Considering this blue baby

[MillenialGranola]

Good morning everyone,

I have recently been turned on to GMC motorhomes and have to say I caught the bug almost immediately. My dad always had classic cars from the 60's (still has a 66 chevelle) and looking at these spaceships reminds me of those cars I grew up gawking over at the local car shows. I was previously searching for a school bus that was built out (about 3 years now) but have all but decided to stop that journey in pursuit of a GMC motorhome. This forum seems to be a great community and I figured would be a good starting point. In my little research conducted I have found this one I am interested in. The current seller is the 4th owner and has done everything listed on the attached "fact sheet". Seller and I have potentially agreed on a price and he is willing to deliver it to me since I have 2 smaller children and cannot travel at this moment in time. Again, my research overall on these motorhomes has been limited to approximately 4 weeks or so. I was wondering if anyone could help me with this listing.

https://www.gmcmi.com/motorhomes-for-sale/
NEW! | 1973 Glacier
OK | asking $34,500 | listed 11-10-2020
Bob Ankersheil | Phone or Text 210-788-1091 for additional information

For starters, is the price fair for what has been done and the current condition? This is just about the very limit of my budget and don't want to get burned immediately. I have had travel trailers in the past and am aware things go wrong and will require money but don't want to make a grave mistake.

Being that the motorhome has always been in OK I have concerns the chassis and engine have moderate rust damage from salt. Seller has said there is no deep rust. I am awaiting further pictures from seller on these two. The only shot of the engine in the fact sheet isn't great and I can't tell if there's rust or just typical engine wear.

The vehicle is currently out in the open and not under any type of cover. When it was repainted the windows were never resealed. He did add sound deadening material (I have to clarify this further when we speak again) and reports no water damage noted or he would have fixed it while it was going through updates. Is this is big issue with these motorhomes? My prior experience with older travel trailers they used butyl tape that eventually wears out and cracks over the years.

I have also yet to ask about maintenance records but would like to see them before a purchase, particularly for the most recent things.

Is there anything else the community feels I should be concerned about or things that I should look into further? Any suggestions would be a tremendous help.

Thanks,

Gary

 

[MillenialGranola]

I forgot the "fact sheet". Please let me know if there are any issues opening this.

 

[tmsnyder]

Oklahoma shouldn't have any issues with rust, should it? It's darn near desert there, I would suspect that if it came from there that there would be no rust on the frame at all.

But that's easy to check, just lay down and look, especially towards the rear end where the frame pieces are laminated together.

Now if was from NY......different story.

 

[JSanford]

That is on the very high side of typical GMC prices. The owner has A LOT of money in the paint job and if not making a profit he is at least trying to break even. The drive train is all original with 75k. The engine is probably good for another 75-100k, but it is rare for a original trans to go much past 100k.

 

[MillenialGranola]

Oklahoma shouldn't have any issues with rust, should it? It's darn near desert there, I would suspect that if it came from there that there would be no rust on the frame at all.

But that's easy to check, just lay down and look, especially towards the rear end where the frame pieces are laminated together.

Now if was from NY......different story.

I have never been to OK but I assumed it snows there in the winter time and they salt the roads. I'm originally from PA and they salt the roads heavily which has wreaked havoc on every vehicle I've owned until moving south.

That is on the very high side of typical GMC prices. The owner has A LOT of money in the paint job and if not making a profit he is at least trying to break even. The drive train is all original with 75k. The engine is probably good for another 75-100k, but it is rare for a original trans to go much past 100k.

I though it was on the higher side but was wondering what experienced members here would think. From our phone conversation, it does sound like Bob has put more than $34 into this but he also did flat out say he is confident he will get it back out of it.

