Wow, take a look at this paint work. Pretty wild.
http://www.rv-online.com/motorhomes/094md001.html
Tony Bad
http://www.rv-online.com/motorhomes/094md001.html
Tony Bad
Paint Job!!
- Thread starter antnip
- Start date
....continuation
In the living area, color was added to the interior scheme when the
Fultzes found the fabric to upholster the new sofa and dinette seats. It
resembles the cascades of a waterfall -up close and personal -- winter
white as the background color with shades of blue, green and peach rippling
through it. The walls in the living area were also covered with this
fabric. However, where the print runs vertically on the furniture, in was
applied to the walls horizontally. Then, the dinette table was resurfaced
with the gray Formica for continuity. Caryl adds more color to the area
with placemats on the table that carry some of the shades of green and
peach in a bold floral print. She als0 places three huge throw pillows on
the sofa; one is a bright aqua, another is peach, and the third is charcoal
gray.
In the galley, Jim built a microwave oven into the Overhead cabinet
above the stove. The countertops he installed have the appearance of
butcher-block. On the end cap of the cabinets above the end of the counter,
Caryl had him hang an angular peach-colored sconce. The new refrigerator
has deep black Plexiglas on its doors.
In the bath, the most noticeable change is the huge skylight in the
ceiling. Here Caryl uses wire framed vegetable baskets for storage.
In the bedroom, the lower half of the walls are padded and covered
with the tweed carpet. They removed the lower cabinets to add a custom made
mattress, because Jim is 6' 4" tall and could not sleep comfortably on the
regular mattress. Inside the overhead cabinet above the foot of the bed,
Jim built in a television set. Caryl uses a bedspread with an Indian-like
design sparkling with shades of teal, peach and reds.
Before Jim completed the interior, he had to add one more system-- a
sound system, naturally. "It's only a small system," he joked. "It is a 400
watt system." This may seem like a very large sound for a GMC, however Jim
is accustomed to dealing with 1500 to 2000 watt units and larger. If Jim
cranks this system up just a bit, you can feel the music through feet if
you are standing and in your seat if you're sitting.
When the Fultzes finished the interior, they used the coach for the
rest of the camping season that year and part of the next year. Then, by
Jim's standards, it was time to do a major overhaul on the mechanics of the
coach and refinish the exterior. He began by remodeling and repainting the
coach, Jim says all of the automobile manufacturers are represented between
the new look he gave their coach and its mechanical aspects.
Using two front bumpers from a Ford Aerostar Van, he cut them for
length and molded them back together to match the width of the GMC. Then
using headlights from a 1995 Ford pickup truck, he cut holes into the front
of the coach patching and remolding the fiberglass for the new headlight
assemblies. Next he molded taillights from a new Dodge Van into the rear of
the coach.
With all the new fixtures in place, it was finally time to paint the
GMC. All the colors used on the exterior of the GMC were custom made
especially for Jim. White Pearl is the base color used on the rig. This is
a true pure white with a lavender pearl overlay. The nose of the coach is
lavender with a pearl overlay. From the front, flames of lavender,
Passionate Purple and Wild Cherry shoot about a third of the way down each
side. On both sides, above the front wheel of the bogie, there appears to
be a burn in the sides of the coach painted with a color here is called
Mouse Gray. From the "burn holes" spew another set of purplish flames
(indicating the power Jim would build into the coach.)
On the back of the coach above the license plate, the letters GMC are
scribed in the Passionate Purple. Below that, the word MOTORHOME appears in
lavender. On the molded spare tire cover, the GMC is shaded with all the
purplish colors. From the top, Passionate Purple fades to lavender, and
lavender transforms into Wild Cherry.
Next came the mechanics. Jim rebuilt the stock 455 engine, boring it
out to stroke at 525 cubic inches. While Dyno-testing the engine the
results read 502 pounds of torque and close to 500 horsepower at 4500 RPM.
During the process of rebuilding, he added many custom features to the
GMC's mechanical systems. To the engine, Jim added an aluminum water pump
and headers with a 3-inch exhaust system. He installed a custom built
carburetor, a pressurized 3-stage fuel system, pistons, and camshaft and a
crankshaft from a 500 cubic inch Cadillac. He also added a quad fan system
to the engine compartment for better ventilation and an MSD spark
management system.
