In the 1970s, General Motors entered the recreational vehicle market. Building on the exuberance of the time, the company set out to create the ultimate American motorhome. Their goal 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 very heavy, gangly, square unit on a truck chassis. The GMC vehicle was meant to be a completely new design in every way. Design work began in 1970, with the market launch planned for 1973. “It doesn’t look like a box or ride like a truck,” was the motto of the GMC ad.
The new vehicle would be unusual for this era in several ways. First of all, it was going to have front-wheel drive, a concept uncommon in automobiles at the time and unheard of in mobile homes. The drivetrain and suspension were taken from the Oldsmobile Toronado design. The 265-horsepower, 455-cubic-inch Oldsmobile engine was mated to a Turbohydramatic 425 transmission with torsion bar suspension. The rear suspension was a product of GM’s bus design, using two wishbones, one front and one rear, with a single air spring on each side. Instead of a steel body, the body was to be made of lightweight aluminum and fiberglass-reinforced molded plastic like the one used in the Chevrolet Corvette.
Front-wheel drive and independent swingarm rear suspension made a major improvement on the standard motorhome design. The lack of drive shafts and axles under the coach allowed for a very low floor height, which in turn led to a low overall vehicle height and a lower center of gravity. In addition to easier entry and exit, this reduced the risk of tipping and wind resistance and made the vehicle much safer and easier to operate for buyers used only to driving cars. A six-wheel brake system, with disc brakes at the front and drum brakes at the four rear wheels, further improved drivability.
Previous motorhome design focused primarily on using the vehicle as temporary housing once it reached its destination, an extended stay in a mobile home park, or a camping spot. Ease of reaching the destination was a secondary concern and cumbersome highway handling was taken for granted. GMC placed particular emphasis on enhancing this feature by adding visibility from the driver’s seat with a panoramic glass extension.
The motorhome came in 23 and 26 foot lengths, quite small even for this era. Today, much larger models are common. The interior design of the motorhome was compact, with no permanent sleeping areas in the original layout. All beds were converted into seating areas when necessary.
The hot water was provided by water heaters that used engine coolant circuits, which produced water so hot that it could actually present a burn hazard, as coolant temperatures generally exceed 200 degrees Fahrenheit. The refrigerator was powered by a standard automotive battery, suitable for overnight use only before recharging.
The prototype was first displayed in May 1972 at the Transpro ’72 trade show in Washington, DC Production began in 1973 with two models, Model 230 and Model 260, 23 and 26 feet long respectively.
They were sold with a finished interior to the public and unfinished to other RV manufacturers such as Avion and Coachman, who then provided their own interiors before reselling them to consumers. There were 30 different floor plans available and the models were priced from $ 35,000 to $ 40,000.
The GMC vehicle changed slightly over time, the most notable alteration occurred 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 hardships for all RV manufacturers, as rising fuel prices pushed gasoline-heavy vehicles out of the market. The GMC motorhome had never been sold in high volumes and the company decided that the RV production facilities could be used more profitably to build light trucks. After the manufacture of 12,921 vehicles, motorhome production was discontinued after the 1978 model year.
Almost immediately after production ceased, GMC motorhomes became collectibles, and owner associations were established to provide parts and service for these vehicles. Small manufacturers and workshops developed a cottage industry at their service. In 1992, as General Motors was preparing to scrap all remaining tools and parts, Cinnabar Engineering purchased all of the motorhome manufacturing supplies and negotiated a deal to continue providing parts for the discontinued vehicles. In 1992, a monthly magazine called GMC Motorhome Marketplace was introduced, and in 1994 Cinnabar began publishing a quarterly newsletter called GMC Motorhome News.
The vehicle’s futuristic design has even found a place in pop culture: Mattel Toys created die-cast versions of the GMC motorhome 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 a staggering example of customer loyalty and product durability, owners still register more than 8,000 units. An Internet search for “GMC Motorhome” yields 771,000 results, as the sites advertise motorhome parts, engines and upgrades, as well as classic car rallies for owners. Used GMC motorhomes sell for $ 10,000 to $ 15,000 depending on the condition of the vehicle.