| They pimpped that GMC to the max [message #205335] |
Sat, 20 April 2013 12:12  |
bryant374
Messages: 563
Registered: May 2004
Location: Pleasant Valley, NY 12569
Karma:
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Fri, 19 April 2013 18:16
rcjordan
pfffttt!
The 26 was a concession. A marketing afterthought. A, well, bastardization.
You can almost hear Bill Bryant's disgust when he describes the 26:
"On February 7, 1972, GM made official what had been rumored in the industry for some time. The national press reported that GM was to "play a role in the motorhome market." By this time, the motorhome's lengths had been identified as 23 and 26 feet. The increase in length was the result of additional interior content that designers and salespeople felt was necessary for a well-equipped motorhome."
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Not exactly................
Interesting that you picked up on "disgust", it wasn't mine, but was Ralph Merkel's, the chassis engineer whose idea was the chassis for the GMC motorhome. He had envisioned 21' & 24' coaches and had to modify that design for the 26' change. When I interviewed him in the early 1990s it was obvious he was still upset at the "violation" of his original design caused by the increased loading as well as the loss of traction from the 26' design.
I also would not have chosen the description of, "concession, afterthought, bastardization". The decision to go with the 26' coach was made after the GMC/Frigidare folks analysed 115 floor plans from 76 motorhome builders and in retrospect, was likely the right choice. That was the design evolution during the development period. The 26' coach was to be the "primary model" and the 23' coach was the "price leader".
Bill Bryant
PO 1976~PB (owned 34 years)
1914 Ford (owned 70 years)
1965 Corvette (owned 39 years)
GMC Motorhome History
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