 

[Christo]

I agree with others that the price is at the high end for a coach with non-rebuilt engine and transmission. Pity about the mismatched blue/red exterior/interior, and pity it doesn't have more of the common expensive "extras" like awning(s), revised final drive ratio, etc. At first blush it feels like $25k would be a good price for this coach -- NOBODY gets the money out that they put in. Any idea when the renovation work was done? Also, are there detailed mechanical records available? A coach at this price should have good records. I hope this coach isn't an example of too much emphasis on cosmetic and not enough on mechanical.

Finally, if I were in the market for a higher-end coach, I would hesitate to go with a 73/74 unless it were a very special example. In the later years, particularly 77/78, there were lots of improvements to the mechanicals, chassis and interior, even though all years look the same.

 

[MillenialGranola]

I agree with others that the price is at the high end for a coach with non-rebuilt engine and transmission. Pity about the mismatched blue/red exterior/interior, and pity it doesn't have more of the common expensive "extras" like awning(s), revised final drive ratio, etc. At first blush it feels like $25k would be a good price for this coach -- NOBODY gets the money out that they put in. Any idea when the renovation work was done? Also, are there detailed mechanical records available? A coach at this price should have good records. I hope this coach isn't an example of too much emphasis on cosmetic and not enough on mechanical.

Finally, if I were in the market for a higher-end coach, I would hesitate to go with a 73/74 unless it were a very special example. In the later years, particularly 77/78, there were lots of improvements to the mechanicals, chassis and interior, even though all years look the same.

This post essentially lets me know I am not ready for a purchase and need to review all the models and changes made over the years more. I was aware of the mechanical changes to the engine going from 455 to 403 but not much beyond that. To edit my prior statement, Bob flat out said he did NOT expect to get out of it what he has put into it but didn't want to go below $28k. I believe all the paint and mechanical work was done 2 years ago. He has put around 3k miles on since then to the best of my recollection.

 

[JSanford]

Decide which GMC you want first, and then focus on finding one. Most solid ready to enjoy GMCs transact in the 15-25k range, so your budget should get you a VERY nice GMC.
1975 was the big leap forward with multiple improvements over the 1973-4 models.
Good read http://www.bdub.net/publications/GMC_Motorhome_-_The_Story_of_a_Classic.pdf

Decide which GMC you want then start your search. Craigslist and FB Marketplace are the best places to look.

 

[Christo]

Decide which GMC you want first, and then focus on finding one. Most solid ready to enjoy GMCs transact in the 15-25k range, so your budget should get you a VERY nice GMC.
1975 was the big leap forward with multiple improvements over the 1973-4 models.
Good read http://www.bdub.net/publications/GMC_Motorhome_-_The_Story_of_a_Classic.pdf

Decide which GMC you want then start your search. Craigslist and FB Marketplace are the best places to look.

Thanks Jeremy, I was just going to look up that article that chronicled the changes and post it for Gary.

One thing I don't think the article is too detailed about is the dash HVAC system, airflow in particular. In 73/74 it was terrible, in 75/76 it was marginal, and in 77/78 it was pretty decent.

 

[Matt Colie]

Gary,

I, too, agree that the price is at the high end, but I have not seen the coach in the flesh. There have been others sold for more. If you can get to a local rally, you are bound to find one or more that are true works of art.

The thing that has not been said here (and everybody that actually knows will agree) is that a reliable and ready to travel GMC will cost about 30K$us. What this simple line does not say is that this is all at once or as a kit. It also does not allow that sweat is billed in at full shop rate.

Now, that is covered. There is one thing that you should be aware of and that is that there were recalls on both then lower control arms and the rear bearings. When you look those up over at GMCMI, you will find the identification quite easy. The rear is real obvious when the wheel overs or alloy wheels are off. The front, not so much. That was a reinforcement of the lower control arms. It is necessary at about 150K. At 170K+ we broke one at 60MPH. It was a bad day. There were other service advisories too, but none that were threats to safety. Please note the year in my sigfile.

