the lumber yard. This person has a nice historic home and is a classic car person

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Here are some of the trim levels you could get with them back then along with the decal of the trim. And the Painted Desert without the trim decal (I couldn't find it). Ahh crazy colors and shag carpet straight from the 70's lol

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They also had many other uses as well Mobile Command Units, First Aid trucks, Ambulances, Buses for like Hertz rent a car but, they were then known as the GMC Trans Modes.

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That's cool. I guess I had forgotten about them being used for commercial use. What? No Mr Frosty? :lol:

I guess the last one is a custom. Pretty cool!

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I guess they were just too far ahead of their time.

And now, practically everything is front wheel drive. Except motorhomes.

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Here's a video to show you how ahead of their time they were and how smooth riding they were :gmc2:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=up8qwjMWCnM

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Not to mention the famous military urban assault vehicle... Lol

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forgot all about the EM-50 in stripes :lol:

https://www.therpf.com/forums/attach...o-jpg.1282875/

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HA! You beat me to it!

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My middle son (Seth) purchased a 1975 GMC motorhome and is currently restoring it. Really good quality motorhome, incredible construction and design.

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I have always been fascinated by these motorhomes and now has me doing more research on them. I have a 91 Winnebago, but one of these would be really cool to restore.

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I thought I would bring this one back to the top here is an orientation video on the GMC motorhome https://youtu.be/WVxt7XGJYHI

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You know everybody thinks of the movie Stripes when they see one of these honestly, I've never seen that movie, guess I'll have to lol. But here's a TransMode that was a supporting vehicle in the 96 blockbuster hit Twister as a mobile weather station. It's got a custom drivers door conversion on it. And here's what it looks like in the film as well as what it looks like as of 2018, man have the caretakers really let it go to pot.

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2018 pics

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More 2018 pics

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Here's a factory shot of one coming down the line

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Here is a link to info on my 1978 Kingsley.

https://www.gmcmotorhome.org/threads...kingsley.1108/


At one time I tried convincing the admin to create a section dedicated to these RVs

http://www.67-72chevytrucks.com/vboa...d.php?t=746180

But with no luck





.

Re: GMC motorhomes
 

I saw one of these last week going down the road by my house in Colfax. Definitely a head turner.

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I'm sure there are better examples out there with less miles on them but this thread made me remember my old Hot Wheels GMC Palm Beach Motor Home.

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Grandad had one.
That's mom feeding the donkeys.
1973 mint 400 I'm told

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My dad borrowed his friend's one time to take the family on a short trip. I remember being shocked, as a callow teenager, by how much money was required just to fill the tank, which probably held a hundred gallons.

What I recall most, though, was how smoothly it went down the road. I thought it was a pretty cool unit.

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I thought I'd revive this thread. Here's a mobile restaurant for Runza (a Nebraska based chain that sell sandwiches of the same name) made of bread cabbage onions and sometimes Cheese.