| [GMCnet] Why GMC Cancelled the 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome [message #346050] |
Sun, 04 August 2019 17:33  |
fbhtxak
Messages: 191
Registered: April 2006
Karma:
|
Senior Member |
|
|
Dolph, Bill (and others who may be interested...)
Your exchange reminds me of the late Lee Iacocca's book "Car Guys vs. Bean
Counters: The Battle for the Soul of American Business". I found it to be a
captivating read...
Fred
Fred Hudspeth
1978 Royale (TZE 368V101335) - Tyler, TX (owned 26 years)
1982 Airstream Excella (motorhome) - Cooper Landing, Alaska (owned 21 years)
1990 Mercedes Benz 560 SEC (original owner, 29 years)
Message: 1
Date: Sun, 4 Aug 2019 12:05:08 -0400
From: Dolph Santorine
To: GMC List
Cc: Bill Bryant
Subject: Re: [GMCnet] Why GMC Cancelled the 1973-1978 GMC Motorhome
Message-ID:
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=utf-8
Bill:
Thank you for setting this straight.
There were so many factors, and trying to simplify the reasoning is
erroneous.
Bashing those ?Bean Counters? (you know, the guys responsible for the
investors money) is so popular today.
Complex machines, complex organizations, while trying to guess what the
regulators are going to do to you in the changing world of four decades ago.
You insight is appreciated.
Dolph
DE AD0LF
Wheeling, West Virginia
1977 26? ex-PalmBeach
Howell EFI & EBL, Reaction Arms, Manny Transmission
?The Aluminum and Fiberglass Mistress"
> On Aug 4, 2019, at 11:46 AM, Bill Bryant via Gmclist
wrote:
>
> Many of us have viewed the video entitled, "Why GMC Cancelled the
1973-1978 GMC Motorhome"
>
> It's a very interesting video, but unfortunately reaches an erroneous
> conclusion. I am posting this comment because I believe the conclusion
stated in this video needs to be corrected for historical purposes. The
following can be found on the GMCMI website under the video section.
> Respectfully,
> Bill
>
>
> Stated in this video is a conclusion that states, "short sighted bean
> counters decision" caused the GMC Motorhome to be discontinued.
> Financial accounting, bean counters, report on financial accounting facts.
Based on these facts and possibly other judgements, management may make the
decision to take action. In the case of the GMC Motorhome, it was GM
management that decided to discontinue production.
>
> The official reason given by GMC for that action was correct but
> incomplete. Not mentioned was a serious concern for the future, the
> design of a larger, heavier motorhome which is where the market was
> headed. It is important to remember the 1973 GMC motorhome had a
> 10,500 GVW, by 1978 it was 12,500. An increase of nearly 20% with few
design changes to compensate for the increased loading. The original design
used many passenger vehicle parts that were likely near reliable design
limits. Many of these parts had been discontinued or were to be
discontinued soon due to the auto industry down sizing.
>
> What was GMC to do? A major redesign would have been required if the
> GMC motorhome were to continue. The cost of a major redesign would likely
have been many millions of dollars. From a Corporation point of view I
believe the appropriate decision was made. From a GMCer point of view, how
sad!
>
> A minor point, but one used in the video that causes confusion is the
> rear wheel design, stated as "side by side" a dual wheel description, the
GMC is "tandem" two wheels "one behind the other".
>
>
> --
> Bill Bryant
> PO 1976~PB (owned 34 years)
> 1914 Ford
> 1965 Corvette
> GMC MH History, GMC Showroom films,
> "Workprint" Early GMC development 11-70 to 3-71 on USB flash drive.
>
>
************
_______________________________________________
GMCnet mailing list
Unsubscribe or Change List Options:
http://list.gmcnet.org/mailman/listinfo/gmclist_list.gmcnet.org
|
|
|
|
GMCforum
Search
Help
Register
Login
Home
