Value of a 1976 26 GMC motorhome. Restored.

dougrainer wrote:
While GMC built the drivetrain and SHELL, Coachmen Industries (Coachmen RV company) actually built and installed all the interiors in the mid 70's in Elkhart, Indiana. I would be more concerned about the Air ride system and cost and availability than any other drivetrain parts. Doug

Also some units were upfitted by Avion.

As far as air ride, for one that is handy, there are several options available. There generic parts that will work, or there are some well thought out solutions. That is why if you own one, you belong to an affinity group, with a wide variety of ideas, and the resources to back them up.

To the OP, for the things you mention, you could look at Revcon. There is a version as short as 28ft with a permanent bed in the back. (sometimes called 27 ft Duke) In the 80s the drivetrain is custom, but built mostly from common parts. The interiors were very high end Wilsonart laminate, so they hold up well. All very light weight and super strong. And just think what you could do to the motor...

I would like thank all those who replied on this thread. We just came back from viewing the unit. Although its a nice unit it is not for us. It presented fine and we liked the floor plan but although they had obviously spent some time giving it a make over the painted cabinets, flooring, condition of the bathroom, higher mileage and a few other things including the things Doug mentioned wouldn't suit us. I think the bones are good, new tires, aluminum rims, runs well, and I get the impression well maintained. I think it will suit an Vintage RV enthusiast much better. Something a little longer than the Vanguard with a made up bed would have been cool but like Angela said, the Vanguard can pretty much turn around on a two lane road and has better clearance...and its paid for. :)

Thanks again folks. I learned a little more about an American classic motorhome today.

While GMC built the drivetrain and SHELL, Coachmen Industries (Coachmen RV company) actually built and installed all the interiors in the mid 70's in Elkhart, Indiana. I would be more concerned about the Air ride system and cost and availability than any other drivetrain parts. Doug

If I were looking for something old/vintage Country Coach

He still hasn't called me so I still haven't seen inside. I think he may be busy up North. Will have to wait.

Thanks Matt. He hasn't called me yet to come see it. Its nice from the outside but not sure its what I am looking for. The idea of the vintage unique thing really appeals to me but not sure we are ready to replace the vanguard with something like this. Lots of thinking to do.

John & Angela,

A really good thing to do would be to get the owners name and/or a good description and location and come over to GMCnet and ask if anybody knows this coach. We know about most of them.

Price - 20K$us is too high unless the coach is perfect and exactly what you want. There is a running line in our world....
"A Pretty and Dependable coach will cost about 25K$, all at once or as a kit."

There is no reason these coaches cannot still be as reliable as anything new. (We did ran 12K miles last year and replaces a 12$ part on the road and that was not a travel stopper.) My winter work was all installing new gadgets and doing the required maintenance.

We are out for another 2500+ in a couple of weeks. If I can get the coach through the snow in front of the barn door.

Matt

Delete

Restored like Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. So upon inspection it was no restored.

John & Angela wrote:
Thank you for all the info. We will see it tomorrow. They are asking 20,000. It looks okay from the outside but looking closely revealed a few problem areas. It's missing its bumpers because of some custom work and a rack. I think my friend has decided against it but I'm actually interested myself. Unfortunately from what I can see from other sold units it is closer to a 10,000 buy. It looks like the dash and cabinets have been painted white which concerns me. We'll see it tomorrow and go from there.

Take some pictures even if you don't buy it, just for fun.

Take a good look at the door fitment and the wall where it meets the door frame. Make sure it is not spreading. I looked at a GMC to buy many years ago, before I bought the Revcon. The GMC had grown fat in the middle, which meant the door did not fit, and the interior wall had pulled away from the door frame. I have since learned that problem is not completely uncommon. There are ways to deal with it, but something like that should be significant leverage against the price. Inspect the walls around the windows for leaks/rot. Inspect for frame rust. On that age of unit, the potential for large amounts of frame rust is pretty high. All those things differentiate it from a premium restored vehicle.