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