And now it's my turn.
I joined GMCMI before buying a GMC, skimmed and read quite a few posts here and on the old forum. Searched every ad I could find nationwide for several months. Missed a couple good ones (the best sell very fast if the price is right). The information here and on GMCMI is excellent and helped me realize mechanical condition is the priority, don't worry as much about interior style - can always get to that later. Paint and upholstery aren't urgent and won't leave you stranded.
Spotted an ad for a '78 in Prescott Arizona with a long list of mechanical and exterior upgrades, and several essential utility/interior upgrades. Major renovation in 2016, 455 built to JimB's specs a year after that (Crane RV cam, aluminum intake, Thorley with 3" exhaust, etc. I realized this machine was the 2nd photo on the GMC Coop's main page and found photos of the work by JimB's shop - Cal Terry's GMC. And additional upgrades performed by JimK at Applied. I didn't realize until after the purchase, but Cal & Roberta Terry owned it 20 years and had purchased it from a long-time owner in the Seattle area.
After a couple phone calls with Cal I sent a deposit and booked a 1-way flight. Actually two 1-way SEA>PHX tickets - figured if I'm going to take a risk, might as well really jump in so I brought my 91-year old mom along for the ride. She lives independently, cooks awesome meals and "wants to live to two hundred."
Met Cal and Roberta, went over GMC details, arrived at a final price and arranged title transfer. Spent a couple great days in Jerome AZ (cool old mining town in the mountains), toured Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright's Scottsdale design studio), surprised my mom with a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and filled the rental car with RV supplies I'd purchased on Amazon for delivery in Prescott (since we had flown down from Seattle). Here's my mom sampling local beverages in Jerome Arizona:
Went back to Cal and Roberta's, photo with their RV one last time (or maybe not - I plan to be back and to many more places).
I have experience with classics - recently completed a correct 1936 Ford Cabriolet restoration. My pickup is a 1970 F250 4WD (factory stock). My garage also contains a 1970 Subaru 360 (22 hp 2 cylinder 2-stroke) and 1972 Honda Z600. But as people have observed here most classics sit in a garage, driven a few local miles in nice weather or a couple towns over - not cross country in rain or blistering heat like many of these GMCs. So I am new to this and really appreciate what people here have done for the community.
Normally I'd insist on a comprehensive test drive and dig through essential mechanicals, but with the known history and everything checking out I decided to just go for it. First time I drove this (or any) GMC Motorhome was from Arizona to Seattle.
Cal's advice was similar to what I've seen here - don't try to set speed records. Check the gauges, relax and enjoy the incredible view through that fishbowl windshield. And I did, and my mom as well. We both had a blast and will never forget this trip.
Took the mountain route to Winslow AZ over some steep passes, very little traffic. Reached the edge of Petrified Forest National Park as the sun was setting, found a primitive camping spot on private land, $20.
Woke up the next day to Arizona views as piglets on the property checked out the GMC - maybe to compare gas mileage?
With the park now open (daylight hours only) we motored through the Petrified Forest. It's on the edge of Arizona's Painted Desert and I can see why it's called that - the colors made my mom go "ooh" and "aah" pretty much nonstop. Looped back and headed north to the Moab, watched the colors gradually change to spectacular cliffs and rock formations. Wile E Coyote country.
Camped in an awesome area of the Moab - back road a half hour from town (Highway 279), river surrounded by cliffs. And, just like pretty much every camping area and many gas stations, people walked up to admire the GMC. I've admired these since they were new in the 1970s (when I was in grade school), didn't realize I could own one someday.
Got up, headed into Arches National Park and then one my favorite roads anywhere - Highway 128 through Castle Valley. I've seen it before (my mom hadn't), but from this windshield every mile is new and different. Difficult to describe but I bet other GMC fans understand.
From the Moab, north to Provo and Salt Lake, and a serious windstorm. Passenger mirror lens blew off - the only glitch on the entire trip. A tractor-trailer in front of me pulled off and almost flipped over in the storm. I stopped at the next town, bought a stick-on mirror and duct tape, good enough for rest of trip. Salt Lake City was barely visible through blowing salt or whatever was in the air. Made it through traffic and camped on edge of the lake north of Ogden. Glad we weren't in a tent - might have ended up in Kansas.
Next day was clear weather. Headed north into Idaho and more mountains - and Craters of the Moon National Monument. Weather was sunny but a recent storm had dumped snow so the road into the park was closed. The view from edge of park was still great to see, and back roads are usually more interesting than freeway.
Continued west on back roads, spotted a rig that's heavier with less interior space. Mine isn't EM-50 green but looks close enough next to this M-1 in Desert Tan:
A few miles later, scenery from a different era:
...and then Oregon and a great campground near the Snake River. Place was almost empty but one of the few other campers ran up - quite excited, he recognized this particular GMC on sight and had seen it at a rally several years ago.
From there, headed west along the Columbia River to Portland Oregon. I prefer two-lane Highway 14 on the north side of river - much nicer than the interstate.
Dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant in Portland - about the only meal that didn't come out of the GMC's kitchen. And then north to Seattle.
Dropped my mom off at her downtown Seattle condo near midnight (I parallel parked the GMC!), then I decided to take a drive around the city - sometimes a hassle with daytime traffic but mostly empty at that hour. Drove all over downtown in the "Bus Only" lanes (figured I'd play dumb if I got pulled over). A group of partiers hollered and waved at the GMC - figured anything like this driving around the city after midnight must be a party bus. Or maybe it was my foot planted pretty far into a sweet sounding 454 <edit-455>.
The first Starbucks is from the same decade and looks smaller than a GMC from this angle:
...and a final photo to end a great first trip.
Looking forward to many more miles.
