My wife and I are avid campers, we have morphed through tents, class “C’s”, class “A’s, and currently have a 36’ fifth wheel that is aging out. Our children are grown and we are nearing retirement and we’re looking for our retirement RV. My father owned an automotive repair shop in the 70s and 80s. As a child I remember these GMCs coming through on occasion for repairs. In my child’s mind they seemed magical and futuristic, it stuck with me, every time I would see one on the road, it caught my eye.
So, we had decided on locating a low mileage class C to purchase, as we looked through the marketplace my wife spotted a GMC and said, “I wish we could find one of these, they look cool.” I never told her how much I admired them. With that bit of encouragement I said, “say no more”. The main problem with our search was every time we found one we liked it was always 1000 + miles away. I don’t know if it was God’s good graces or dumb luck, but a 77 Eleganza popped up on marketplace 80 miles away. It was like a time capsule, the owner’s son said his father purchased it in the 80s from the original owner and babied it. The owner sent it through Golby’s in the late 90s and had extensive overhaul and service performed at 68,000 miles and had the receipt's. He unfortunately passed a year later. His son kept it in storage for 24 years only driving rarely. I couldn’t pay this man fast enough! 73000 miles on the clock, I put a new battery in it, rigged a 12 gallon boat fuel tank to the pump and drove it home.
The past 8 months I have been following Jim Bounds advice step by step and trying to keep it as close to original look as I can. My next project is to change the final drive ratio from 3.07 to 3.70 as I want to tow an older Wrangler. I was a master automotive technician for most of my life and was looking for a supplier for the 3.70 ring and pinion, not only because I’m borderline DIY crazy, but the cost of a new unit and shipping.
Hurricane Helene severely damaged our home and we used the GMC as a lifeboat for two months, my wife has named it “Wanda”.
Mark and Angie Wilson
Ambrose Georgia
So, we had decided on locating a low mileage class C to purchase, as we looked through the marketplace my wife spotted a GMC and said, “I wish we could find one of these, they look cool.” I never told her how much I admired them. With that bit of encouragement I said, “say no more”. The main problem with our search was every time we found one we liked it was always 1000 + miles away. I don’t know if it was God’s good graces or dumb luck, but a 77 Eleganza popped up on marketplace 80 miles away. It was like a time capsule, the owner’s son said his father purchased it in the 80s from the original owner and babied it. The owner sent it through Golby’s in the late 90s and had extensive overhaul and service performed at 68,000 miles and had the receipt's. He unfortunately passed a year later. His son kept it in storage for 24 years only driving rarely. I couldn’t pay this man fast enough! 73000 miles on the clock, I put a new battery in it, rigged a 12 gallon boat fuel tank to the pump and drove it home.
The past 8 months I have been following Jim Bounds advice step by step and trying to keep it as close to original look as I can. My next project is to change the final drive ratio from 3.07 to 3.70 as I want to tow an older Wrangler. I was a master automotive technician for most of my life and was looking for a supplier for the 3.70 ring and pinion, not only because I’m borderline DIY crazy, but the cost of a new unit and shipping.
Hurricane Helene severely damaged our home and we used the GMC as a lifeboat for two months, my wife has named it “Wanda”.
Mark and Angie Wilson
Ambrose Georgia