With all the newness and sparkle added to an old coach, there was only
one more thing to do - give it a name. Although it has not officially been
attached to the GMC in paint, the Eleganza's new name is the Fultzaganza.
Now that they have used the coach with its renovated interior for some
time, they plan to redo it one more time with some added amenities. Caryl
says she has already selected a fabric, which will not match the paint
scheme on the exterior; but instead, will complement it.
Although the Fultzes say they use the coach a minimum of once a month,
they use it for as many rallies as they can attend, for vacations and long
weekends. With all the improvements the Fultzes made to the motorhome. Jim
realized it was also perfect for towing their customized cars to shows.
When the interior has been refinished, their long-term plan is to sell
everything they own -- except the GMC -and become full-timers. "That is why
we have done such extensive work on it," Jim explained. "I won't have a
garage anymore, and we wanted to make sure that everything would last a
very long time."
Today, as much as at that first rally with the GMC Six Wheelers they
attended nearly four years ago, Jim and Caryl enthuse -- "Rallies (and the
camaraderie they produce) are the highlight of owning a GMC. There's a
comfort involved. We know we can pull into any rally -- a tremendous group
of strangers-- walk up to any one of them, borrow any thing. they have
(whether it be a cup of sugar, information or a tool) and it is offered
freely. These people would do anything for us that we're willing to do for
them. That' s a very comforting feeling."
In the living area, color was added to the interior scheme when the
Fultzes found the fabric to upholster the new sofa and dinette seats. It
resembles the cascades of a waterfall -up close and personal -- winter
white as the background color with shades of blue, green and peach rippling
through it. The walls in the living area were also covered with this
fabric. However, where the print runs vertically on the furniture, in was
applied to the walls horizontally. Then, the dinette table was resurfaced
with the gray Formica for continuity. Caryl adds more color to the area
with placemats on the table that carry some of the shades of green and
peach in a bold floral print. She als0 places three huge throw pillows on
the sofa; one is a bright aqua, another is peach, and the third is charcoal
gray.
In the galley, Jim built a microwave oven into the Overhead cabinet
above the stove. The countertops he installed have the appearance of
butcher-block. On the end cap of the cabinets above the end of the counter,
Caryl had him hang an angular peach-colored sconce. The new refrigerator
has deep black Plexiglas on its doors.
In the bath, the most noticeable change is the huge skylight in the
ceiling. Here Caryl uses wire framed vegetable baskets for storage.
In the bedroom, the lower half of the walls are padded and covered
with the tweed carpet. They removed the lower cabinets to add a custom made
mattress, because Jim is 6' 4" tall and could not sleep comfortably on the
regular mattress. Inside the overhead cabinet above the foot of the bed,
Jim built in a television set. Caryl uses a bedspread with an Indian-like
design sparkling with shades of teal, peach and reds.
Before Jim completed the interior, he had to add one more system-- a
sound system, naturally. "It's only a small system," he joked. "It is a 400
watt system." This may seem like a very large sound for a GMC, however Jim
is accustomed to dealing with 1500 to 2000 watt units and larger. If Jim
cranks this system up just a bit, you can feel the music through feet if
you are standing and in your seat if you're sitting.
When the Fultzes finished the interior, they used the coach for the
rest of the camping season that year and part of the next year. Then, by
Jim's standards, it was time to do a major overhaul on the mechanics of the
coach and refinish the exterior. He began by remodeling and repainting the
coach, Jim says all of the automobile manufacturers are represented between
the new look he gave their coach and its mechanical aspects.
Using two front bumpers from a Ford Aerostar Van, he cut them for
length and molded them back together to match the width of the GMC. Then
using headlights from a 1995 Ford pickup truck, he cut holes into the front
of the coach patching and remolding the fiberglass for the new headlight
assemblies. Next he molded taillights from a new Dodge Van into the rear of
the coach.
With all the new fixtures in place, it was finally time to paint the
GMC. All the colors used on the exterior of the GMC were custom made
especially for Jim. White Pearl is the base color used on the rig. This is
a true pure white with a lavender pearl overlay. The nose of the coach is
lavender with a pearl overlay. From the front, flames of lavender,
Passionate Purple and Wild Cherry shoot about a third of the way down each
side. On both sides, above the front wheel of the bogie, there appears to
be a burn in the sides of the coach painted with a color here is called
Mouse Gray. From the "burn holes" spew another set of purplish flames
(indicating the power Jim would build into the coach.)
