Home » Public Forums » GMCnet » [GMCnet] Greetings and a question
| [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77173] |
Thu, 18 March 2010 22:30  |
bhayes
Messages: 263
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Greetings, all. I'm brand new to this list. I've been interested in GMC
motor homes pretty much since I was a kid in the mid-1970s. My family and I
were traveling along a strip of interstate highway somewhere on a trip in
our 25' Dodge Explorer motor home, which had had no end to problems. As we
were driving along, a shiny new GMC glided past us. My mother, no doubt
summing up all of the repair bills and lost vacation time in her head,
commented, "I wish we would have gotten one of those." For some reason, the
sight of that futuristic-looking motor home and my mother's comment has
stuck with me all these years.
I'm now actively searching for one, and have seen some beautiful
restorations that were way out of my price range, some fairly decent units
that were moderately priced, as well as ones that would make great
restoration projects. One question has been nagging me though, and that is
this:
Why hasn't a company stepped forward to design and build a new, updated
GMC-style motor home?
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77174 is a reply to message #77173] |
Thu, 18 March 2010 23:03  |
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Money. And lots of it to meet new federal regulations, etc. It can be
debated as to whether GM made any money on the motorhome project. Some,
close to the project, are aware of the R&D cost plus production cost. From
stories I've heard and read about, GM came close to breaking even.
The reason the GMC MotorHome was discontinued is probably two-fold. First,
the economy (gas problems) of 1977 created an issue for the whole RV
industry. Then a new guy came to power at GMC that figured out a way to kill
the project just when things had taken hold.
Someone else bought the rights, so to speak, but didn't get the necessary
funding to do some redesign work and start up production.
However, many of us still feel it was and is a well-designed vehicle which
is the reason they have done well. That and the love affair all of us have
had with them. You see, your not alone in lusting for a GMC. I was there,
too, until 2007 when I bit the bullet.
So, prepare to plop down some money. Then, prepare to plop done more as you
get the coach you bought into the shape you want it to be in. Above all,
think of it only as an investment in your ability to enjoy life. The only
value you'll get out of your GMC is the pleasure you'll have in owning the
finest coach of it's time that rivals any coach today (except for the
slide-outs) and the joy you'll have in associating some fine people
(assuming you go to some rallies).
That leads me to the hobby side of things -- there is no way to justify a
hobby financially. For those things there's MasterCard.
Now, for another dose of reality; these coaches are 30 years old. Still,
they have many years left to give.
--
Byron Songer, President and Editor
GMC EASTERN STATES
114 Ambling Way
Louisville, KY
http://www.gmceast.com
c: 502-558-8219
Bryan Hayes wrote:
> Greetings, all. I'm brand new to this list. I've been interested in GMC
> motor homes pretty much since I was a kid in the mid-1970s. My family and I
> were traveling along a strip of interstate highway somewhere on a trip in
> our 25' Dodge Explorer motor home, which had had no end to problems. As we
> were driving along, a shiny new GMC glided past us. My mother, no doubt
> summing up all of the repair bills and lost vacation time in her head,
> commented, "I wish we would have gotten one of those." For some reason, the
> sight of that futuristic-looking motor home and my mother's comment has
> stuck with me all these years.
>
> I'm now actively searching for one, and have seen some beautiful
> restorations that were way out of my price range, some fairly decent units
> that were moderately priced, as well as ones that would make great
> restoration projects. One question has been nagging me though, and that is
> this:
>
> Why hasn't a company stepped forward to design and build a new, updated
> GMC-style motor home?
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77176 is a reply to message #77173] |
Thu, 18 March 2010 23:15 |
GeorgeRud
Messages: 1380
Registered: February 2007
Location: Chicago, IL
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Welcome!
There's a lot of nice coaches out there, and a lot of people that are rediscovering these fine vehicles. Look around and you can find plenty of nice coaches.
