The GMC Motorhome

The GMC Motorhome deserves its own entry.

From 1973 to 1978 the General Motors Corporation built the only Motorhome to ever be built by a major automaker.

It was designed by automotive engineers as a Motorhome. It rides about a foot off of the ground on a pivoting rear suspension with the dual wheels in front of each other. The body is all fiberglass and every inch of space is well designed and efficient. It looks like a shuttle from a science fiction movie.

Despite being much smaller than other motorhomes it can sleep six people if it has the right layout because the couches convert into bunk beds.

It is aerodynamic and has front wheel drive courtesy of an Oldsmobile Tornado transmission.

I looked at dozens of these online and one in reality. I was most impressed with the original build quality and fit and finish of the one I looked at. The fiberglass does not leak or rot. it has the 1970's lap seatbelts for the front seat passengers and none in the back. Storage space is limited. You sit right at the front windshield in the front seats. It rides very smoothly and is quiet for a Motorhome. It has a short turning radius and is not very tall.

A GMC Motorhome in good condition runs around $15,000 and they go very far up from there. Since they are so old most of them have been butchered and the original equipment and furniture removed.

The one I looked at convinced me that it was too small for my family but I remain impressed with the design and build quality of these machines.