On the back of the coach above the license plate, the letters GMC are
scribed in the Passionate Purple. Below that, the word MOTORHOME appears in
lavender. On the molded spare tire cover, the GMC is shaded with all the
purplish colors. From the top, Passionate Purple fades to lavender, and
lavender transforms into Wild Cherry.
Next came the mechanics. Jim rebuilt the stock 455 engine, boring it
out to stroke at 525 cubic inches. While Dyno-testing the engine the
results read 502 pounds of torque and close to 500 horsepower at 4500 RPM.
During the process of rebuilding, he added many custom features to the
GMC's mechanical systems. To the engine, Jim added an aluminum water pump
and headers with a 3-inch exhaust system. He installed a custom built
carburetor, a pressurized 3-stage fuel system, pistons, and camshaft and a
crankshaft from a 500 cubic inch Cadillac. He also added a quad fan system
to the engine compartment for better ventilation and an MSD spark
management system.
With all the newness and sparkle added to an old coach, there was only
one more thing to do - give it a name. Although it has not officially been
attached to the GMC in paint, the Eleganza's new name is the Fultzaganza.
Now that they have used the coach with its renovated interior for some
time, they plan to redo it one more time with some added amenities. Caryl
says she has already selected a fabric, which will not match the paint
scheme on the exterior; but instead, will complement it.
Although the Fultzes say they use the coach a minimum of once a month,
they use it for as many rallies as they can attend, for vacations and long
weekends. With all the improvements the Fultzes made to the motorhome. Jim
realized it was also perfect for towing their customized cars to shows.
When the interior has been refinished, their long-term plan is to sell
everything they own -- except the GMC -and become full-timers. "That is why
we have done such extensive work on it," Jim explained. "I won't have a
garage anymore, and we wanted to make sure that everything would last a
very long time."
Today, as much as at that first rally with the GMC Six Wheelers they
attended nearly four years ago, Jim and Caryl enthuse -- "Rallies (and the
camaraderie they produce) are the highlight of owning a GMC. There's a
comfort involved. We know we can pull into any rally -- a tremendous group
of strangers-- walk up to any one of them, borrow any thing. they have
(whether it be a cup of sugar, information or a tool) and it is offered
freely. These people would do anything for us that we're willing to do for
them. That' s a very comforting feeling."
>Wow, take a look at this paint work. Pretty wild.
>
>http://www.rv-online.com/motorhomes/094md001.html
>
>Tony Bad
I've been threatening to paint our coach like that ever since I first seen
it. I LUV it!
- ----------------------------------------------
From September issue of GMC Motorhome Marketplace:
Coach and Owner
By Kathy M. Galovic
Jim and Caryl Fultz GMC Coach Owners
Exterior view featured on front cover
Jim and Caryl Fultz were enjoying their second time out in their newly
acquired Eleganza. They attended their first weekend rally with the GMC Six
Wheelers, near Galesburg, Illinois and enjoyed the club's camaraderie so
much they joined. The next week was full of travel, sightseeing and sheer
relaxation.
During one of their last stops, the Fultzes encountered a new member
for their family. As they walked out onto a dock near their campsite, Jim
and Caryl spotted a lively (but sad-looking) pooch. Although, Justin (as
they would soon name him) appeared homeless, mistreated and underfed, he
was not leery of these strangers. The Golden Retriever made himself right
at home, trotting along beside the couple as they browsed the area around
the pier. Soon, he found a stick on the ground, and before they knew it
Caryl and Jim were playing fetch with the energetic rascal.
Inquiring around about the dog, they learned that he had been abused and
abandoned. Being animal lovers, they decided to adopt him. Now Justin fills
a void caused by the absence their two grown children and is a very happy
and healthy dog who travels in a GMC whenever his masters go.
Jim Fultz has been a mechanic for many years. He has worked for
Eco-Lab, an Illinois-based company, for over twenty-five years. There he
(among others) is been responsible for maintaining the company trucks and
keeping them in excellent mechanical condition. Caryl is an eleven-year
employee of Builder's Square. She works as a computer aided designer in the
Joliet store in their home decor and design department. The art she docs
encompasses basic design for kitchens and baths to total home design.