If you enjoy the work, the fixer-uppers can be a lot of fun and can be personalized to whatever you want them to be. Check out Jim Bounds GMC Coop for a bunch of pictures of coaches that he has redone for people. Your imagination is your only constraint.
And yes, remember GMC = Get More Cash!
George Rudawsky
Chicago, IL
75 Palm Beach
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77178 is a reply to message #77174] |
Thu, 18 March 2010 23:22 |
jimk
Messages: 6734
Registered: July 2006
Location: Belmont, CA
Karma: 9
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Senior Member |
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Not many people will pay 100,000 plus for a reconditioned coach.
Most people with money will not invest money in something like this and gamble.
When you work on these coaches for customers and know how many parts
are no longer made and no alternatives without major modifications, it
makes you worry as to how were going to keep them going.
On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 9:03 PM, Byron Songer
<bsonger@songerconsulting.net> wrote:
> Money. And lots of it to meet new federal regulations, etc. It can be
> debated as to whether GM made any money on the motorhome project. Some,
> close to the project, are aware of the R&D cost plus production cost. From
> stories I've heard and read about, GM came close to breaking even.
>
> The reason the GMC MotorHome was discontinued is probably two-fold. First,
> the economy (gas problems) of 1977 created an issue for the whole RV
> industry. Then a new guy came to power at GMC that figured out a way to kill
> the project just when things had taken hold.
>
> Someone else bought the rights, so to speak, but didn't get the necessary
> funding to do some redesign work and start up production.
>
> However, many of us still feel it was and is a well-designed vehicle which
> is the reason they have done well. That and the love affair all of us have
> had with them. You see, your not alone in lusting for a GMC. I was there,
> too, until 2007 when I bit the bullet.
>
> So, prepare to plop down some money. Then, prepare to plop done more as you
> get the coach you bought into the shape you want it to be in. Above all,
> think of it only as an investment in your ability to enjoy life. The only
> value you'll get out of your GMC is the pleasure you'll have in owning the
> finest coach of it's time that rivals any coach today (except for the
> slide-outs) and the joy you'll have in associating some fine people
> (assuming you go to some rallies).
>
> That leads me to the hobby side of things -- there is no way to justify a
> hobby financially. For those things there's MasterCard.
>
> Now, for another dose of reality; these coaches are 30 years old. Still,
> they have many years left to give.
>
> --
>
> Byron Songer, President and Editor
> GMC EASTERN STATES
> 114 Ambling Way
> Louisville, KY
> http://www.gmceast.com
> c: 502-558-8219
>
>
>
> Bryan Hayes wrote:
>
>> Greetings, all. Â I'm brand new to this list. Â I've been interested in GMC
>> motor homes pretty much since I was a kid in the mid-1970s. Â My family and I
>> were traveling along a strip of interstate highway somewhere on a trip in
>> our 25' Dodge Explorer motor home, which had had no end to problems. Â As we
>> were driving along, a shiny new GMC glided past us. Â My mother, no doubt
>> summing up all of the repair bills and lost vacation time in her head,
>> commented, "I wish we would have gotten one of those." Â For some reason, the
>> sight of that futuristic-looking motor home and my mother's comment has
>> stuck with me all these years.
>>
>> I'm now actively searching for one, and have seen some beautiful
>> restorations that were way out of my price range, some fairly decent units
>> that were moderately priced, as well as ones that would make great
>> restoration projects. Â One question has been nagging me though, and that is
>> this:
>>
>> Why hasn't a company stepped forward to design and build a new, updated
>> GMC-style motor home?
>> _______________________________________________
>> GMCnet mailing list
>> List Information and Subscription Options:
>> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC, Fremont,CA
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
http://www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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Jim Kanomata
Applied/GMC
jimk@appliedairfilters.com
www.appliedgmc.com
1-800-752-7502
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77189 is a reply to message #77173] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 03:48 |
Mark Torgerson
Messages: 19
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 0
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Junior Member |
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Greetings!
I'm a newbie myself. You will find a great group of people here to help you.