Another thing that the owner probably thought was a great idea was changing the distributor to HEI. This is also why he had to put in the aftermarket air filter housing. The problem with HEI is that if you let the plug gap grow wide, it will kill the module (at least). This is not a tough repair if you have the parts, (always have the parts for this) and a screw driver. Most owners carry the whole kit. That means you also have to find a real Delco module and the Chinese versions are very much less reliable.

This is an amazing community of helping and supportive people. I suggest that you go to gmcmi.com and find the "Black" list aka GMC Assist list and locate a local that can look at it with you and talk to you about it. There is nothing like a native guide.

There is also another older (both residents and format) forum. Someone there might know this coach and be better able to advise you of the condition. There have been coaches offered at prices and with specifics that look good, but were not all they were marketed as....

Matt

 

[Christo]

Gary,

I, too, agree that the price is at the high end, but I have not seen the coach in the flesh. There have been others sold for more. If you can get to a local rally, you are bound to find one or more that are true works of art.

The thing that has not been said here (and everybody that actually knows will agree) is that a reliable and ready to travel GMC will cost about 30K$us. What this simple line does not say is that this is all at once or as a kit. It also does not allow that sweat is billed in at full shop rate.

Now, that is covered. There is one thing that you should be aware of and that is that there were recalls on both then lower control arms and the rear bearings. When you look those up over at GMCMI, you will find the identification quite easy. The rear is real obvious when the wheel overs or alloy wheels are off. The front, not so much. That was a reinforcement of the lower control arms. It is necessary at about 150K. At 170K+ we broke one at 60MPH. It was a bad day. There were other service advisories too, but none that were threats to safety. Please note the year in my sigfile.

Another thing that the owner probably thought was a great idea was changing the distributor to HEI. This is also why he had to put in the aftermarket air filter housing. The problem with HEI is that if you let the plug gap grow wide, it will kill the module (at least). This is not a tough repair if you have the parts, (always have the parts for this) and a screw driver. Most owners carry the whole kit. That means you also have to find a real Delco module and the Chinese versions are very much less reliable.

This is an amazing community of helping and supportive people. I suggest that you go to gmcmi.com and find the "Black" list aka GMC Assist list and locate a local that can look at it with you and talk to you about it. There is nothing like a native guide.

There is also another older (both residents and format) forum. Someone there might know this coach and be better able to advise you of the condition. There have been coaches offered at prices and with specifics that look good, but were not all they were marketed as....

Matt

Fantastic post and good advice, Matt. Thank you! FYI, the old forum is at gmc.mybirdfeeder.net (yes, that's really the URL). There be benevolent graybeards there .

Y'know, at some point, maybe soon, we're gonna have to adjust that 30k number for inflation. That reminds me: What if someday the GMC price goes crazy like the VW bus? Good or bad? Think carefully before answering!

 

[Matt Colie]

Fantastic post and good advice, Matt. Thank you! FYI, the old forum is at gmc.mybirdfeeder.net (yes, that's really the URL). There be benevolent graybeards there .

Y'know, at some point, maybe soon, we're gonna have to adjust that 30k number for inflation. That reminds me: What if someday the GMC price goes crazy like the VW bus? Good or bad? Think carefully before answering!

Christo,

Thanks, with the lookers, I try to be accurate and not discouraging.

In the years I have been reading GMC net, it has been revised from 27K...

I can never remember the URL over there.

Matt

 

[tmsnyder]

I would just like to add, just for perspective's sake, that there are hundreds (1000s?) of folks that walk into an RV dealership every month and sign on the dotted line for a brand new Motorhome. They are paying $100,000+ for a unit that will depreciate to ~$10,000 in about 10 years. They are signing away $90,000 for the use of a motorhome for 10 years.

So, put that in perspective. Even IF you don't get the best deal on earth for a GMC motorhome, you are not really loosing that much money. Not compared to someone that buys a new motorhome anyway.

And after 10 years it will be worth about what you paid for it. You may loose a few thousand if you overpay, yes. But not $90,000. In the meantime, you will be driving around the country in a much cooler motorhome for basically chump change!