Mobile homes GMC Collectible
In the 1970s, General Motors entered the RV market. Drawing on the exuberance of the era, the company decided to create the ultimate in American cars. Their goal was to produce a luxury car with cutting edge design and construction, and not just another competitor in the market already crowded vacation vehicle.
The common understanding at that time was a unit of boxy, ungainly and top-heavy on a truck chassis. The GMC vehicle was intended to be a completely new design in every sense. Design work began in 1970 with market introduction planned for 1973. “Do not look like a box or roll like a truck” was the slogan ad GMC.
The new vehicle would be unusual for this time of several ways. First, 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 in the design of the Oldsmobile Toronado. The 265 horsepower engine 455 cubic inch Oldsmobile was attached to a Turbohydramatic 425 of transmission of a torsion bar suspension.
The rear suspension is a product of conception of GM buses, using dual swing arms, one primary and one back, with a single air spring on each side.
Instead of a steel body of the automobile, the body should be made of lightweight aluminum and plastic molded fiberglass reinforced as that used in the Chevrolet Corvette.
The front wheel drive and independent rear suspension swing arm has a great improvement to the original design of the standard motor.
The lack of drive shafts and axles underneath the car has a very low floor height, leading in turn to an overall height of the vehicle and low center of gravity.
In addition to facilitating the entry and exit, this reduced rollover risk and wind resistance and makes the vehicle safer and easier to use for buyers accustomed to driving.
A six-wheel braking system, disc brakes front and drum brakes on all four rear wheels, further enhanced maneuverability.
Previous highway design house, focusing primarily 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 campsite.
Easy to get to the destination was a secondary concern, and the heavy lifting on the road was taken for granted. GMC makes a point of targeting this function to improve visibility by adding from the driver’s seat with a panoramic glass range.
The site was presented in 23 feet and 26 feet long, fairly small even for that time.
Today’s models are much more common. interior of the motor home was compact, with no permanent sleeping areas in the original design. All rooms have been turned into staging areas in case of need.
Hot water is supplied by water heaters using engine coolant loops, which produces 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 battery of the car, sufficient only for the night before recharging.
The prototype was displayed at the May 1, 1972 at Transpro ’72 trade show in Washington, DC Production started in 1973 with two models, the 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 RV manufacturers and others as Airplane driver, who then gave their own inside before reselling to consumers.
30 different floor plans were available, and models have cost $ 35,000 to $ 40,000.
The GMC vehicle changed slightly over time, the most significant change coming in 1977 when the 455-cubic inch engine was replaced by a model of 403 cubic inches in response to the energy crisis.
This decade caused hardship for all RV manufacturers as the increased price of fuel has pushed gas vehicles, large gourmet market.
Camping GMC never sold at high volumes, and the company has decided that the RV production facilities could be more profitable to make light trucks. Following the production of 12,921 vehicles, production of motorhomes was discontinued after model year 1978.
Almost immediately after production ceased, GMC motorhomes became items, with owners collectors associations set up to provide parts and service for these vehicles.
Small manufacturers and garages developed a cottage industry servicing them. In 1992, General Motors prepared to scrap all the other tools and parts, Cinnabar Engineering purchased all the supplies automotive original manufacturing and negotiated an agreement to continue supplying parts for the discontinued vehicles.
In 1992, a monthly magazine called GMC motor home market has been introduced, and in 1994 Cinnabar started publishing a quarterly newsletter called GMC Motor home News.
futuristic design of the vehicle 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 promotion of Barbie Star Traveler.
In a stunning example of customer loyalty and product durability, more than 8,000 units are still registered by owners. An Internet search of “GMC cars” produced 771,000 results, as sites advertise the original engine parts, engines and upgrades as well as classic car rallies for owners. Used motor homes for sale GMC for $ 10,000 to $ 15,000 depending on vehicle condition
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