Why GM Cancelled The 1973-1978 GMC MotorHome
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- čas přidán 26. 08. 2024
- GM shocked the world for the 1973 model year with the debut of the beautiful GMC MotorHome. The 1973-1978 GMC MotorHome was an engineering wonder that was decades ahead in styling and engineering to its closest completion. The MotorHome revolutionized the large RV market, but why did GM cancel it? Watch this video for the answer to this question.
In 1982 I bought the tooling and rights to the GMC Motorhome. I hired key personnel in 1986 from the motorhome's manufacturing team to manufacture the GMC motorhome at a plant in Cucamonga, CA. The Pontic truck and coach plant was never converted to truck manufacture during that period. The reason for canceling the GMC Motorhome was the cancelation of the Tornado and Eldorado and their front wheel drive transmission which was used in the GMC Motorhome.
Do you still own the right to build it?
I would like to contact you regarding the tooling and rights to the GMC Motorhome. Can you update your contact details on your CZcams profile?
I'd bet there's a lot of people who would just love to see these Chassis remanufactured using a variety of modern choices for the Driveline motor transmission etc. Hmmm
Hope you start making them again and with Allison transmission.
Are you producing new coaches?
My father loved his so much that he bought a second one. He owned a '73 and a '77
I remember watching people walk into mailboxes, utility poles as they watched it drive by. It truly was ahead of its time.
My father worked on the design and development of this awesome motor home. We drove one all around the country in 1972-73 in an early version. I thought that we owned it. However, we were actually a part of the durability testing. My mom kept a lot of notes in a book. I thought that she was keeping a personal diary. I was seven and he didn't tell me what the real story was until I was in my early 20s when I started asking about it. Near my home is one that looks like it is in good shape in a farmers yard. He won't sell it to me and it has been there the whole 20 years that I have lived near him. It still looks great on the outside.
Awesome story that made me laugh but realize you were so lucky!
My family had one of these RVs.
It was an amazing time in my life.
The GMC Motorhome was a fantastic machine. It drove beautifully and looked like a spaceship.
Did someone in your family have a funny looking watch?
I got to ride in one years ago. This was a fantastic machine.
Ben 10: wait that's gramps camper
@@VampireQueenAmy It started when an alien device did what it did
GM never misses an opportunity to miss an opportunity.
absolutely true
🤣🤣🤣 that is so right
Lol, that's one of the best expressions I've ever heard
Such a shame that they're scaling down.
*Buick Wildcat
My daughters saw one about 5 years ago near a friend's house with a for sale sign in the wind. Light green, 26 feet. Engine was in good shape. It is now in our driveway. Renovated and refitted and taking it on a Transcanadian trip this summer. The only way to fly.
I worked on these during the 1980s. They were actually well built. Some of my employers customers installed 500cid Cadillac engines and even turbos. They were FAST! The suspension was torsion bar in the front and an adjustable air-ride system in the rear. The very low center of gravity allowed for excellent handling as well. Some problems to watch for-- The front wheel bearings were designed for use in the Toronado and Eldorado and were highly over-stressed when used in the motor home. This shortened their life significantly and they should be checked at least twice a year. The rear suspension was a bit problematic as well. The dual wheel in line configuration caused the rear tires to scrub heavily when cornering sharply. This placed a lot of stress on the tires and on the suspension bearings. If you can live with that, in other respects they are a good choice.
I remember this beautiful RV and the 66 Tornado as the cutting edge of design when I first saw them. This is when GM and American meant world class engineering and design.
My parents have a 74 and it's still on the road, it goes from Ontario Canada to Key West Florida every year since they bought it in 78. 2011 they had the entire interior modernized and repainted it. Original engine and trans still in it never been out of it 177,000 miles on it turns heads every winter when it pulls up next to multi hundred thousand dollar new RV's.
I guess we all would like to see what an updated one looks like!
Hey from Mississuaga Ontario
Nice story about your RV.
Do RV parks allow it in despite its age? I almost bought a 1975 with a bad 455. Might still buy one, someday.
@@mikeceli Yes there are actually a few older motorhomes that come to the park as long as there not run down wrecks there is no issue. The 455ci. The newer paint is Arctic white with dark blue nose stripe and a lighter blue full length body stripe. Interior has been reappolstered with a dark grey microsuede and all the wood trim is now white, has fake marble grey countertops, new fridge and stove from a later model motorhome that was scraped after an engine fire, only thing that's really stayed original is the bathroom besides being painted.
@@clemmahabir We are in Fort Erie right on the Buffalo NY boarder.
I worked at the plant where these were built, they were very nice, thanks for bringing back some good memories.
John Reichert : Where did you work in the Plant.Who was your Supervisor.I worked there to!
Anyone know what these sold for in the 70s?
109000 was a base price
@Brian's Place could use drive train from Dodge promaster fwd van. I would use the diesel.
Brian's Place you could get away with bypassing intellectual property infringement laws having a different name, and a few tweaks, very doable.
However, with modern safety regulations, design codes, etc. this vehicle could never come off the line and be street legal in the US today. That’s a big reason why contemporary cars rarely capture the aesthetic merit of the now antiquated, dangerous, but beautiful designs. Thank goodness the old ones are grandfathered in and allowed to stay on the roads :)
"What do we have? We have one heavily armed recreational vehicle."