- Kendra
I joined GMCMI before buying a GMC, skimmed and read quite a few posts here and on the old forum. Searched every ad I could find nationwide for several months. Missed a couple good ones (the best sell very fast if the price is right). The information here and on GMCMI is excellent and helped me realize mechanical condition is the priority, don't worry as much about interior style - can always get to that later. Paint and upholstery aren't urgent and won't leave you stranded.
Spotted an ad for a '78 in Prescott Arizona with a long list of mechanical and exterior upgrades, and several essential utility/interior upgrades. Major renovation in 2016, 455 built to JimB's specs a year after that (Crane RV cam, aluminum intake, Thorley with 3" exhaust, etc. I realized this machine was the 2nd photo on the GMC Coop's main page and found photos of the work by JimB's shop - Cal Terry's GMC. And additional upgrades performed by JimK at Applied. I didn't realize until after the purchase, but Cal & Roberta Terry owned it 20 years and had purchased it from a long-time owner in the Seattle area.
After a couple phone calls with Cal I sent a deposit and booked a 1-way flight. Actually two 1-way SEA>PHX tickets - figured if I'm going to take a risk, might as well really jump in so I brought my 91-year old mom along for the ride. She lives independently, cooks awesome meals and "wants to live to two hundred."
Met Cal and Roberta, went over GMC details, arrived at a final price and arranged title transfer. Spent a couple great days in Jerome AZ (cool old mining town in the mountains), toured Taliesin West (Frank Lloyd Wright's Scottsdale design studio), surprised my mom with a helicopter tour of the Grand Canyon and filled the rental car with RV supplies I'd purchased on Amazon for delivery in Prescott (since we had flown down from Seattle). Here's my mom sampling local beverages in Jerome Arizona:
Went back to Cal and Roberta's, photo with their RV one last time (or maybe not - I plan to be back and to many more places).
I have experience with classics - recently completed a correct 1936 Ford Cabriolet restoration. My pickup is a 1970 F250 4WD (factory stock). My garage also contains a 1970 Subaru 360 (22 hp 2 cylinder 2-stroke) and 1972 Honda Z600. But as people have observed here most classics sit in a garage, driven a few local miles in nice weather or a couple towns over - not cross country in rain or blistering heat like many of these GMCs. So I am new to this and really appreciate what people here have done for the community.
Normally I'd insist on a comprehensive test drive and dig through essential mechanicals, but with the known history and everything checking out I decided to just go for it. First time I drove this (or any) GMC Motorhome was from Arizona to Seattle.
Cal's advice was similar to what I've seen here - don't try to set speed records. Check the gauges, relax and enjoy the incredible view through that fishbowl windshield. And I did, and my mom as well. We both had a blast and will never forget this trip.
Took the mountain route to Winslow AZ over some steep passes, very little traffic. Reached the edge of Petrified Forest National Park as the sun was setting, found a primitive camping spot on private land, $20.
Woke up the next day to Arizona views as piglets on the property checked out the GMC - maybe to compare gas mileage?
With the park now open (daylight hours only) we motored through the Petrified Forest. It's on the edge of Arizona's Painted Desert and I can see why it's called that - the colors made my mom go "ooh" and "aah" pretty much nonstop. Looped back and headed north to the Moab, watched the colors gradually change to spectacular cliffs and rock formations. Wile E Coyote country.
Camped in an awesome area of the Moab - back road a half hour from town (Highway 279), river surrounded by cliffs. And, just like pretty much every camping area and many gas stations, people walked up to admire the GMC. I've admired these since they were new in the 1970s (when I was in grade school), didn't realize I could own one someday.
Got up, headed into Arches National Park and then one my favorite roads anywhere - Highway 128 through Castle Valley. I've seen it before (my mom hadn't), but from this windshield every mile is new and different. Difficult to describe but I bet other GMC fans understand.
From the Moab, north to Provo and Salt Lake, and a serious windstorm. Passenger mirror lens blew off - the only glitch on the entire trip. A tractor-trailer in front of me pulled off and almost flipped over in the storm. I stopped at the next town, bought a stick-on mirror and duct tape, good enough for rest of trip. Salt Lake City was barely visible through blowing salt or whatever was in the air. Made it through traffic and camped on edge of the lake north of Ogden. Glad we weren't in a tent - might have ended up in Kansas.
Next day was clear weather. Headed north into Idaho and more mountains - and Craters of the Moon National Monument. Weather was sunny but a recent storm had dumped snow so the road into the park was closed. The view from edge of park was still great to see, and back roads are usually more interesting than freeway.
Continued west on back roads, spotted a rig that's heavier with less interior space. Mine isn't EM-50 green but looks close enough next to this M-1 in Desert Tan:
A few miles later, scenery from a different era:
...and then Oregon and a great campground near the Snake River. Place was almost empty but one of the few other campers ran up - quite excited, he recognized this particular GMC on sight and had seen it at a rally several years ago.
From there, headed west along the Columbia River to Portland Oregon. I prefer two-lane Highway 14 on the north side of river - much nicer than the interstate.
Dinner at my favorite Thai restaurant in Portland - about the only meal that didn't come out of the GMC's kitchen. And then north to Seattle.
Dropped my mom off at her downtown Seattle condo near midnight (I parallel parked the GMC!), then I decided to take a drive around the city - sometimes a hassle with daytime traffic but mostly empty at that hour. Drove all over downtown in the "Bus Only" lanes (figured I'd play dumb if I got pulled over). A group of partiers hollered and waved at the GMC - figured anything like this driving around the city after midnight must be a party bus. Or maybe it was my foot planted pretty far into a sweet sounding 454 <edit-455>.
The first Starbucks is from the same decade and looks smaller than a GMC from this angle:
...and a final photo to end a great first trip.
Looking forward to many more miles.
- Kendra
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