You remind me of how my dream of owning a GMC coach - which just came true.
In the 80's my parents bought a 1973 Winnebago motorhome. In the back magazine rack I found a 1973 RV buyers guild. It contained every class A,B and C motorhome on the market for 1973. When I was bored on a long trip I grabbed it and came across the write up, specs and photos of the GMC coach. I could not believe it. Smooth sides and roof - aerodynamic design and super large windows - no other RV looked so cool. It looked like it came from the future.
Growing up I noticed the prices for these were way too high for me. Finally in my mid thirties the prices were coming down to between 10 - 12,000 dollars for one. So I waited and waited. Driving the remote country one day I saw one for sale sitting in a field. I had to turn around and check it out. It was within my price range. I meet with the seller and made sure the air suspension, the generator and the roof air worked - and went for a test drive. The closet door came open. The refrigerator door came open and each started banging into each other. I was trying to focus on the noises of the engine when a side window fell out and disappeared into a million pieces as it smashed onto the road. Not a good first impression - but I liked it and made a low ball offer. He would not take it stating how much these are worth. I noticed the tags were expired. I asked if he had clear title - he admitted he did not !
He bought the coach from a widow after her husband had passed away - she couldn't find the title and ever since this guy bought the GMC he could not title or register it.
He said he had a bill of sale from the widow and would be willing to write me a bill of sale too.
Wow. Thats nice.
A call to the Motor Vehicles Division (DMV) told me what I already knew: Don't buy a vehicle without a title !!!!
But I just could not let it go. I have been a private Detective for over 15 years so I did some research. Long story short it took me over 5 months to track down and gather documentation on 5 different people who still had security interest in the vehicle - one didn't even know it. I had to find and obtain the following: proof of death on two (2) of them, a release of interest (1) and a bill of sell (1) from the widow AND a bill of sale (1) from the guy selling the coach.
Honestly - I can't imagine someone else doing what i did to get title to this coach - but the fact that he didn't have a title allowed me to wear him down to a $4,500.00 sell price. Finding dead people is not easy. In fact DMV wrote me a letter stating my request for title could not be completed without a signed release from one of the deceased security interest holders. I told them on the phone "I can't get a signed release from a dead person!!" After 2 months DMV finally accepted the proof of death and a letter from the attorney who handled the decedent's will. Crazy.
As another gentleman said - look at this as a hobby. I think we all share the joy (and pains) of bringing the coach back to life again.
'73 Canyon Lands
________________________________
From: Bryan Hayes <hayesnet1@gmail.com>
To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
Sent: Thu, March 18, 2010 8:30:07 PM
Subject: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question
Greetings, all. I'm brand new to this list. I've been interested in GMC
motor homes pretty much since I was a kid in the mid-1970s. My family and I
were traveling along a strip of interstate highway somewhere on a trip in
our 25' Dodge Explorer motor home, which had had no end to problems. As we
were driving along, a shiny new GMC glided past us. My mother, no doubt
summing up all of the repair bills and lost vacation time in her head,
commented, "I wish we would have gotten one of those." For some reason, the
sight of that futuristic-looking motor home and my mother's comment has
stuck with me all these years.
I'm now actively searching for one, and have seen some beautiful
restorations that were way out of my price range, some fairly decent units
that were moderately priced, as well as ones that would make great
restoration projects. One question has been nagging me though, and that is
this:
Why hasn't a company stepped forward to design and build a new, updated
GMC-style motor home?
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77193 is a reply to message #77173] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 06:39 |
Steven Ferguson
Messages: 3447
Registered: May 2006
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Bryan,
Welcome aboard. Please provide your city in your signature.