The Fultzes live in a large two-story Victorian home in an older
section of Joliet, Illinois. Joliet, located south of Chicago on the Des
Plaines River, is -- as they describe it a very progressive city involved
in many beautification projects. The city is also opening to tourism. In
recent years, it has built a racetrack and introduced four gambling boats.
Both Jim and Caryl enjoy several hobbies when they are not working.
Caryl extends her artistic abilities through sewing and the beautiful
crafts she makes. Jim has been involved for years with show cars and stereo
systems. Combining the two, he has built some "extreme machines" sporting
fantastic sound systems -- show stoppers, all.
It was Jim's hobby that led the Fultzes into looking for a motorhome
to tow their show cars. Jim remembered a GMC they had come across back in
the '70s while he, Caryl and their children were tent camping. One morning
as Jim tried to a start fire, he noticed an older gentleman sitting in
front of a green GMC reading the morning paper while his wife served him
freshly brewed Java. Jim swore to himself then, "If I ever have two nickels
to rub together, I will own one of those." From that day on, every time he
or Caryl saw one on the road somewhere, he'd say, "Well, there goes my
GMC!" Although, a GMC was on Jim's wish list, he was not convinced the GMC
would have enough power to tow one of their show cars. Instead, they
decided to test the waters by renting a different type of motorhome. "It
was disastrous," Jim revealed. "That motorhome was oversized, under powered
and it could not tow the car we were showing. That situation pretty much
convinced us we did not need a motorhome."
One afternoon while Jim and a buddy were having lunch the topic of
motorhomes entered thc conversation. "Why
don't you buy my dad's?" Jim's buddy asked."I don't think so," Jim replied.
"Well, at least come over and look at it."
Jim figured there was nothing to loose by looking at the motorhome and
agreed. Not knowing what to expect when he drove up to his friend's house,
Jim was quite surprised to see a 1975 GMC sitting in the driveway. His
friend's father told Jim, "If I can't sell it, I going to junk it." He had
begun an interior restoration on the coach. When he had completely gutted
it, he realized what kind of work would be involved, and just left the
project as it was.
Jim bought the coach, not as a means to tow his show cars, but because
it was a GMC and the price was right.
Of course, because it was gutted, he and Caryl realized they would
have to restore it themselves.
One of the first things on the agenda was to seal all the leaks. Caryl
described the coach as "Mildew City." Because it had sat for so long and
had so many leaks, everything inside was covered with mildew. The
upholstery on all seats and the carpet were "trashed" and rotted. There was
no ceiling in it because "the old man" had lost the panels and the engine
needed some heavy-duty attention. "It took me two days just to get it
started," Jim remarked. "Then I drove it home about 30 MPH. There were big
cracks in the tires, and I was afraid I was going to suffer a blow out."
Caryl followed Jim and the coach home with her flashers going.
Although, Jim and Caryl are not what most people would consider
flashy, some of dazzle seen in his workmanship on his show cars is
reflected in their coach.
The only items they kept from the original interior were the dinette
table, the stove (which they plan to replace) and the fiberglass section of
the bath module. Everything else Jim completely rebuilt from scratch. All
the overhead cabinets and the modules were built using gray Formica. The
carpet laid throughout the coach is low pile gray tweed. Throughout the
coach they removed all the "camper" lights and introduced track lighting.
In the cockpit, some of the show car sparkle is demonstrated in the
digital dash panel that Jim constructed. It is faced with black Plexiglas;
but when the ignition key is turned, the panel lights up with myriad lights
and digital gauges. He tinted all the vinyl on the dash to match the gray
Formica throughout the coach and installed a padded steering wheel. Jim
also built a travel table/TV stand from the Formica. This sits in the
center of the cockpit on the engine access door. The seats installed in the
cockpit were custom-built Dygert seats covered with dark, charcoal gray velour.
>
>http://www.rv-online.com/motorhomes/094md001.html
>
>Tony Bad
I've been threatening to paint our coach like that ever since I first seen
it. I LUV it!
- ----------------------------------------------
From September issue of GMC Motorhome Marketplace:
Coach and Owner
By Kathy M. Galovic
Jim and Caryl Fultz GMC Coach Owners
Exterior view featured on front cover
Jim and Caryl Fultz were enjoying their second time out in their newly
acquired Eleganza. They attended their first weekend rally with the GMC Six
Wheelers, near Galesburg, Illinois and enjoyed the club's camaraderie so
much they joined. The next week was full of travel, sightseeing and sheer
relaxation.
