Searching for the "Nakamichi Mobile Sound Shuttle" built from a GMC 26' motorhome.

[Glenn GMC]

Hi,
I am in search of the 1976 GMC motorhome that was converted into a car audio demonstration vehicle in the mid 1980's. I drove it 44,000 miles around the USA in the late 1980's. I am trying to find it. Please reach out if you ever saw it or know where it might be. Thank you. Glenn

contact me at ncalabs at aol dot com.

Here is a link to a photograph.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ax5HhtSP9CMF_GdB3u0gd4m_Q1XPC1Tj/view?usp=drive_link

 

[Christo]

Hi,
I am in search of the 1976 GMC motorhome that was converted into a car audio demonstration vehicle in the mid 1980's. I drove it 44,000 miles around the USA in the late 1980's. I am trying to find it. Please reach out if you ever saw it or know where it might be. Thank you. Glenn

contact me at ncalabs at aol dot com.

Here is a link to a photograph.

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1Ax5HhtSP9CMF_GdB3u0gd4m_Q1XPC1Tj/view?usp=drive_link

Sounds interesting but the link requires an access request. Can you edit your post to include the photo?

 

[Glenn GMC]

Let's try now. I think when I first tried to attach a file, I was not approved by the group yet.

 

[tyler]

That is way cool, what was the inside set up like? A wall of speakers, or rows of seats, limo style...did it retain camper realities like a bathroom for you to live in it while travelling?

 

[bdub]

I might can help with a VIN.

 

[Glenn GMC]

That is way cool, what was the inside set up like? A wall of speakers, or rows of seats, limo style...did it retain camper realities like a bathroom for you to live in it while travelling?

Hi Tyler,

The GMC was stripped out of all amenities except for the theater and audio equipment. I stayed in hotels along the way. The interior was superbly done by an automotive interior designer with all Recaro seats. The dash was refinished in a Porsche Elephant hide texture paint to match the color scheme. A Porsche Design steering wheel added to the look. Even the GM gauge faces were re-screened to match. The theater was via a projection screen and a rear facing Sony "In flight" projector. Source was Betamax and then LaserDiscs with thousands of watts of power. Here are a few pictures. I am not sure I can find the VIN but that is a good angle to check. The license plate was "1JKF534". California Yellow on Blue.

 

[tyler]

That is awesome, thanks for putting up those pics!

 

[Glenn GMC]

I remember we had the transmission replaced in a big GMC shop in Ohio. I would remember the name if I heard it. Might they still be in business? Maybe they have a record of the VIN?

 

[Glenn GMC]

If anybody recognizes this repair shop, I may be able to find the VIN from them if they are still in business. We had a transmission replaced at a GMC dealer and they forgot to flush the cooler lines. Pieces of metal from the original transmission contaminated the replaced transmission. GM stepped up and air freighted a new transmission to this independent shop for a new repair. I was impressed.

 

[Don Jaksa]

Well, the license plate reads California 1JKF534

Perhaps someone who access to license plate lookup can look up the info

 

[Glenn GMC]

Some more photos. I have sent notes to 3-4 GMC repair shops asking if they remember this coach. We will see. Thank you all for looking.

 

[LQQKatJon]

Some more photos. I have sent notes to 3-4 GMC repair shops asking if they remember this coach. We will see. Thank you all for looking.

Tom Hampton was a gmc shop in ohio that i knew existed in past 14 years. Now retired. Marysville, ohio. His business name was Grandview Motorhome.

Amazing website is still up says he started in 1989.

Grandviewmotorhome.com

 

[Don Jaksa]

What audio gear did it sport?

 

[Glenn GMC]

What audio gear did it sport?

Nakamichi. In the day, it was the Bugatti of car audio. Pioneered the high-fidelity cassette deck. Still very popular and expensive on the used market. Goggle Nakamichi Dragon or TD-1200II car cassette deck. I was their speaker engineer. Later this company took a fork in the road and became Soundstream car audio.

 

[Mike_H]

Very, Very Cool. I have NO idea where it might be, but thanks for posting the pictures and information. Hope you find it!

 

[Glenn GMC]

So far no luck. I did find the automotive designer who originally did the work. I have reached out to him. Thank you.

 

[Keith V]

Another cooler than kool piece of history!
and +1 for the test dirt!

 

[Glenn GMC]

Ok. A few more pictures. Maybe this will stir some memories!

 

[GMC Cruse]

The most unique thing about it that I've seen so far, that is probably still in it, is the steering wheel. It might be the key to finding it.

 

[PeteCarney]

Streetview of Grandview Motorhome in Ohio.. there is the curved style metal barn in the background, does this place look familar? It appears to be quite rural:

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