Howdy
- Thread starter brazos
- Start date
Here's a blurb I use on my car show flyer:
The GMC motorhome was built from 1973-1978. It is the only motorhome ever designed, engineered and built from scratch by a major auto manufacturer. Most are 26’ long, although a 23’ version was also available. It weighs approximately 6 tons and gets about 8 MPG. Since GMC Motorhomes are not based on a truck platform and don’t require a driveshaft to the rear wheels, they have a level floor that is only 18” off the pavement. The resulting low center of gravity enables them to handle much like a full-sized van. This floorplan sleeps 5-6 people, with the sofa converting to bunk beds and the dinette converting to a bed as well. It equipped with a full kitchen and a marine-style wet bath (dry bath optional), with onboard propane, fresh water and waste water tanks.
The GMC Motorhome’s body is made of aluminum (roof and upper sides) and SMC fiberglass (end caps and lower sides). The structural ribs are made of aluminum and are supported by a steel subframe. The drivetrain, known as the Unitized Power Package (UPP), was first used in the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado. The UPP places the transmission alongside the engine and connects them together via sprockets and a 2” wide chain drive. The differential is bolted to the transmission and delivers power to the front wheels via equal-length axle shafts which eliminate torque steer. In mid-1977, production switched to the 403 ci Olds engine rather than the 455 that had been used previously.
The GMC Motorhome is perhaps best known as the basis for the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle in the movie Stripes starring Bill Murray. Total GMC Motorhome production was 12,921 units and about 7000-8000 survive today.
The GMC motorhome was built from 1973-1978. It is the only motorhome ever designed, engineered and built from scratch by a major auto manufacturer. Most are 26’ long, although a 23’ version was also available. It weighs approximately 6 tons and gets about 8 MPG. Since GMC Motorhomes are not based on a truck platform and don’t require a driveshaft to the rear wheels, they have a level floor that is only 18” off the pavement. The resulting low center of gravity enables them to handle much like a full-sized van. This floorplan sleeps 5-6 people, with the sofa converting to bunk beds and the dinette converting to a bed as well. It equipped with a full kitchen and a marine-style wet bath (dry bath optional), with onboard propane, fresh water and waste water tanks.
The GMC Motorhome’s body is made of aluminum (roof and upper sides) and SMC fiberglass (end caps and lower sides). The structural ribs are made of aluminum and are supported by a steel subframe. The drivetrain, known as the Unitized Power Package (UPP), was first used in the Oldsmobile Toronado and Cadillac Eldorado. The UPP places the transmission alongside the engine and connects them together via sprockets and a 2” wide chain drive. The differential is bolted to the transmission and delivers power to the front wheels via equal-length axle shafts which eliminate torque steer. In mid-1977, production switched to the 403 ci Olds engine rather than the 455 that had been used previously.
The GMC Motorhome is perhaps best known as the basis for the EM-50 Urban Assault Vehicle in the movie Stripes starring Bill Murray. Total GMC Motorhome production was 12,921 units and about 7000-8000 survive today.
Christo,
That is a very nice little blurb. Did you ever actually measure the floor elevation? I don't think it is even 18". We didn't even bother with a step until our knees went bad.
Matt
That is a very nice little blurb. Did you ever actually measure the floor elevation? I don't think it is even 18". We didn't even bother with a step until our knees went bad.
Matt