Thanks,
Steve Ferguson
GMCWS Tech VP
Sierra Vista, AZ
On Thu, Mar 18, 2010 at 8:30 PM, Bryan Hayes <hayesnet1@gmail.com> wrote:
> Greetings, all. I'm brand new to this list. I've been interested in GMC
> motor homes pretty much since I was a kid in the mid-1970s. My family and I
> were traveling along a strip of interstate highway somewhere on a trip in
> our 25' Dodge Explorer motor home, which had had no end to problems. As we
> were driving along, a shiny new GMC glided past us. My mother, no doubt
> summing up all of the repair bills and lost vacation time in her head,
> commented, "I wish we would have gotten one of those." For some reason, the
> sight of that futuristic-looking motor home and my mother's comment has
> stuck with me all these years.
>
> I'm now actively searching for one, and have seen some beautiful
> restorations that were way out of my price range, some fairly decent units
> that were moderately priced, as well as ones that would make great
> restoration projects. One question has been nagging me though, and that is
> this:
>
> Why hasn't a company stepped forward to design and build a new, updated
> GMC-style motor home?
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
--
Steve Ferguson
'76 EII
Sierra Vista, AZ
Urethane bushing source
www.bdub.net/ferguson/
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77194 is a reply to message #77173] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 06:40 |
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Amazing. You win the prize for best story.
Byron Songer
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Mark Torgerson <a1nss@yahoo.com>
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Date: 03/19/10 04:48
> Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question
>
> Greetings!
>
> I'm a newbie myself. You will find a great group of people here to help you.
>
> You remind me of how my dream of owning a GMC coach - which just came true.
> In the 80's my parents bought a 1973 Winnebago motorhome. In the back magazine rack I found a 1973 RV buyers guild. It contained every class A,B and C motorhome on the market for 1973. When I was bored on a long trip I grabbed it and came across the write up, specs and photos of the GMC coach. I could not believe it. Smooth sides and roof - aerodynamic design and super large windows - no other RV looked so cool. It looked like it came from the future.
> Growing up I noticed the prices for these were way too high for me. Finally in my mid thirties the prices were coming down to between 10 - 12,000 dollars for one. So I waited and waited. Driving the remote country one day I saw one for sale sitting in a field. I had to turn around and check it out. It was within my price range. I meet with the seller and made sure the air suspension, the generator and the roof air worked - and went for a test drive. The closet door came open. The refrigerator door came open and each started banging into each other. I was trying to focus on the noises of the engine when a side window fell out and disappeared into a million pieces as it smashed onto the road. Not a good first impression - but I liked it and made a low ball offer. He would not take it stating how much these are worth. I noticed the tags were expired. I asked if he had clear title - he admitted he did not !
> He bought the coach from a widow after her husband had passed away - she couldn't find the title and ever since this guy bought the GMC he could not title or register it.
> He said he had a bill of sale from the widow and would be willing to write me a bill of sale too.
> Wow. Thats nice.
> A call to the Motor Vehicles Division (DMV) told me what I already knew: Don't buy a vehicle without a title !!!!
> But I just could not let it go. I have been a private Detective for over 15 years so I did some research. Long story short it took me over 5 months to track down and gather documentation on 5 different people who still had security interest in the vehicle - one didn't even know it. I had to find and obtain the following: proof of death on two (2) of them, a release of interest (1) and a bill of sell (1) from the widow AND a bill of sale (1) from the guy selling the coach.
>
> Honestly - I can't imagine someone else doing what i did to get title to this coach - but the fact that he didn't have a title allowed me to wear him down to a $4,500.00 sell price. Finding dead people is not easy. In fact DMV wrote me a letter stating my request for title could not be completed without a signed release from one of the deceased security interest holders. I told them on the phone "I can't get a signed release from a dead person!!" After 2 months DMV finally accepted the proof of death and a letter from the attorney who handled the decedent's will. Crazy.
>
> As another gentleman said - look at this as a hobby. I think we all share the joy (and pains) of bringing the coach back to life again.