"Razzle-Dazzle!"
Stripes!
Mack Boland¹ beat them to it!
¹Don Pendleton's pulp fiction hero in the "Executioner" series.
The EM-50!
That's a fact Jack!!!
When you want to move a mountain, install an Olds 455!
The 460 was never meant to be a truck motor.... It was a 429 car engine. Ford installs what they have, resulting in poor efficiency. The only real drivers were to meet emissions.
454 had more power and torque
Saw an article a number of years ago where they swapped a mild build 472 Cadillac mill into the motor home. Had pictures of it roasting the tires!
5 miles per gallon!
My dad, Paul H. Deesen Sr. designed that RV. It's patented in his name. By far the best looking RV on the road. He also designed the 67 Camaro & many other beautiful cars & trucks & went on to do designs for private planes. GM always had the best & most beautiful vehicles - until they fell to foreign competition - which ruined the industry.
Kathy Florcruz love the 67 Camaro!
I'm from England. Great looking cars back then in the US. 73 Grand Prix.
Kathy Florcruz THE MOST BEAUTIFUL THING I HAVE EVER SEEN!!!
And *this* American is still buying GM vehicles! Since 1966. Most of 'em have this bowtie thing on the grill! ;)
Kathy Florcruz that’s cool! There’s a guy here in San Diego who parks his by my apartment often. It’s a eye catching vehicle these days. It’s in excellent condition as well. Your dad , cheers to him🍻
no news here, GM cancels production of every great car they produced including the electric
we were going into another gas crunch and Carter was President and inflation was high all played against this
actually GMC has yet to produce a great anything
@@noneyabiz2197 in your humble opinion
The fiero as well! The first gm mid rear....
@@foxmulder4308 If they brought it back, it would most likely only be a slightly-altered version of the current Malibu.
A radio station I worked at transformed the interior into a mobile broadcast studio. Had our call letters and station colors splashed all over it. Best mobile studio I ever worked in during my 30 year career as a radio announcer (DJ).
Ever she the old HBO special like George Carlin or Robin Williams. HBO HAD one with a mobile studio setup. It was so cool looking inside. Coke-cola had one, too. I think it was a themed Coke-cola interior and a special Coke-cola exterior paint scheme.
I remember these back in the day, reminded me of a big Chevy van. One of the best looking RV they should have never stopped producing them.
I saw one at a car meet a few years ago. It originally belonged to the owners father, who regularly drove it coast to coast during the 70's through the 90's. He was in the process of restoring it.
I was surprised something so modern looking was made in the mid 70's.
You are right, GM missed a big opportunity by killing it off so early.
Back in the mid 70’s I was a Technician at a dealership that sold Campers, Travel Trailers and Motorhomes. Although we didn’t sell new GMC Motorhomes, I did have the opportunity to work on several. Their quality was second to none. I’m not surprised there are so many still running. Thanks for the Trip down memory lane.
Thank you for this interesting comment.
This model was ahead of every other MotorHome during this period. I always figured high gas prices were to blame for GM stopping production. Thank you putting me straight about that. Taking the Toronado engine and front wheel drive was such a brilliant move.
I went to Dearborn for motor home school to work on these. They were great! We had rentals that averaged over 13 mpg. All most every renter turned into a buyer. They were a vehicle first and a rv second.
I remember when they came out, they made Winnebago's of that era look like cardboard boxes on wheels compared to them.
I agree. I find the Winnebago of the time hideous to look at. The only RVs I've seen of this decade that look this good were the FMC 2900R Motorcoach (produced between 1973 and 1976) and the Dodge Travco 270.
I remember the Dodge Travco but not the FMC and they were nice, but the GMC Motor Home was the one that made the impression on me. I remember most were a version of greenish , vanilla or even a light tan colored yellow with differing colors of trim strips running down them to probably keep the solar heat gain as low as possible. I don't remember any white colored ones, but I'm sure they were out there.
I only saw one GMC Motorhome in person. It was parked in someone's driveway. I would've loved to have stopped and had a look at it, but I was on my way to work.
kurt2022 I still want a Winnie baagoo, gotta say it wrong, to be right
Try pulling a radiator out of a Travco! They built the MH around it!
It’s the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle!
STRIPES...great movie.
MPG vs FIREPOWER!
I thought it looked familiar!
But seriously, it *was* decades ahead of it's time.
That's a Fact, Jack!
Stephen E HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA
I worked at a Ford dealership in the late 1970s. The owner bought one of these RVs and parked it out front during the summers so he could hop in and take off quickly for long weekends and vacations.
As a RV family with many different sizes and brands, the G.M.C. was and is still the most beautiful and most practical too. I wish they still made R.V's. G.M., you were the best at this for sure!
Recently retired after turning wrenches as an RV Technician for 21 years. Over that time I had opportunities to service a few of the GM motor homes. They truly were many years ahead of their time. My dad worked most of his life as a GM employee, retiring after 30 years at the Fisher Body plant in Fairfield, Ohio. He loved his job in production control and worked with so many great guys.
Ever work on Revcon's? They were the one's to use the Oldsmobile Toronado drivetrain first.