During one of their last stops, the Fultzes encountered a new member
for their family. As they walked out onto a dock near their campsite, Jim
and Caryl spotted a lively (but sad-looking) pooch. Although, Justin (as
they would soon name him) appeared homeless, mistreated and underfed, he
was not leery of these strangers. The Golden Retriever made himself right
at home, trotting along beside the couple as they browsed the area around
the pier. Soon, he found a stick on the ground, and before they knew it
Caryl and Jim were playing fetch with the energetic rascal.
Inquiring around about the dog, they learned that he had been abused and
abandoned. Being animal lovers, they decided to adopt him. Now Justin fills
a void caused by the absence their two grown children and is a very happy
and healthy dog who travels in a GMC whenever his masters go.
Jim Fultz has been a mechanic for many years. He has worked for
Eco-Lab, an Illinois-based company, for over twenty-five years. There he
(among others) is been responsible for maintaining the company trucks and
keeping them in excellent mechanical condition. Caryl is an eleven-year
employee of Builder's Square. She works as a computer aided designer in the
Joliet store in their home decor and design department. The art she docs
encompasses basic design for kitchens and baths to total home design.
The Fultzes live in a large two-story Victorian home in an older
section of Joliet, Illinois. Joliet, located south of Chicago on the Des
Plaines River, is -- as they describe it a very progressive city involved
in many beautification projects. The city is also opening to tourism. In
recent years, it has built a racetrack and introduced four gambling boats.
Both Jim and Caryl enjoy several hobbies when they are not working.
Caryl extends her artistic abilities through sewing and the beautiful
crafts she makes. Jim has been involved for years with show cars and stereo
systems. Combining the two, he has built some "extreme machines" sporting
fantastic sound systems -- show stoppers, all.
It was Jim's hobby that led the Fultzes into looking for a motorhome
to tow their show cars. Jim remembered a GMC they had come across back in
the '70s while he, Caryl and their children were tent camping. One morning
as Jim tried to a start fire, he noticed an older gentleman sitting in
front of a green GMC reading the morning paper while his wife served him
freshly brewed Java. Jim swore to himself then, "If I ever have two nickels
to rub together, I will own one of those." From that day on, every time he
or Caryl saw one on the road somewhere, he'd say, "Well, there goes my
GMC!" Although, a GMC was on Jim's wish list, he was not convinced the GMC
would have enough power to tow one of their show cars. Instead, they
decided to test the waters by renting a different type of motorhome. "It
was disastrous," Jim revealed. "That motorhome was oversized, under powered
and it could not tow the car we were showing. That situation pretty much
convinced us we did not need a motorhome."
One afternoon while Jim and a buddy were having lunch the topic of
motorhomes entered thc conversation. "Why
don't you buy my dad's?" Jim's buddy asked."I don't think so," Jim replied.
"Well, at least come over and look at it."
Jim figured there was nothing to loose by looking at the motorhome and
agreed. Not knowing what to expect when he drove up to his friend's house,
Jim was quite surprised to see a 1975 GMC sitting in the driveway. His
friend's father told Jim, "If I can't sell it, I going to junk it." He had
begun an interior restoration on the coach. When he had completely gutted
it, he realized what kind of work would be involved, and just left the
project as it was.
Jim bought the coach, not as a means to tow his show cars, but because
it was a GMC and the price was right.
Of course, because it was gutted, he and Caryl realized they would
have to restore it themselves.
One of the first things on the agenda was to seal all the leaks. Caryl
described the coach as "Mildew City." Because it had sat for so long and
had so many leaks, everything inside was covered with mildew. The
upholstery on all seats and the carpet were "trashed" and rotted. There was
no ceiling in it because "the old man" had lost the panels and the engine
needed some heavy-duty attention. "It took me two days just to get it
started," Jim remarked. "Then I drove it home about 30 MPH. There were big
cracks in the tires, and I was afraid I was going to suffer a blow out."
Caryl followed Jim and the coach home with her flashers going.
Although, Jim and Caryl are not what most people would consider
flashy, some of dazzle seen in his workmanship on his show cars is
reflected in their coach.