>
>
> '73 Canyon Lands
>
> ________________________________
> From: Bryan Hayes <hayesnet1@gmail.com>
> To: gmclist@temp.gmcnet.org
> Sent: Thu, March 18, 2010 8:30:07 PM
> Subject: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question
>
> Greetings, all. I'm brand new to this list. I've been interested in GMC
> motor homes pretty much since I was a kid in the mid-1970s. My family and I
> were traveling along a strip of interstate highway somewhere on a trip in
> our 25' Dodge Explorer motor home, which had had no end to problems. As we
> were driving along, a shiny new GMC glided past us. My mother, no doubt
> summing up all of the repair bills and lost vacation time in her head,
> commented, "I wish we would have gotten one of those." For some reason, the
> sight of that futuristic-looking motor home and my mother's comment has
> stuck with me all these years.
>
> I'm now actively searching for one, and have seen some beautiful
> restorations that were way out of my price range, some fairly decent units
> that were moderately priced, as well as ones that would make great
> restoration projects. One question has been nagging me though, and that is
> this:
>
> Why hasn't a company stepped forward to design and build a new, updated
> GMC-style motor home?
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> GMCnet mailing list
> List Information and Subscription Options:
> http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77221 is a reply to message #77193] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 11:21 |
bhayes
Messages: 263
Registered: March 2010
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Thanks for the responses, everyone!
Byron, you're right about the amount of money it would take for a start-up
to produce a GMC-style motor home, but I wonder why a major RV manufacturer
has never taken up the torch. With the number of them still on the road and
their popularity 30+ years later, these coaches have definitely stood the
test of time. I suppose it is still more cost effective for the major
manufacturers to build a box on a frame since the R&D costs for the frame,
suspension, power train, etc. has already been absorbed by the frame
manufacturer.
Mark, I have to say that your story is great! That's an amazing amount of
dedication, and it looks like you got it for a great price. After that
first test drive, I probably would have turned around, handed the keys back,
and said, "Thanks, but no thanks." I'm middle-aged with a young kids still,
so the amount of time I can spend on a restoration is limited. But I'm
handy enough to take care of the typical issues that arise with an RV,
having previously owned a Toyota motor home.
Jim, you bring up a good point about parts, which mirrors one of my concerns
with buying such an old coach. I just wonder how long we can keep these old
coaches on the road until it becomes prohibitively expensive to maintain
them.
Dan, I live in the Salt Lake City, Utah, area, so unfortunately I won't be
able to attend the spring convention. I did look at some of the recently
posted pictures though. It's always fun to see what people have done to
their old GMCs.
I've been keeping an eye on Ebay and Craiglist to get an idea of what these
coaches are going for. It's interesting to see the gap between what sellers
are asking for on the classifieds, and what buyers are paying for them in
the auctions. As the old saying goes, though, it's only worth what
someone's willing to pay.
Bryan Hayes
Salt Lake City, UT
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Bryan Hayes
'76 Eleganza II
Salt Lake City, Utah
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77223 is a reply to message #77173] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 11:38 |
Chr$
Messages: 2690
Registered: January 2004
Location: Scottsdale, AZ
Karma: 1
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Senior Member |
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Explorer (Van Conversions) did it a while back. They stripped something like 25 of them down to the frame and rebuilt them. Warranty costs killed that, plus the cost rivaled other new units available at the time. If you find one of these "GMC II's" don't waste any time looking at it. they go very fast. One really nice one sold recently in the $24K range if I recall.
Look at www.bethunesales.com for coaches, or attend a rally. There is also a Craigslist site-mash posted here on the forum.
I bought a Wreck for $5K when they were going for $10-12K or more, and I did it for several reasons. It was an Arizona coach so no rust, it ran, and I intended on totally rebuilding the automotive components and replacing all the house components anyway.
It has been a long 5 years, and still not done, but as someone said, it is a hobby. It's worth it. Even with the crappy paint job my coach has, People always come up to it at the gas station when I am filling it up.