I Worked In The Plant Where They Were Built , Pontiac Michigan TRUCK & BUS. I Was Mechanic On Them In the Plant & Retired There After 30 Years.
I still see one or 2 once in a blue moon in Pennsylvania. Do you see any parked around? What did they retail for?
Good career! Congrats!
Robert Sample God bless ya and all retired autoworkers!
I like how you, and many others who worked at assembly lines and so on with special vehicles, comment on videos about them so long after the production stopped. It shows how much dedication and love you guys had for what you did and what you made. It's very inspiring, and gives the whole video and vehicle a human tuch!
Bass Trammel yes! trust me us that still do work on American production lines for iconic American car Co's are still extremely proud!
I had a friend that bought one of the 26 footers new in 76, and he kept it until his death in 2004. These were soo far ahead of their time, that their design would be comparable to many motorhomes in today's market. 👍🇺🇸
Just imagine the range with a much more efficient Turbo Diesel. I genuinely wish I had one of these as they were awesome and so far ahead of their time!!
The only small turbo diesels around at that time were the Detroit 2 strokes.
And a transmission with a few more gears and overdrive...
I never realized this beast was front wheel drive. I fell in love with this thing after it was in Stripes with Bill Murray!!!
Me too......I loved it in stripes......& it looked so easy to drive..!!!!!
@@shwt121 they actually are very easy to drive, but you do need to be careful about spinning the front wheels on wet or soft roads, broken differential gears from spinning the tires or doing burnouts is the only mechanical failure i've heard about on these rigs. the visibility through the windshield and the side mirrors is better than any new class-a, and because most of the weight is close to the ground it actually can take corners as well or better than a prevost conversion. the only downside is the thirsty big-block oldsmobile v8 that makes it go, and the weak turbo-hydramatic 425 transaxle setup with it's weak final drive that was great in a toronado or eldorado that weighed a lot less than the motorhome...... and it would be very difficult to swap in any other front wheel drive system.
EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle and that's a fact Jack!
I drove one from Detroit to Elkhart indiana where there was a small company that restored them. Very cool and unique, even in the RV capital of the world where million dollar motorhomes are everywhere..
We used to call these the “Malibu Barbie” Motorhomes. My Grandma and Grandpa had one. 😃
lol I thought it was one from the thumbnail. Looks just like my Barbie camper I had.
Do you have a cousin named Ben?
@@VampireQueenAmy LOL!! I came here to say that when I saw the thumbnail. I saw it it was my Malibu Barbie camper.
Will always remember this as the *_"Stripes"_* van, lol. Never knew it was front wheel drive.
... Yes, the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle... 🤣
All the work was done at Alex Sirum GMC 1800 HWY 70 East, Okeechobee, FL 34972, United States, they have been working on these things for 30+ years. They sell, repair and customize all of these GMC campers and also have on site camping available.
I never thought I would be so interested in an RV
Ha ha ha ha same here. Brilliant design though.
I really like it, don’t know why but I see why it was popular
Me neither, I'm still not really lol :)
Absolutely class,they don't build em like this anymore!
Prevost Marathons have me interested,may sell my house and buy one.
My neighbor has one in his front yard. Still like new.
how much he wants for it
High Overlord Snarffie Beagle u Mek kandi racks I put in mi arme
Would love to see a video of it
Nothing that old is LIKE NEW!
I've been after one for the last 5 years. Unfortunately, the owner would rather let it sit in their driveway, then sell it to someone who will bring the old girl back to her former glory.
any update? where are you located? thanks!
Lot of people like that. I'm currently watching a '49 Packard Coupe "rusting in peace"... just makes me sick 🤮 ...
My sister had the Barbie camper when we were kids in the 70's. It quickly became mine - G.I. Joe fit perfectly.
Me too!!! I was just thinking how close it looked to that. How funny.
Hope you painted it in cammo, lol.
Darr Whyask So what you’re saying is that GI Joe fit perfectly into Barbie. Poor Ken!
Go JOE!!!
I remember I found the Barbie one in a dumpster and gave it to my sister. I told her I bought it in a yard sale. She was happy with it lol
The TV Station I worked for, bought one of these and turned it into a mobile production center. Audio and video switchers, 4 cameras control and two video tape recorders and a Sony Betamax 3/4 in video playback unit. It had two power generators and storage for audio, video and power cables. We fabri cated A/V intrance box, (waterproff).
It was a dream to drive and got to drive it most of the time. We, (Another Engineer), even took it from Greensboro, NC to San Antonio. TX and back. Not a hint of any problems.
The pbs network in South Carolina bought five and made mobile production units as well. They were excellent.
You worked on anchorman
I wonder if Charles Kuralt used these at any point. Supposedly he went through six RVs during the course of his 'On the Road' segments.
Was born in 73. New life goal, own one of these beautiful and innovative vehicles
When I saw the comedy film Stripes back in the early 80's, I thought that this RV was created exclusively for the movie due to its beautiful, futuristic design. It was much later that I learned it was a real life production RV.
First thing I thought of when I saw this was 'Stripes'.
The EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle in the movie Stripes would have been an interesting mention in this video.
