Vintage B's

[401nailhead]

Who has received some mileage (attention) from having a vintage Class B? I set up last August at an all-General Motors local car show (that I used to attend with my vintage Buicks) this time with the 1996 Coachmen B on a Chevy G30 van. It fit in well as a specialty vehicle, and it got at least a little attention. Actually, I was set up to sell some car flea market items, but the van just added some interest to the show. They also had some nice 70's GMC motorhomes, but I was the only class B. Anyone else enter their older Class B in a vintage car show? I know there are a lot older than ours out there. What are some of the older models found here on the site? I just saw on ebay what was initially advertised as a 1996 Coachmen brochure, but it turned out to be a 1986 brochure. Tough luck for me, but that would be a great find for the right owner. If anyone can make it down to North Carolina this May with your older Class B, let's make a vintage showing at the Class B Rally.

[401nailhead]

Great '89 RAM, and interesting family background! Congrats on running the '85 Olds too. Nothing beats having a vintage daily driver. It's been a while for me, but I have had several over the years. Hope you have a beater for the salty winters! Enjoy!

[thriftydutch]

DenDanger wrote:
Mine is an '89 and my daily driver along with an '85 Olds 88. My wife quite loves the comments either one gets regularly. She says she's really glad we didn't buy some boring modern CUV/SUV as I originally budgeted for. My kids feel the same. Actually I was saying I might sell the van this summer but they put their collective feet down and said 'NO DAD, YOU CAN'T!" lol.

Thank goodness somebody had the courage to say no to your possible mistake.
I think since you live in Toronto and retired, you should come to the rally in May and make us Canadians the majority in attendance. By the way I am also retired and a train guy.

[My_Roadtrek]

There is a Sticky at the top of the B home page with links to the B 13 Rally.

[DenDanger]

Mine is an '89 and my daily driver along with an '85 Olds 88. My wife quite loves the comments either one gets regularly. She says she's really glad we didn't buy some boring modern CUV/SUV as I originally budgeted for. My kids feel the same. Actually I was saying I might sell the van this summer but they put their collective feet down and said 'NO DAD, YOU CAN'T!" lol.

[AsheGuy]

401nailhead wrote:
Info can be found in the Rally section of this site.

Or, here.

b-rally.org

[401nailhead]

Last Mimzy, nice mileage range on the Road Trek. Lots of good miles and good times ahead for you. Good purchase. I bought our 1996 Coachmen in Florida last spring, and drove back to MD, 58,000 mileage on the vehicle at purchase. Since then drove to NC and to Montreal, and I have a lot of trust now. I hope you can experience the same mechanical good fortunes with yours. Please consider joining many Class B owners at the Class B Rally in North Carolina this coming May. If you have a dog or two, even better, since the campground specializes in families with dogs. Several days of good food and good Class B fellowship! Info can be found in the Rally section of this site.

[401nailhead]

Three of those GMC motorhomes have visited the Rockville, MD August All-GM car show the last few years. They are super cool.

[bsinmich]

Golden_HVAC wrote:
This class - something would turn some heads, even if it used a 1975 - 87 Ford front end and 4 wheel drive front axle, no rear wheel drive on this Ford based van camper.

Golden_HVAC wrote:

j-d wrote:
That second Caddy (a '55?) looks like it could have been the first Lazy Daze.

I always wanted to build a single-unit boat transporter. Front of a Toronado, rear of a boat trailer.

Something like this?



I think that Trailer Life or another boating magazine did a review of one of these Ford powered F-350 vans. It was converted with a 4X4 front axle, and is front wheel drive only. IT has something like 150 cubic feet of storage between the nose of the boat and van body.

Yes you could use a FWD Toranado or ElDorado. However the cab would be pretty low, and the front axle weight rating is not all that high. The 5,000 pound rating of a E-350 with a solid front 4X4 axle from a F-350 is used.

Fred.

The 'Toronado chassis is what was used by GM in their motorhomes of the 70s. From '73 to '78 GM built about 13,000 at the GMC coach plant in Pontiac, MI. About 11,000 are still in existence.

[The_Last_Mimzy]

Hi all. I just purchased a "new to me" 1999 Roadtrek 170 Popular/Dodge 2500 and I am in love! I don't think she is "vintage", but I love her just the same. She only has 72,000 miles and is in really good shape. Nevertheless, I am having her checked out from top to bottom before I go on any long trips. Love the pictures of the vintage rvs. I hadn't seen any of those before.

[bsinmich]

I get a lot more attention with either MH than I ever did with a Pace Arrow or Mountain Aire. I had a fellow waiting for me when I came out of a restaurant in October and he wanted to buy my Roadtrek on the spot. He got up to $15K.

[401nailhead]

Those Cadillacs and the station wagon are fantastic. Thanks for posting the photos. I agree, many of the later vans look similar, so you have to go a ways back before you really get a vintage look. If anyone knows of more photos, either another thread or other websites or books, please post. I could look at those all day, seeing what innovation was occurring way back in the day. I wonder how many people did NOT really do the weight bearing calculations before building?

[Golden_HVAC]

Here is the station wagon post I saw a few months ago.

ISBRAM wrote:
I spotted this on my block when I got home today. I didn’t get to talk with the owner. Thirty years ago you used to see these car campers all over Colorado; this is the first one I’ve seen in a long time.

I had a buddy that had one on a late sixties Impala, he said they modified the car to fit the basic camper and bolted it in.

Fred.

[Golden_HVAC]

This class - something would turn some heads, even if it used a 1975 - 87 Ford front end and 4 wheel drive front axle, no rear wheel drive on this Ford based van camper.

Golden_HVAC wrote:

j-d wrote:
That second Caddy (a '55?) looks like it could have been the first Lazy Daze.

I always wanted to build a single-unit boat transporter. Front of a Toronado, rear of a boat trailer.

Something like this?



I think that Trailer Life or another boating magazine did a review of one of these Ford powered F-350 vans. It was converted with a 4X4 front axle, and is front wheel drive only. IT has something like 150 cubic feet of storage between the nose of the boat and van body.

Yes you could use a FWD Toranado or ElDorado. However the cab would be pretty low, and the front axle weight rating is not all that high. The 5,000 pound rating of a E-350 with a solid front 4X4 axle from a F-350 is used.

Fred.

[Golden_HVAC]

I was able to see a really old class C at the Lazy Daze motorhome factory back in 1994. It was based on a small van from the late 60's.

I think that something older than 1970 would have a lot of appeal to vintage car collectors, but later than that, the vans almost look the same today as they did in 1975.

I did see someone post something about a station wagon based class C once. It was a very unique class C that would draw a lot of attention. I will see if I can find those pictures. . .

Fred.