Date:         Sun, 26 May 2002 11:13:30 -0700
Reply-To:     "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
Sender:       Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From:         "Phil S." <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
Subject:      Re: Best van ever designed (was: Why do we love that damn van so
              much...)
In-Reply-To:  <20020526.103300.-458403.17.wilden1@juno.com>
Content-Type: text/plain; charset=us-ascii

Stan Wilder wrote:
> running example's ........... So give me the name of
> one person you know
> personally that is running one.
> I actually know where one is ...... been under
> restoration for ten years
> but it isn't a driver.


OK Stantowski, I know two guys here in Florida that I
have met in person more than once, but there are many
more that I dont know. And about the amount of GMCs
that are still on the road, read-on liverlips:

GMC made 13,000 of these motorhomes and according to
the Golby GMC MotorCoach Dealership, 10,000 are STILL
on the ROAD TODAY. Not bad for a 28 year old RV. Dont
believe me? heres the link:
http://www.golbymotorcorp.com/

Heres a list of GMC people in Florida:

Jim Bounds in Orlando, A REALLY nice guy gave me a
3hour tour of his GMC motorhome collection/shop
website: http://www.gmccoop.com/

Alex Sirum in Okeechobee, A nice guy and former
employee at GMC RV factory, has a BIG GMC RESTORATION
SHOP
website:
http://www.gmcmh.com/

ANOTHER GMC Dealer ALSO IN ORLANDO FLORIDA:
http://www.golbymotorcorp.com/

Laters,

Phil








--- Stan Wilder <wilden1@JUNO.COM> wrote:
> running example's ........... So give me the name of
> one person you know
> personally that is running one.
> I actually know where one is ...... been under
> restoration for ten years
> but it isn't a driver.
> Next item ........ that is STANETHULE not
> Stantowski.
> I've been to Florida many times, right in the heart
> of the money belt and
> in 33 years of going there and staying in Motor Home
> Parks I've never
> seen one of those GMC lead sleads in a park after
> about 1978.
> I admit I never expect to find them in the little
> State and Core of
> Engineers parks I go to but, Spring Break in Ft.
> Lauderdale or Padre
> Island, I'd expect to see one once in a while.
> There are "Snow Bird" RV parks in McAllen and
> Brownsville Texas that
> owners leave their units all year and just come for
> the winter months
> .... I don't see any there.
> If I were a dealer for the replacement parts for
> those GMC's I'd have
> hung myself years ago.
>
> Stan
>
>
> On Sun, 26 May 2002 10:10:22 -0500 (CDT)
> CTONLINE@webtv.net (Terry K.)
> writes:
> > Whoa--Stantowski---
> >
> > Air Stream Suspension?
> >
> > Wrong answer---
> >
> > Air Bag Suspension----way ahead of their time--
> >
> > Borrowed from semi tractors---not air stream
> trailer's----
> >
> > If the front end is GREASED, and maintained , just
> as in the
> > Vanatoilet's---it was a durable set up---
> >
> > And if half of the yo-yo's kept the proper air
> pressure in the
> > heavy
> > front ended unit's, the tire's would last one hell
> of a lot longer
> > than
> > 10,000 turns--
> >
> > There are many of these GMC's around here----not
> just
> > parked--running
> > example's
> >
> > Where do you come up with this stuff?
> >
> >
> > Besides the GMC motorhome, I'm also kinda fond of
> the Prevost line
> > of
> > land yacht's--
> >
> > Detroit, Cat, Cummins Powered, with an Allison
> transmission, air
> > ride
> > all the way around, 11x22.5's on polished aluminum
> Budd
> > wheels---yea
> > baby, this is the way to fly-:>)
> >
> > A freind of mine has one---art deco
> interior---black marble
> > john---trick---neat--marvelous----awe
> inspiring----and fast----
> >
> > Later,
> >
> > Terry
> >
> >
> >
> > E-mail message
> >
> > Most of these vans are not on the road! I see them
> all the time in
> > junk
> > yards.
> > If you're seeing more than two a year on the road
> I'd be surprised.
> > You
> > might be seeing them parked under a shed or beside
> a house or barn
> > but
> > on the road; I doubt it.
> > Those things were lead sleds with Air Stream Rear
> Suspension and
> > bunches
> > of stolen Air Stream features that GMC managed to
> tipple the weight
> > on.
> > That 10,000 mile set of front drive tires was a
> major killer of
> > maintenance.
> > NO! I've never had one. That is one mistake I
> never made.
> > Stan Wilder
> > On Sun, 26 May 2002 07:26:34 -0700 "Phil S."
> <napszeerf@YAHOO.COM>
> > writes:
> > "> The best... has to be the cabover current-model
> > (1989-present) Toyota
> > Hiace."
> > Sounds like a great vehicle, But round here a
> "cabover" is called a
> > "Class C" and is not considered a Van.
> > If we are going to compare apples and oranges Ill
> take a 79' GMC
> > 26'
> > Motorcoach, front wheel drive 455cid Olds and a
> top speed of 80mph
> > AND...great handling.
> > check out the GMC history page:
> > http://www.gmcmotorhomes.com/catalog/page00.html
> > Most of these motorhomes are still on the road
> becouse they were
> > designed to be tough as nails by an air craft
> engineer that worked
> > for
> > GMC.
> > Phil
> > --- Andrew Grebneff
> > <andrew.grebneff@STONEBOW.OTAGO.AC.NZ> wrote:
> > ITS THE BEST VAN EVER DESIGNED.....EVER
> > No way. Not looked at objectively. The body is
> great, the suspension
> >
> > is great (and therefore the handling). But it is
> seriously let down
> >
> > by unreliable mechanicals, poor electrics and
> crap-quality plastics
> >
> > and switchgear; unergonomic controls. The cargo
> bay is compromised
> > by
> > the engine hump; this could probably have been
> deleted by having no
> >
> > ancillaries atop the engine and a slightly higher
> floor.
> > The best... has to be the cabover current-model
> (1989-present)
> > Toyota
> > Hiace. Solid, safe, reliable, big, ergonomic
> everything, decent
> > handling, available with a huge variety of
> engines, body types, 3
> > different van wheelbases and levels of trim from
> bare bones to
> > ultraluxurious. And a flat cargo bay floor. All it
> lacks is an IRS
> > option, though upmarket versions get torsionbar
> rear, and
> > walkthrough. 4WD optional, including full-time and
> part-time
> > versions. And with good looks to top it off, and
> Toyota's
> > top-quality
> > ergonomics, plastics, switchgear, fit and finish.
> Available with
> > full camper conversions, including poptops.
> > Toyota Hiace
> > Engines
> > 2.0 gas
> > 2.4 gas
> > 2.0 diesel
> > 2.4 diesel (turbo oprtion)
> > 2.8 diesel
> > 3.0 EFI turbodiesel
> > Auto or 5-speed manual; floorshift or column
> cartspring or
> > torsionbar
> > rear
> > SWB, MWB (=VW length) or LWB
> > RWD, part-time 4WD, full-time 4WD
> > normal or high roof
> > top-hinged normal tailgate or (rare) dual
> vertical-hinged doors
> > single or dual sliders
> > optional small rear wheels with no wheelarches
> intruding into floor
> >
> > electric locking, windows, morrors, dual aircon
> etc
>
=== message truncated ===

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