I have a 1978 GMC. A few years back, returning to Canada, I had the shortest stop at the Canadian Customs. The agent asked two questions 1..How long where you gone? 2...Is your motorhome the same one in the movies Stripes? I answered both questions, he said cool and I was gone in 10 seconds
Ross Hallman .....LoL... you should have told him it was The One. And fully equipped with.50 cal machine guns and a rocket launcher.
+mercoid: He'd still be in detention!
+Ross: I hope you told him "That's the fact, Jack!"
I'm about 80% certain that the stolen command vehicle from the movie "Prodigal Planet" (1983) was built upon the chassis of a GMC motor home.
I remember this RV as a youngster. There was one in my neighborhood and I remember seeing it on TV shows. I thought it was beautiful and the styling looked so futuristic, especially compared to a Winnebago. It's such a shame GM discontinued its production. I miss the old GM.
My dad almost bought the GMC in the '74, but didn't think it had enough ground clearance, so we ended up getting a Landau. That GMC was so cool in my 9 year old brain!
I am 64 so I remember the 2 gas shortages, in 74-75 all those RV just sat and collected dust then, the 2nd shortage around 1980, fortunately I worked at gas stations then, old muscle cars were suddenly WORTHLESS as people traded their 428 Mustang for a 6 cylinder Maverick
Not anymore
Worked in the parts department of a GMC dealer in the late 80's and looking up parts for these was a pain in rear, definitely a great 1970's design though.
Fortunately, nowadays (since they've become classics and have a cult following) you can get all sorts of parts for them, as it's a niche industry. So people can still keep these motor-homes on the road now and who knows for how long into the future.
It was at best a 3-season RV though, so none of the holding tanks were heated, just down there open to the freezing weather (and I'm guessing lots of plumbing was, too). But if people used it mainly in Summers, it was ideal.
IIRC, being a FWD vehicle, it needed more weight on the front wheels than it had, so there were some traction issues.
-- BR
Had to get a cv axle rebuilt cause nobody had a replacement
Jake Browne
Jake , i believe the CV joints were from Citroen ! (The toronado / eldorado was)
That design was well ahead of it's time. I think you could still roll in one of those and not look out of place today.Well done GMC and that's coming from a Ford pickup man.
As seen in the movie Stripes with Bill Murray and Harold Ramis
"We had a car waiting"
Urban Assault Vehicle
Where the fuck's my truck? I gotta pee.
Calm down Francis
@@josephgus5638 I believe it was "Lighten up Francis"
I'm 48, and I still think to this day it was and possibly always will be one of the sexiest things on wheels.
Wow
You look good for 48
Hey you doll
You have never seen my grandmom in her wheel chair.
Today that's a racist comment...
I think they still look good.
Maybe with a modern paint scheme... Those colors are so dated.
Agreed. So much better than anything produced since by anyone. I'd love one of these.
it will never gets old
They certainly do and they run like new even in 2018! I'd like mine in white with a cobalt blue stripe down the sides, subdued styling in side, sounds ace to me!
Its got that classic VW camper look I think.
This was a very desirable Hot Wheels car at one time.
Oh yea! You got that right! Or was it Matchbox? My brother had the Matchbox double decker Greyhound Bus. I loved it. ..those blue windows!
@James Tucker These things are like gold!
Mattel did a good job of scaling down the dimensions yet making the vehicle instantly recognizable as the GMC motorhome.
And a Hess Truck one Christmas 😃
Yes, the orange one. I think I sold mine on Ebay about 15 years ago. :(
I really like how it looks, but I cringe at the idea of what replacing one of those windows must have cost
Probably less expensive than the modern 1 piece panoramic windshield
Windshields are still available. The last price I know of was between $250 and $280 for each half.
it still looks modern to this day!
I agree. And unlike much of today's Class A motorhomes, it doesn't look like a cargo container on wheels.
Almost "futuristic".... even today! What a shame!
@@badguy1481 I agree. It's a tragedy that it was never continued after 1978. It may have been rather expensive for some people, but for those who can afford it, they have an awesome RV to cruise around town in, or travel the country in.
Ah..ah.Take a look on the inside with the Cheesy dated Shag carpet! Modern? I really doubt it!
@@donraptor6156 I agree. If I bought one, I'd remove the shag carpeting and everything that came with the car and replace it with more contemporary features.
I don’t think the demise of the Motorhome was due just because of cost-cutting bureaucrats, but rather because of the fuel economy and emissions standards that began plaguing the Big Three in the late 70’s. As you started to see the Big Block engines strangled by regulations, you began to see the downsizing of every sedan on the road. I believe this was also a factor with this vehicle - as cool as it was and is - it was simply faced with big opposition from many angles.
It was sad to see General Motors fall out of its hay day in that time period, though. With regulations crunching into the bottom line of all of the Detroit players, Congress seemed to open the door for Toyota and Datsun (Nissan).
That's what I was thinking and the later ones with the weezer 403 probably had troubles climbing hills
'78 was the last year of the big Toronado drive train with the TH403 FWD transmission. The 403 with its Siamesed cylinders had overheating issues too.
Pickups and SUVs have also been huge sellers for the past 30 years. I don't think GM made a mistake at all by prioritizing pickups over RVs.
saintquinn007 Let's make vehicles more capable of surviving an accident by increasing the likelyhood they will cause one. Like almost every bad driver in America buying an SUV.
