Anyone ever seen or heard of 1957 GMC 1 ton MOTORHOME?

[stacerbob]

Neighbor of mine has this neat old MOTORHOME built by coach on a 57 GMC 1 ton chassis. Has a Pontiac motor and automatic. I will get pics soon, I am thinking of picking it up to restore and take to the lake.
I can't find any info on it. There is a plate inside the drivers door that gives serial number of camper so I am sure it's not something someone thru together.

[mr48chev]

There used to be outfits that built what they called "chassis mount campers" I'd think that is one of those and a forerunner of today's small motorhomes. Most of those had no provisions from going from the cab to the camper without getting out and going around. Some guys have a 67/72 that has sat in the same spot for the past 36 years that I know of that they won't talk about selling but have never done anything with. It probably has decomposed beyond repair now though.

[OrrieG]

There was a post a few weeks ago to a Northern AZ CL add that showed one. Coach was a large aftermarket manufacturer of buses, quad cabs, limos, and other custom bodies on chassis purchased from all the truck manufacturers. In the Factory Assembly Manuals it shows the RPO's. Some were just chassis with the steering column and other misc stuff shipped in a box attached to the frame. A google image search turns up lots of interesting stuff which can be followed to the page it originated on. Make sure you get a good title with it.

[stacerbob]

I really think this is something an individual made?

[stacerbob]

[stacerbob]

But on the other hand, it has an a/c compressor mounted but it has a coil in the camper so you can cool it with the engine running but none in the cab. Has a generator mounted just behind the cab on passenger side and roof top air but that could have been added later? The door plate he was talking about I don't think pertains to the camper at all?

[mr48chev]

I'd say someone sat a camp trailer down on a truck chassis to build that one. I've seen a few of them around here done that way. Usually years ago before motor homes were very common.

Here's a bigger one mounted on a Mercedes chassis that I found on the net.

[daveccpa]

kinda like this thing

http://seattle.craigslist.org/oly/cto/5006721379.html

[mr48chev]

Similar but that one was built on the chassis and not a trailer body sat on a truck chassis. I saw that Pontiac at a car show a few years ago. That used to be somewhat popular back when there was very little market for used Car chassis ambulances or Hearses. You bought the ambulance dirt cheap cut the body off behind the front doors and built a camper body on it.

[stacerbob]

Originally Posted by mr48chev

I'd say someone sat a camp trailer down on a truck chassis to build that one

I agree, the lower panels are different design, ribbed. He says he has a plastic tote full of manuals on the camper. Need to go thru them and see if there is anything that ties them together.

I think the camper looks quite a bit newer than the truck?

[stacerbob]

And that crank out middle glass just does clear the cab, I don't think a coach builder would do something like that?

[sawman]

I seen these on chevys and fords a lot,some wear made,most were just a 1 ton/1 1/2 ton truck purchased and then purchased the trailer with no axle and mounted to truck,cool looking but the ones that were mounted had no front window,it was solid front

[blue 72 gmc 4x4]

Originally Posted by OrrieG

There was a post a few weeks ago to a Northern AZ CL add that showed one. Coach was a large aftermarket manufacturer of buses, quad cabs, limos, and other custom bodies on chassis purchased from all the truck manufacturers. In the Factory Assembly Manuals it shows the RPO's. Some were just chassis with the steering column and other misc stuff shipped in a box attached to the frame. A google image search turns up lots of interesting stuff which can be followed to the page it originated on. Make sure you get a good title with it.

Yep this one, ad is gone but I saved the pics.