-Chr$: Perpetual SmartAss
Scottsdale, AZ
77 Ex-Kingsley 455 SOLD!
2010 Nomad 24 Ft TT 390W PV W/MPPT, EV4010 and custom cargo door.
Photosite: Chrisc GMC:"It has Begun" TT: "The Other Woman"
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77253 is a reply to message #77173] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 15:25 |
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Bryan Hayes wrote on Thu, 18 March 2010 20:30]Greetings, all. I'm brand new to this list. I've been interested in GMC
motor homes pretty much since I was a kid in the mid-1970.
our 25' Dodge Explorer motor home, which had had no end to problems.
I'm now actively searching for one, and have seen some beautiful
restorations that were way out of my price range, some fairly decent units that were moderately priced, as well as ones that would make great restoration projects.
Hi Bryan, welcome to the Net. I have a 1973 26' that I've been working on since 2003. It is in pretty good shape with a newly OH motor, Manny tranny (the best), 16"alum wheels and fairly new tires, laminate floor throughout, working reefer, queen bed in back, new batteries, new china toilet, Maserator (not installed), new belts, new bushings on bogies plus numerous other upgrades-new stuff. The windshields slightly fogged and one cracked. I've broken in the new motor, but am getting a little too old to continue much longer (83 now). Am asking $15,000.00 but have receipts for about $20K. Am willing to dicker a little. Geo at 775 882-7307 Carson City.
geo groth '73 260 Sequoia
Carson City Nevada 89703
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77261 is a reply to message #77221] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 16:21 |
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Frame comes from A. Engine from B. Transmission from C. Plumbing from D.
Steel from China. Everything else from somewhere else. The name on the coach
is who put it all together, not who designed and built it.
There have been some attempts by some manufacturers but the didn't stick
with it long enough to make it work.
GMCs will still be going 15 years from now. At least, ours will.
Byron
Bryan Hayes wrote:
> Byron, you're right about the amount of money it would take for a start-up
> to produce a GMC-style motor home, but I wonder why a major RV manufacturer
> has never taken up the torch. With the number of them still on the road and
> their popularity 30+ years later, these coaches have definitely stood the
> test of time. I suppose it is still more cost effective for the major
> manufacturers to build a box on a frame since the R&D costs for the frame,
> suspension, power train, etc. has already been absorbed by the frame
> manufacturer.
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
List Information and Subscription Options:
http://temp.gmcnet.org/cgi-bin/mailman/listinfo/gmclist
--
Byron Songer
Full-timing to enjoy the USA
Former owner but still an admirer
GMC paint schemes at -
http://www.songerconsulting.net
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| Re: [GMCnet] Greetings and a question [message #77268 is a reply to message #77173] |
Fri, 19 March 2010 17:12 |
Rusty
Messages: 197
Registered: October 2005
Location: Philadelphia Pa
Karma: 0
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Senior Member |
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Mark T your story is hard to believe. From high school on I was always a GMC gawker. I would have bailed when no title and I would have bailed on his price. My coach sat for 12 yrs. in storage outside. It only had 36k miles on it but the inside was completely destroyed by vermin. I got it in 2005 for 1500 bucks, it came with 2 new air bags in their firestone boxes and a set of new timken bearings also in their boxes. I now have 26 times what I paid for it, into it which includes maybe 20% of that paid to Ken Frey and Topeka Graphics, for mechanicals and paint. Even with its restoration and new 5-color sanded clearcoat paint I feel I would be lucky to get even 10k for it right now. Its such a great time right now to buy a GMC. If I had to do it all over again I would buy one already restored but that only because it took me 5 years to do it and I am speaking after the fact. I had a blast doing it. And that Olds 455 (block and intake ) still has less than 46k miles on it. It and the frame are the only things left that havent been taken completely apart or replaced. Oh wait I forgot the kitchen sink and counter, and the toilet and bath module plastic, are original and not dis-assembled yet. I am at the point now where, I have trips booked for the summer, its reliable, it looks great and rides well, and the gawkers are many. Y E A H
Rusty
75 Glenbrook
Philadelphia Pa
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