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| [GMCnet] 5 GMC's in Macon, GA [message #351211] |
Sat, 04 January 2020 09:06  |
Ken Henderson
Messages: 8726
Registered: March 2004
Location: Americus, GA
Karma:
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After 12 days without AT&T internet, we've finally had a service call and
restored service. So, freed from my 'phone keyboard, I'll let Y'All in a
secret: An avid GMCer (and professional Corvette restorer) in Macon, GA
(he owned 9 GMC's at one time or another starting in '78) passed away early
last year, leaving his son with 5 un-wanted GMC's. Those have been
essentially untouched for 10+ years after the father had strokes. He also
left probably 30+ Corvettes and the accompanying restoration business,
which is still very active under the son. Alan and I finally went to look
at them last Monday; here are the details:
There are three 26's and two 23's. All of them seem to have spent most of
their prior lives in the SW and have good frames. The bodies are all "GMC
good"; that is, they are mostly complete and undamaged, so restorable with
elbow grease and paint. There are some very nice bumpers in the bunch and
even the worst of them didn't appear to be badly rusted.
1. One of the 26's, a '78 Eleganza II with an excellent original paint
job, is in a very large metal building with thousands of Corvette parts.
It was purchased for about $20K and taken to the GMC Coop (Jim Bounds) for
a complete interior rebuild, including all new headliner, seats, cabinets,
etc., except for the carpet, cockpit seats, windshields, and dashboard.
Immediately after that work, most of the interior was removed to enable
installation of extensive foam+lead insulation. I'd estimate 80%+ of the
interior was re-installed over the insulation; the remaining parts are in
the coach waiting. There is a roll of carpet ready to install, and,
reportedly, new cockpit seats in boxes. New windshields are to be ordered
based on contact information I provided. The dashboard has been partially
restored; that MAY be completed and reinstalled -- or perhaps left for a
buyer. The coach is on nice looking, unknown brand aluminum wheels.
There's a 7-high stack of NEW Alcoas with never-on-the-ground Michelins --
which have been in the stack for 10+ years. The biggest problem getting
this coach ready for use will probably be cleaning up the interior
plastics: Most of them are "sticky" from disuse while the plasticizers
have been leaching out. I'm not sure how one corrects that problem, but
the Corvette-restorer son assures me it's not a big problem. This should
be a very nice easily-completed coach. I don't have an asking price but it
certainly can't be anywhere near the estimated $50,000 that's been
invested. TZE Unknown.
2. Sitting in the weather is a pretty nice looking 23' which reportedly
runs and drives very well. The son intends to install a new battery and
get it running for demonstrations. It, and all the others except #1., has
steel wheels and VERY old tires. And it, like all the others, will require
replacement of the windshields and almost everything inside. In fact, this
one will probably require new rear flooring because the overhead vent is
covered with sagging, leaking, plastic sheeting. This is an unusual
Coachmen interior, in my experience: There's a 3' window immediately
behind the entry door over the kitchen counter along that wall. Opposite
is a green fibreglass wet bath -- the first I've seen in a Birchaven. The
bedroom's in the rear. Again, no asking price but I wouldn't give a lot
for it. TZE 367V101632.
3. Setting beside #2. is a sad Palm Beach? It reportedly runs good, but
can't be driven a present. The father removed ALL of the suspension,
rebuilt it, and had it powder coated; but, never re-installed it. The son
reinstalled some of it, but has never been able to find all the parts
(primarily hubs, discs, and calipers). The front knuckles, having set in
the weather for years, will require another rebuilding. One 4" tree will
have to be cut before moving the coach. Should go Cheep! TZE337V100353
4. The second 23' is behind the large building in #1. It's surrounded
completely with 1"+ saplings and weeds and covered in mildew. I could
hardly get close enough to peer inside but it's furnishings are piled all
over and in bad shape. I suggested he'll be lucky to get this one towed
away for free -- despite the fact that the body is in good shape.
TZE337V100791.
5. This 26' is parked right behind #4. and in similar condition,
apparently, 'though I didn't attempt to get close enough to examine it
other than the S/N. Again, the badly mildewed body appears to be in
typically good GMC condition. But I gave the same towing opinion on this
one. TZE168V101865
At my age, I'm not about to undertake another GMC, I hope someone(s) will
rescue these; despite this report, they're probably ALL worth saving,
having good basic structures. What I'd really like to see is someone make
an offer for all of them. I suspect he might be amenable to a reasonable
offer to clear all of them from his property -- he's obviously got his
hands full with a successful Corvette restoration operation and would like
to be free of the GMC's. He likes them, having been "raised" in them, but
has too much "paying" work on the 'Vettes. Contact: Robbie Tucker,
"Corvette Classics, LLC", 6685 Forsyth Road, Macon, GA 31210, (478)
477-8000, Email robbie53@bellsouth.net
Ken H.
Americus, GA
'76 X-Birchaven w/Cad500/Howell EFI & EBL,
Manny Brakes & 1-Ton, Troy-Bilt APU, etc., etc., etc.
www.gmcwipersetc.com
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Ken Henderson
Americus, GA
www.gmcwipersetc.com
Large Wiring Diagrams
76 X-Birchaven
76 X-Palm Beach
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