The only items they kept from the original interior were the dinette
table, the stove (which they plan to replace) and the fiberglass section of
the bath module. Everything else Jim completely rebuilt from scratch. All
the overhead cabinets and the modules were built using gray Formica. The
carpet laid throughout the coach is low pile gray tweed. Throughout the
coach they removed all the "camper" lights and introduced track lighting.
In the cockpit, some of the show car sparkle is demonstrated in the
digital dash panel that Jim constructed. It is faced with black Plexiglas;
but when the ignition key is turned, the panel lights up with myriad lights
and digital gauges. He tinted all the vinyl on the dash to match the gray
Formica throughout the coach and installed a padded steering wheel. Jim
also built a travel table/TV stand from the Formica. This sits in the
center of the cockpit on the engine access door. The seats installed in the
cockpit were custom-built Dygert seats covered with dark, charcoal gray velour.
The coach is worth much more than the asking price.
>
> >Wow, take a look at this paint work. Pretty wild.
> >
> >http://www.rv-online.com/motorhomes/094md001.html
> >
> >Tony Bad
>
> I've been threatening to paint our coach like that ever since I first seen
> it. I LUV it!
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> From September issue of GMC Motorhome Marketplace:
>
> Coach and Owner
> By Kathy M. Galovic
>
> Jim and Caryl Fultz GMC Coach Owners
>
> Exterior view featured on front cover
>
> Jim and Caryl Fultz were enjoying their second time out in their newly
> acquired Eleganza. They attended their first weekend rally with the GMC Six
> Wheelers, near Galesburg, Illinois and enjoyed the club's camaraderie so
> much they joined. The next week was full of travel, sightseeing and sheer
> relaxation.
> During one of their last stops, the Fultzes encountered a new member
> for their family. As they walked out onto a dock near their campsite, Jim
> and Caryl spotted a lively (but sad-looking) pooch. Although, Justin (as
> they would soon name him) appeared homeless, mistreated and underfed, he
> was not leery of these strangers. The Golden Retriever made himself right
> at home, trotting along beside the couple as they browsed the area around
> the pier. Soon, he found a stick on the ground, and before they knew it
> Caryl and Jim were playing fetch with the energetic rascal.
> Inquiring around about the dog, they learned that he had been abused and
> abandoned. Being animal lovers, they decided to adopt him. Now Justin fills
> a void caused by the absence their two grown children and is a very happy
> and healthy dog who travels in a GMC whenever his masters go.
> Jim Fultz has been a mechanic for many years. He has worked for
> Eco-Lab, an Illinois-based company, for over twenty-five years. There he
> (among others) is been responsible for maintaining the company trucks and
> keeping them in excellent mechanical condition. Caryl is an eleven-year
> employee of Builder's Square. She works as a computer aided designer in the
> Joliet store in their home decor and design department. The art she docs
> encompasses basic design for kitchens and baths to total home design.
> The Fultzes live in a large two-story Victorian home in an older
> section of Joliet, Illinois. Joliet, located south of Chicago on the Des
> Plaines River, is -- as they describe it a very progressive city involved
> in many beautification projects. The city is also opening to tourism. In
> recent years, it has built a racetrack and introduced four gambling boats.
> Both Jim and Caryl enjoy several hobbies when they are not working.
> Caryl extends her artistic abilities through sewing and the beautiful
> crafts she makes. Jim has been involved for years with show cars and stereo
> systems. Combining the two, he has built some "extreme machines" sporting
> fantastic sound systems -- show stoppers, all.
> It was Jim's hobby that led the Fultzes into looking for a motorhome
> to tow their show cars. Jim remembered a GMC they had come across back in
> the '70s while he, Caryl and their children were tent camping. One morning
> as Jim tried to a start fire, he noticed an older gentleman sitting in
> front of a green GMC reading the morning paper while his wife served him
> freshly brewed Java. Jim swore to himself then, "If I ever have two nickels
> to rub together, I will own one of those." From that day on, every time he
> or Caryl saw one on the road somewhere, he'd say, "Well, there goes my
> GMC!" Although, a GMC was on Jim's wish list, he was not convinced the GMC
> would have enough power to tow one of their show cars. Instead, they
> decided to test the waters by renting a different type of motorhome. "It
> was disastrous," Jim revealed. "That motorhome was oversized, under powered
> and it could not tow the car we were showing. That situation pretty much
> convinced us we did not need a motorhome."