A common configuration was the 454 with a big sloppy 3 speed transmission. There was no economy to be had lol
A lot of people forgot how bad the post-Watergate era economy really was. The 1000 point stock market in '72 dropped to 660 points by '76. The 33% drop was combined with record high credit interest rates of 16-1/2 percent. The cost of money, itself, was too high to support or sustain risky endeavors. The discontinuation of the GMC MotorHome was evidence of the fiscal distress of those times.
You Tube u
WIN
They should have at least temporarily shelved the project until things calmed down, then slowly re-introduced it in small batches. They would still have made a small profit. Better to make a small profit than to lose millions of dollars. That's why Southwest Airlines is still around even though EVERYONE copies their business model. Their accountants tell them the bottom line is: try to earn $1 million this year instead of losing $2 million. 10 years ago, they were making money but everyone else was outearning them big-time. However, fast forward and almost all of the copycat rivals had either gone bankrupt or been bought out by a much larger rival. And Southwest is still around and ticking along fine. By the way, I did NOT support the government bailout of GM. Their silly bean counters couldn't manage a buck without losing it so letting them go under would have taught them to hire better business people and to INNOVATE. Look at them now: their cars may be better and more reliable than ever but they're bland and boring.
I know people say that the recent 2008 recession was the worse since the Great Depression but what about that post watergate era ? it probably was pretty close with the 2008 recession. However gas in the 70s was in short supply back then and the vehicles didn’t get good gas mileage at all.
As a teenager around 1980, I remember 20% interest rates in Canada, then around 1987 my student loan went off at 10.5 % interest, with a 0.5% discount for being a student. But I did have a job a week before graduation. Then Black Monday hit...ever get a 0% raise? 1%? got 'em both. Well into the 90's. At least I was still working.
My mother used to work as an academic counselor for a small private university in the seventies, they had a fleet of these vehicles fitted out as mobile offices with computers, catalogs and desks, she drove it to events and satellite campuses to enroll and counsel the students. She loved it!
Seventies? I have some doubt on "computers"? Maybe Dumb Terminals (which would looked like computers to the non-technical. But how would your hooked them up to the required time-share computers back in a bunker somewhere? Maybe mid-eighties?
I am very disappointed that nobody is making Ben 10 references 🤦🏿♂️
Don’t worry I wa thinking the same thing
yeah i kinda clicked hoping for that
I thought this video was somehow related to ben10
That's why it looked familiar
@notfiveo
"What we got is one heavily armed recreational vehicle."
I only saw one of these EM-50s in the movie “Stripes” but the interior and bulletproof siding looked badass for the time
I still see these every summer here in Northern Michigan. My brother just bought one down in Texas. He had to replace the passenger side glass and some other parts. Apparently, the door frame developes issues over time and the frame becomes pushed in making the door impossible to function properly. He also got a new airbag for the rear as one had developed a slow leak. You can still get parts but cross referencing the engine is a ROYAL pain in the rear.
There is a fix for that door; it's actually the body bowing slightly from the weight of the A/C units on the roof. If I recall correctly, the fix involves pulling the sides inward with a jack or a come-along. It's not as bad or as difficult as it sounds. Mine hasn't sagged, so I haven't had to deal with it yet.
Caryonah Hunting Lodge in the Cumberland Mountains of Tennessee was our destination when, in March of 1982, eleven of us climbed aboard a friend’s GMC motorhome in Fort Wayne, Indiana to embark upon a Wild Boar hunt. It offered as comfortable a ride as a luxury automobile! After 100+ miles one of the air rides of the rear wheels gave a bit of trouble which we were able to have repaired in Indianapolis in fairly short order. We arrived at out destination with time to spare, had a very successful hunt and returned to Fort Wayne the next day riding “first class” in that GMC ride. A great memory!
I was there, man. Back in the 70's. Great times, great times.
I have a 1976 Canyon Lands version in my garage. It hasn't been driven since 1983. It is a virtual time capsule.
My dad still drives his '76 Eleganza II model of this RV and he's totally rebuilt and renovated it from the wheels up. Last year's vacation for him and my mother was a15,000 mile trip to and from, as well as all around, the east coast of Canada where we're from. Love that RV.
This rv was awesome. My father had one and we would take long 2 week Summer trips every Summer
going from one end of the country to the other - from Florida to Colorado to Canada. It was so big inside on the long trips we usually had 1 or 2 kids come with our
neighborhood as we had room to ride in comfort. We took most of those trips from between 4th to 8th grade before my dad sold it. On the road, Dad normally was at the wheel and when he needed a nap Mom would take over and drive till he was rested up.
On the long trips us kids, would normally play board games at a table. Sometimes we would even take a shower though one had to keep one hand on the wall
to keep from falling down on the move which could happen in a funny way - once when riding with my brothers friend he literally fell out of the shower room
through the door and almost on top of me when my Dad had to swing the rv suddenly to avoid a large pothole. It was hysterically funny for me but not as funny for him.
The ride was nice but the thing did guzzle gas and my father eventually decided it would be better if we just flew to wherever we went as it would cost the same.
