In the 1970's, General Motors entered the RV market. Drawing on the
exuberance of the times, the company set out to create the ultimate
American Motor home.
Their aim was to produce a top-of the-line vehicle with
cutting-edge design and construction, not just another competitor in the
already crowded vacation vehicle market.
The common design in this era was a boxy, ungainly and top-heavy
unit on a truck chassis. The GMC vehicle was intended to be a completely
new design in every way.
Design work began in 1970, with the market introduction planned
for 1973. "Doesn't look like a box or ride like a truck" was the GMC ad
slogan.
The new vehicle would be unusual for this era in several ways.
First of all, it was to have a front wheel drive, a rare concept in cars
of that day and unheard-of in mobile homes.
The drive train and suspension were taken from the design of the
Oldsmobile Toronado. The 265 horsepower 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile engine
was attached to a Turbohydramatic 425 transmission with torsion bar
suspension.
The rear suspension was a product of GM's bus design, using dual
swing arms, one leading and one trailing, with a single air spring on
each side.
Instead of a auto body steel, the body was to be made of
lightweight aluminum and molded fiberglass-reinforced plastic such as
was used in the Chevrolet Corvette.
The front wheel drive and independent swing arm rear suspension brought great improvement to the standard motor home design.
The lack of drive shafts and axles underneath the coach allowed a
very low floor height, leading in turn to a low overall vehicle height
and lower center of gravity.
Aside from easier entry and exit, this reduced rollover risk and
wind resistance and made the vehicle much safer and easier to operate
for buyers accustomed only to car driving.
A six-wheel braking system, with disc brakes on the front and
drum brakes on all four rear wheels, further enhanced drivability.
Previous motor home design focused mainly on the use of the vehicle as a
temporary home once it had reached its destination, an extended stay in
a mobile home park or a camping spot.
Ease of getting to 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 adding
visibility from the driver's seat with 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 common. The motor home's
interior design was compact, with no permanent sleeping areas in the
original design. All beds were converted from seating areas when
required.
Hot water was provided by water heaters using engine coolant
loops, which produced water so hot it could actually present a scalding
hazard since coolant temperatures usually exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit.
The refrigerator was powered by a standard automotive battery, adequate only for overnight use before recharging.
The prototype was first displayed in May 1972 at the Transpro '72
trade show in Washington, D.C. Production started in 1973 with two
models, Model 230 and Model 260, 23 and 26 feet long respectively.
They were sold with a finished interior for the public as well as
unfinished to other RV manufacturers such as Avion and Coachman, who
then provided their own 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 over time, the most notable
alteration coming in 1977 when the 455 cubic inch engine was replaced by
a 403 cubic inch model in response to the energy crisis.
This decade caused hardship for all RV manufacturers as the
increased price of fuel pushed large gas guzzling vehicles out of the
market.
The GMC motor home had never sold at high volumes, and the
company decided that the RV production facilities could 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
provide parts and service for these vehicles.
Small manufacturers and garages developed a cottage industry
servicing them. In 1992, as General Motors prepared to scrap all
remaining tools and parts, Cinnabar Engineering purchased all the motor
home manufacturing supplies and negotiated a deal to continue to provide
parts for the discontinued vehicles.
In 1992, a monthly magazine called GMC Motor home Marketplace was
introduced, and in 1994 Cinnabar started publishing a quarterly
newsletter called GMC Motor home News.
The vehicle's futuristic design has even found a place in pop
culture: Mattel Toys created die-cast versions of the GMC motor home for
its Hot Wheels line.
More than 50 different GMC Hot Wheels are available, and in 1977,
Mattel released three toy GMC versions in a Barbie Doll Star Traveler
promotion.
In an amazing example of customer loyalty and product durability, more than 8,000 units are still registered by owners.
An internet search of "GMC Motor home" produces 771,000 results,
as sites advertise motor home parts, engines and upgrades as well as
classic car rallies for owners.
Used GMC motor homes sell for $10,000 to $15,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle.