> One afternoon while Jim and a buddy were having lunch the topic of
> motorhomes entered thc conversation. "Why
> don't you buy my dad's?" Jim's buddy asked."I don't think so," Jim replied.
> "Well, at least come over and look at it."
> Jim figured there was nothing to loose by looking at the motorhome and
> agreed. Not knowing what to expect when he drove up to his friend's house,
> Jim was quite surprised to see a 1975 GMC sitting in the driveway. His
> friend's father told Jim, "If I can't sell it, I going to junk it." He had
> begun an interior restoration on the coach. When he had completely gutted
> it, he realized what kind of work would be involved, and just left the
> project as it was.
> Jim bought the coach, not as a means to tow his show cars, but because
> it was a GMC and the price was right.
> Of course, because it was gutted, he and Caryl realized they would
> have to restore it themselves.
> One of the first things on the agenda was to seal all the leaks. Caryl
> described the coach as "Mildew City." Because it had sat for so long and
> had so many leaks, everything inside was covered with mildew. The
> upholstery on all seats and the carpet were "trashed" and rotted. There was
> no ceiling in it because "the old man" had lost the panels and the engine
> needed some heavy-duty attention. "It took me two days just to get it
> started," Jim remarked. "Then I drove it home about 30 MPH. There were big
> cracks in the tires, and I was afraid I was going to suffer a blow out."
> Caryl followed Jim and the coach home with her flashers going.
> Although, Jim and Caryl are not what most people would consider
> flashy, some of dazzle seen in his workmanship on his show cars is
> reflected in their coach.
> The only items they kept from the original interior were the dinette
> table, the stove (which they plan to replace) and the fiberglass section of
> the bath module. Everything else Jim completely rebuilt from scratch. All
> the overhead cabinets and the modules were built using gray Formica. The
> carpet laid throughout the coach is low pile gray tweed. Throughout the
> coach they removed all the "camper" lights and introduced track lighting.
> In the cockpit, some of the show car sparkle is demonstrated in the
> digital dash panel that Jim constructed. It is faced with black Plexiglas;
> but when the ignition key is turned, the panel lights up with myriad lights
> and digital gauges. He tinted all the vinyl on the dash to match the gray
> Formica throughout the coach and installed a padded steering wheel. Jim
> also built a travel table/TV stand from the Formica. This sits in the
> center of the cockpit on the engine access door. The seats installed in the
> cockpit were custom-built Dygert seats covered with dark, charcoal gray velour.
- --
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLakers
77 Eleganza II
Michigan
>
> >Wow, take a look at this paint work. Pretty wild.
> >
> >http://www.rv-online.com/motorhomes/094md001.html
> >
> >Tony Bad
>
> I've been threatening to paint our coach like that ever since I first seen
> it. I LUV it!
>
> ----------------------------------------------
> From September issue of GMC Motorhome Marketplace:
>
> Coach and Owner
> By Kathy M. Galovic
>
> Jim and Caryl Fultz GMC Coach Owners
>
> Exterior view featured on front cover
>
> Jim and Caryl Fultz were enjoying their second time out in their newly
> acquired Eleganza. They attended their first weekend rally with the GMC Six
> Wheelers, near Galesburg, Illinois and enjoyed the club's camaraderie so
> much they joined. The next week was full of travel, sightseeing and sheer
> relaxation.
> During one of their last stops, the Fultzes encountered a new member
> for their family. As they walked out onto a dock near their campsite, Jim
> and Caryl spotted a lively (but sad-looking) pooch. Although, Justin (as
> they would soon name him) appeared homeless, mistreated and underfed, he
> was not leery of these strangers. The Golden Retriever made himself right
> at home, trotting along beside the couple as they browsed the area around
> the pier. Soon, he found a stick on the ground, and before they knew it
> Caryl and Jim were playing fetch with the energetic rascal.
> Inquiring around about the dog, they learned that he had been abused and
> abandoned. Being animal lovers, they decided to adopt him. Now Justin fills
> a void caused by the absence their two grown children and is a very happy
> and healthy dog who travels in a GMC whenever his masters go.