I suppose I am a bit biased as all we had to do on the cross country trips was to watch the country pass from the outside and to play games and eat meals from a table on the
move. Driving the thing was probably less of a joy and my father seemed happy to have been rid of it though he was upset how little he got for it as the demand was so
low he couldn't find a buyer for many months. The last thing I recall is the funky colors inside - bright orange with white and blue trim. I recall my brother even begged my dad to get a pinball
machine for inside the rv. My dad gave him the look of being nuts but my little brother was serious about it.
I will always call this the rust bucket the rv of my childhood
The video only gives the reason that was published by GMC for discontinuing the motorhome - to concentrate on the other vehicles built by their Truck and Bus Division. AS an RV insider I could offer some insight to add to this. In the early 70's I was working for an RV supplier, and I was making regular calls on Winnebago as a Customer Service Engineer. They were by far the largest motorhome builder at that time - in 1973 they were putting out 360 coaches per week from their "Big Bertha" plant.
At that time about 80 % of RV motorhome chassis sales were the Dodge chassis from Chrysler. Chrysler had a sales rep that handled only one account - Winnebago. They used a few Chevy chassis in their Itasca line and Winnebago C models, but most of their motorhomes used the Dodge chassis.
The RV industry was hearing that Class A motorhome builders were asking for a chassis that was more suitable for motorhome use. Dodge was not responding, but GMC was, with their Chevy chassis. GMC also realized that some motorhome companies would be reluctant to buy their chassis if they considered the GMC motorhome as their competition, so they discontinued their motorhome. Within 5 years or so Chevy had 80 % of the motorhome market. To this day I believe this is a large part of the reason they dropped the motorhome. If anyone can shed further light on this please do so.
Sure, Chevy provided the chassis for the Sportscoach - arguably the most aerodynamic besides the GMC - but they were still high-centered pigs....
And when it comes to the 'mini' motorhomes, the best chassis was the Ford E-350 with the 460 under the hood. 10MPG with plenty of power...
Comment too long. I just wanted to read a comment, not a book.
Need to bring these beasts back with modern upgrades to aerodynamics, electronics, engine and drivetrain! Would be awesome!
Yes, wouldn't liberty be cool, again for taste..
There was some outfit that actually bought the rights from GM to produce these in the early 2000s. They had a website and were first going to produce a trailer version. Not sure whatever happened to them, but I am guessing that the costs of fabrication was just too much.
I'd love to get one then duramax swap it with a decked out interior and some newer rims just a few basic thing dont kill the retro appeal
how can you up grade their aerodynamics, cant make them any better, engines were very dependable many still running with over 170000 miles on them no problems, only improvement could be in the gas milage
Yep, put a EFI LS motor in it.
I remember seeing these on the road traveling the north / south eastern corridor along the 95. I thought they were so futuristic and cool looking.
Put in a few modern upgrades, including a new paint scheme, a turbodiesel 6 spd and sell it in today's market. I bet it would sell.👍😉
I love how vintage anything is always better than any new current vehicles of any kind on the market today.
This was probably the last era of American businesses still leading the pack instead of just going with the status quo. The gas crisis in the 70's and the less expensive Japanese vehicles hurt the American auto industry. Another factor that many people don't mention is that there were serious QC issues with a lot of American made cars. Unions had gotten too powerful and there were even newscasts showing empty beer bottles in the door panel of a brand new car. The rattling noise made the new owner take notice. Also, the industry fell under much stricter governmental controls in the 70's, which led to higher costs for American automakers. These particular RV's were outstanding and way, way ahead of their time. They always reminded me of one of the vehicles on the popular tv series Lost In Space. Thanks for an excellent video.
Having known a GM plant manager from those days, I recall his comment about GM in those days. "Management was distant, considered labor an adversary, and was actually not very good at much of anything. We had good engineers. We just didn't have good managers."
I blame the people in the Middle East for ruining the American auto industry with the Arab Oil crisis of the 1970s.
The GMC motorhome was the peak of GM's greatness.
Michael O'Keefe “arab oil crisis” seriously!!! How can someone build a small car or a taxi with 6l engine displacement?! It’s unnecessary and dumb , yes oil is still cheap today , but why waste it with useless thirsty heavy engines?!
Not only that, but typical bean counters seem way too eager to decide what's "profitable", vs. what's "popular" and what's best for the company. Had engineers gotten their way, I imagine the GMC Motorhome would've continued indefinitely, since they know how a truck is supposed to work.
I've only seen two of these in person, but like many people, I've heard of them, and I've seen pictures of them. If only today's motorhomes were this innovative, or this attractive.
I've only ever seen one in person, it's sitting in a driveway and hasn't moved in years
Justin Noker come to Sacramento...they're everywhere
it isn't a motor home proper, but the volkswagen california looks amazing as a camper van
@@penguinpie5056 While I can't see myself living in this full-time, I can see this being used for travel across the country.
@@cpufreak101 That can't be good. If you're going to have a vehicle like this, it needs to be driven, if not daily, certainly every other week.
Both My grandparents had one of these, they were the best I've ever seen , for the day.
Spent many an hour riding in one of these. Was the coolest RV ever. They had their issues mind you, but incredable machine. My buddies dad brought one of these home, wow what time we had in that!
