In the 1970′s, General Motors entered the RV market. Applying the exuberance of the times, this company set out to create the ultimate American Camper. Their aim was to produce a top-of the-line vehicle with cutting-edge construction and design, not just another competitor within the already crowded vacation vehicle market. The most popular design in this era would be a boxy, ungainly and top-heavy unit on a truck chassis. The GMC vehicle was intended to be a completely new design in each and every way. Design work began in 1970, using the market introduction planned for 1973. “Doesn’t appear like a box or ride such as a truck” was the GMC ad slogan.
The modern vehicle would be unusual because of this era in several ways. First of all, it was to have a front wheel drive, an exceptional concept in cars of these day and unheard-of in mobile homes. The drive train and suspension were stripped away from the design of the Oldsmobile Toronado. The 265 horsepower 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine was attached with a Turbohydramatic 425 transmission with torsion bar suspension. The trunk suspension was a product of GM’s bus design, using dual swing arms, one leading then one trailing, with a single air spring on each side. Instead of a auto body steel, the entire body was to be made of lightweight aluminum and molded fiberglass-reinforced plastic for example was used in the Chevrolet Corvette.
Leading wheel drive and independent swing arm rear suspension brought great improvement towards standard motor home design. The lack of drive shafts and axles under the coach allowed a very low floor height, leading in turn to a low overall vehicle height and lower center of gravity. Apart from easier entry and exit, this reduced rollover risk and resistance to the wind and made the vehicle much safer and simpler to operate for buyers accustomed merely to car driving. A six-wheel braking mechanism, with disc brakes on the front and drum brakes on all rear wheels, further enhanced drivability.
Previous motor home design focused mainly around the use of the vehicle as a temporary home once it had reached its destination, a lengthy stay in a mobile home park or maybe a camping spot. Ease of dealing with the destination was of secondary concern, and cumbersome handling on the road was taken for granted. GMC made a special point of targeting this feature for improvement by building visibility from the driver’s seat which has a panoramic expanse of glass.
The motor home was featured in 23 foot and 26 foot lengths, fairly small even for this era. Nowadays, much larger models are routine. The motor home’s decor was compact, with no permanent sleeping areas from the original design. All beds were converted from seating areas when needed.
Hot water was provided by hot water heaters using engine coolant loops, which produced water so hot it may possibly present a scalding hazard since coolant temperatures usually exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The refrigerator was powered with a standard automotive battery, adequate limited to overnight use before recharging.
The prototype was first displayed in May 1972 in the Transpro ’72 trade show in Washington, D.C. Production entered 1973 with two models, Model 230 and Model 260, 23 and 26 feet long respectively. These folks were sold with a finished interior for the public as well as unfinished along with other RV manufacturers such as Avion and Coachman, who then provided their particular interiors before reselling to consumers. 30 different floor plans were available, and models were priced from $35,000 to $40,000.
The GMC vehicle changed slightly after a while, the most notable alteration coming in 1977 when the 455 cubic inch engine was replaced using a 403 cubic inch model in response to the energy crisis. This decade caused hardship for all those RV manufacturers as the increased tariff of fuel pushed large gas guzzling vehicles outside the market. The GMC motor home had never sold at high volumes, and also the company decided that the RV production facilities may well be more profitably used to make light trucks. After the manufacture of 12,921 vehicles, production of motor homes was discontinued after the 1978 model year.
Almost immediately after production ceased, GMC motor homes became collectors’ items, with owners’ associations being established to deliver parts and service for these vehicles. Small manufacturers and garages launched a cottage industry servicing them. In 1992, as Vehicle prepared to scrap all remaining tools and parts, Cinnabar Engineering purchased each of the motor home manufacturing supplies and negotiated a deal to continue to provide parts with the discontinued vehicles. In 1992, a monthly magazine called GMC Camper Marketplace was introduced, along with 1994 Cinnabar started publishing an every 3 months newsletter called GMC Motor home News.
The vehicle’s futuristic design has even found the place in pop culture: Mattel Toys created die-cast versions with the GMC motor home for its Hot Wheels line. Greater than 50 different GMC Hot Wheels can be found, and in 1977, Mattel released three toy GMC versions in a very Barbie Doll Star Traveler promotion.
In an amazing example of customer loyalty and product durability, greater than 8,000 units remain registered by owners. A world wide web search of “GMC Motor home” produces 771,000 results, as sites advertise camper parts, engines and upgrades in addition to classic car rallies for owners. Used GMC motorhomes sell for $10,000 to $15,000 based on the condition of the vehicle.
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