> Jim Fultz has been a mechanic for many years. He has worked for
> Eco-Lab, an Illinois-based company, for over twenty-five years. There he
> (among others) is been responsible for maintaining the company trucks and
> keeping them in excellent mechanical condition. Caryl is an eleven-year
> employee of Builder's Square. She works as a computer aided designer in the
> Joliet store in their home decor and design department. The art she docs
> encompasses basic design for kitchens and baths to total home design.
> The Fultzes live in a large two-story Victorian home in an older
> section of Joliet, Illinois. Joliet, located south of Chicago on the Des
> Plaines River, is -- as they describe it a very progressive city involved
> in many beautification projects. The city is also opening to tourism. In
> recent years, it has built a racetrack and introduced four gambling boats.
> Both Jim and Caryl enjoy several hobbies when they are not working.
> Caryl extends her artistic abilities through sewing and the beautiful
> crafts she makes. Jim has been involved for years with show cars and stereo
> systems. Combining the two, he has built some "extreme machines" sporting
> fantastic sound systems -- show stoppers, all.
> It was Jim's hobby that led the Fultzes into looking for a motorhome
> to tow their show cars. Jim remembered a GMC they had come across back in
> the '70s while he, Caryl and their children were tent camping. One morning
> as Jim tried to a start fire, he noticed an older gentleman sitting in
> front of a green GMC reading the morning paper while his wife served him
> freshly brewed Java. Jim swore to himself then, "If I ever have two nickels
> to rub together, I will own one of those." From that day on, every time he
> or Caryl saw one on the road somewhere, he'd say, "Well, there goes my
> GMC!" Although, a GMC was on Jim's wish list, he was not convinced the GMC
> would have enough power to tow one of their show cars. Instead, they
> decided to test the waters by renting a different type of motorhome. "It
> was disastrous," Jim revealed. "That motorhome was oversized, under powered
> and it could not tow the car we were showing. That situation pretty much
> convinced us we did not need a motorhome."
> One afternoon while Jim and a buddy were having lunch the topic of
> motorhomes entered thc conversation. "Why
> don't you buy my dad's?" Jim's buddy asked."I don't think so," Jim replied.
> "Well, at least come over and look at it."
> Jim figured there was nothing to loose by looking at the motorhome and
> agreed. Not knowing what to expect when he drove up to his friend's house,
> Jim was quite surprised to see a 1975 GMC sitting in the driveway. His
> friend's father told Jim, "If I can't sell it, I going to junk it." He had
> begun an interior restoration on the coach. When he had completely gutted
> it, he realized what kind of work would be involved, and just left the
> project as it was.
> Jim bought the coach, not as a means to tow his show cars, but because
> it was a GMC and the price was right.
> Of course, because it was gutted, he and Caryl realized they would
> have to restore it themselves.
> One of the first things on the agenda was to seal all the leaks. Caryl
> described the coach as "Mildew City." Because it had sat for so long and
> had so many leaks, everything inside was covered with mildew. The
> upholstery on all seats and the carpet were "trashed" and rotted. There was
> no ceiling in it because "the old man" had lost the panels and the engine
> needed some heavy-duty attention. "It took me two days just to get it
> started," Jim remarked. "Then I drove it home about 30 MPH. There were big
> cracks in the tires, and I was afraid I was going to suffer a blow out."
> Caryl followed Jim and the coach home with her flashers going.
> Although, Jim and Caryl are not what most people would consider
> flashy, some of dazzle seen in his workmanship on his show cars is
> reflected in their coach.
> The only items they kept from the original interior were the dinette
> table, the stove (which they plan to replace) and the fiberglass section of
> the bath module. Everything else Jim completely rebuilt from scratch. All
> the overhead cabinets and the modules were built using gray Formica. The
> carpet laid throughout the coach is low pile gray tweed. Throughout the
> coach they removed all the "camper" lights and introduced track lighting.
> In the cockpit, some of the show car sparkle is demonstrated in the
> digital dash panel that Jim constructed. It is faced with black Plexiglas;
> but when the ignition key is turned, the panel lights up with myriad lights
> and digital gauges. He tinted all the vinyl on the dash to match the gray
> Formica throughout the coach and installed a padded steering wheel. Jim
> also built a travel table/TV stand from the Formica. This sits in the
> center of the cockpit on the engine access door. The seats installed in the
> cockpit were custom-built Dygert seats covered with dark, charcoal gray velour.
- --
J.R. Wright
GMC GreatLakers
77 Eleganza II
Michigan