A fantastic profile on this unique RV, I had a good friend in Redondo Beach CA who had one in the mid 80's, I was very impressed with it then & wouldn't mind restoring one today.
vinniecorleone62 i drive only Chevys or Cadillacs for this reason to this day.
The times of GM being one of the great innovators are long gone
We had a VW Camper van with the pop up top in 1976. We thought we were fancy until one night at a KOA in Georgia a family let us tour the inside of their GMC. Even as an 11 year old boy I knew that thing was special.
Thanks for the memories of a wonderful motorhome that still draws a crowd wherever you see one.
No doubt the bean counters played a role in the cancellation of this awesome vehicle, but also the full size Toronado itself was discontinued after 1978 depriving the RV of a drivetrain. luv these...pass by one on the way to work and I always turn to look at it. Just found several online for under $20k
I Think this is the main reason it was canceled, complete re-engineering. Revcon by the way pioneered the FWD motor home and had to demonstrate to GM the concept was viable and safe before GM would contract to sell the drivetrains. Once they did, the GMC was developed concurrent with the Revcon. The Revcon proceeded with an Aluminum skin and the GMC with the Fiberglass. In 1978 when the drivetrain was downsized for the new smaller Toronado, the Revcon redesigned to a 454 chevy powering a transfer case with a driveshaft to the front axle. The FWD lived on with this new design with the Revcon but the GMC died and was pulled from production. It was too bad, imagine what these would have become. Revcon essentially went out of business in 84, although restarts sporadically produced a few more up through the 91 model year, the last of them being built with GMC body panels.
But the second generation front drive "E" bodies still had a longitudinal engine but the transmission was changed from the THM425 to the THM325. The design for the THM 425 was already built and was a derivative of the THM 400 which remained in production so it was feasible to continue production of the THM 425 transmission but maybe change the bell housing pattern to that of the Big Block Chevy 454 so they could still offer the larger engines or better yet change to the dual bell housing pattern they adopted so the transmission could be used on the big Chevy or the Olds engine or even the Olds diesel engine. I have heard the final drive ratio of the THM 425 was a little high for motor homes use maybe they didn't feel that the volume of motor home sales warranted developing a final drive housing big enough to house the larger ring gear needed for a steeper final drive ratio. We could question why GM didn't simply continue development of the RV chassis for both Motor homes and commercial trucks and simply sell chassis to other manufacturers to build motor homes and vans on, much like the w "P" series chassis they were selling to other manufacturers to make step vans, buses and class A motor homes. With the fuel crunch in the mid 70's and again in 1979-80 during the Iranian Crisis the market for a more fuel efficient motor home may of been there, and a front drive stepvan chassis may of been practical and allow the same interior room with a lower roof line and reduced drag. After all Chevrolet was already a supplier of bare chassis for RVs and Commercial vehicles. But remember GM sold off the commercial/RV chassis business in 1999 after already exiting the the heavy truck market by selling the big GMC and Chevrolet trucks off to Volvo/White. At one time GM, IHC, Ford, Chrysler John Deere and Freightliner were all producing RV/Bus chassis, all that is left now for a class A chassis is Ford and Freightliner.
Actually, I read today in a book by GM, that the gas crunch of the 70s that drove up gas prices and pretty much wreaked havoc on the RV industry is what killed this thing. GMC actually shifted their sales strategy to sell more of these as mobile offices and ambulances, they also went after the highest end of the RV market where people still had money. However, none of that was enough and it was killed.
they sold like a bazillion square bodies in the early 80's so they were right
socalfive
I looked at a '71 or '72 Revcon that was on CL awhile back. For as neglected as it was, the exterior and powertrain were still in really good condition. They are a solidly built rig. Sadly, this one had spent several years sitting and basically had become the perfect aquarium environment for mice to build an empire. Couldn't stand the stench of being inside of it long enough to look at it any closer.
GM says they quit making them because they discovered that in the time spent to build one of these they could make and move out 100 pick up trucks! That was the day the GM RV died.
40 plus years later virtually all modern RV's look extremely similar to this engineering marvel
Which ones?
@@conveyor2 all modern RV's
GM never misses an opportunity to miss an op
Ours was lizard green with a hissing orange interior. Custom ordered by dad.
🤣😂
Awesome description.
Some things from the 70's are better left in the 70's ;-)
@Onix Navarro
With rich simulated grain.
Did your dad work for Braniff Airlines?
I consider it a huge success to have designed and sold an RV during the gas crisis when the company has no experience with RVs in the first place. They should try a short run of an updated version to see how the public reacts. The RVs would sell. And yes, those GMC motorhomes were pretty reliable. I saw a ton of those when I was a kid in the 1980s, meaning probably half of those RVs were almost 11-12 years old. An RV salesman I met told me that the quality of motorhomes today has taken such a dump that he doesn't recommend keeping one longer than 4-6 years! The repair costs will soon outweigh the benefits of keeping it! And from all the horror stories I read online, I believe him.
Better off building your own, they are junk.
With today's high real state prices and more and more people living in cars and vans, I think this is a great opportunity to bring a newer version of this RV.
Dave Saenz it would cost a fortune.
M
And the rent raise gimmick of 5%/year it will become the norm soon to live in our cars/trucks or RV's......
So someone that cant afford a house is going to buy a new rv?
A friend of mine bought one as an insurance right off in the UK. A girder had fell off a truck and went through and wrecked the engine and transmission. The cost of shipping in an engine and transmission plus body work put it on the scrap pile. My fiend cut off the front and turned it into an artic trail home, that he towed behind a Land Rover V8 double crew car 6 wheel conversion. The whole rig looked amazing and I spent a week end sucking up the admiration it got where ever we parked.
"That there is an RV Clark"
just imagine towing an AMC Pacer behind this!
Perfect!
The Mirth mobile!
With the Jetsons flying car hovering above.
I liked the Pacer: The Fish Bowl
Haha!! "Hey Everyone! My Motorhome just had a BAAABY!!!"
I remember riding my bike in a small Idaho town, in the early 70s and seeing one of these motor homes. I wanted one so badly, they were neet! I wonder what the price was back then, anyone know?
That is one well-engineered stick of butter. God bless
I never had a clue as to how truly amazing the GMC Motor Home really was/is! I'm wondering why GM hasn't resurrected the concept. With current engineering and production standards, they would OWN the RV market!
Thank you for this eye-opening video!
No one in CorporateLand makes a career out of reviving old technology. It's just not a fast-track choice for the ambitious hard charging executive.
Lived near the Plant when I was a kid, absolutely loved 'em!! Anybody remember the Vixen Motorhome? Similar in size, lower ride height, fwd, BMW engine, could fit in a normal sized garage. A total flop, and assembled within 3 miles of the GMC Motorhome assembly plant in Pontiac Michigan.....city with a rich Automotive history!!!
dew2667 I don’t recall those. What year would that have been?
I used to work for an RV dealership around 00/01. There was a VW Rialta that was Front drive and very low. They were pretty unique. I don’t see many around anymore.
Bill Collins, creator of the Vixen, was inspired by the GMC Motorhome when he was chief engineer at Pontiac. The Vixen was Bill's take on improving the GMC concept. I've owned both. While the Vixen had amazing handling and fuel economy (28 MPG highway and this in the mountainous West), it was really short on camping ability (tiny, tiny restroom, below minimum kitchen, and very little storage). When I bought the Vixen, the plan was to sell the GMC. I ended up selling the Vixen and keeping the GMC; which I've had for over two decades and still have today.
That sounds great, similar in size but fits in a normal garage--engineering!
I heard of something like that with a BMW diesel. Does that sound right?
The Vixens were made somewhere over on Opdyke Rd.
What a shame, so true that they were an awesome coach, such a shame GM dropped the ball on these and quit making them.
Right? Typical. They intro such a great idea to the public, and then as quickly as it was intro'd, they discontinue.
I still love seeing these on the road. I think they are still so amazing in their artistic design.
Radio station WSLR in Akron, Ohio purchased 1 of these as a promotional vehicle in the late 1970's. It had the station logo painted on it and was used to transport employees and "Lucky listeners" to station activities.
How correct you are about it's forward thinking design and engineering inside and out. When standing inside, it's curved walls with high ceilings gave the passenger(s) a feeling of room to stretch, spectacular vehicle.
Someone should kick the person who made gm quit making the beautiful unit
and had them buy Hummer
It's a better than even chance they are dead.
They probably gave him a promotion and a raise in salary! Bean counters stick together....
I remember back in 1973 when I first started seeing these on the highway in the summertime when I was a kid!! These were always a cut above the rest‼️👍👍
I still have my Hess version of this MotorHome
$38k MSRP in 1977 is $161k today
My 1978 KZ650 was $2,700 ,with tax, lic, prep it was just over $3k that makes my bike worth $12,600 in today's money, HUH,...
My 1977 Trans Am was $15,000, that is $63,000 in today's money according to your calculation.
Yeah my dad paid like 35 k for a repo gmc. With deluxe accent group.
So my Dad spent the equivalent of $75,000 over a years time, I was 16-17 years old, I guess he was pretty cool looking at it with dollar values factored, either that or he was trying to kill me? just kidding, I brought my KZ 650 to the dealer for its 500 mile break in service with my Dad and on the wall was chromed pieces for the KZ's plus 4 into 1 headers , plus the extras, I didn't really consider any of that stuff, I was enthralled with the bike, well my Dad told them to put on the chrome engine covers and carb bowl & tops, he put four separate K & N air filters and a Scientific 4 into 1 chromed header, new seat that had an elevated rear seat and held me in my saddle, he put Magura dog leg levers, steel braided brake lines and Ferodo brake pads, he had them drill my 3 discs too! he put a halogen headlight that had a high beam fir for the Baja 1000, I see my bike and don't even recognize that as my bike!
My Dad was pretty cool, cooler than I ever knew I guess.
A bargain at $161k. Checked current prices lately?
BLOOP BLOOPSON : my dad gave me a rock and a roll of caps.
I have a customer with one, original owner. I rarely get to work on anything and hes been using it all year for 40+ years. Immaculate engineering
I had one of these when I was a kid ..... in Hot Wheels form !
I own Revcon #71-0004, one the very first made. Revcon, as noted, was first with the idea of a Toronado based moho. I had a GMC motorhome owner sniff at my 'Rosebud'. He said, "Well, it's not a GMC". I said," yeah, there can only be one original". BAM! GOTCHA!