Fifty Years Ago, GM Built the Motorhome of the Future. Here’s Why It’s Still One of the Greats
As someone who appreciates comfort during travel, the idea of camping has always seemed a bit baffling. It involves extra effort, more inconvenience, and a significant reduction in creature comforts. But what if there was a way to combine the freedom of the open road with a touch of style and genuine comfort? Fifty years ago, that vision became a reality with the GMC Motorhome.
It Started With Oldsmobile
The GMC Motorhome was a pioneering project, a ground-up reimagining of recreational vehicle design and construction. It avoided many of the inherent compromises found in contemporary mobile homes. This bold design, combined with GM’s resources, indicated an innovative approach to creating a vehicle with multiple applications.
The story of the GMC Motorhome began with the Unitized Power Package (UPP), which debuted on the 1966 Oldsmobile Toronado. Though initially intended to create a lower-cost front-wheel drive car, the UPP’s development was costly and time-consuming. However, the UPP’s advantages, including improved grip in low-traction situations and more interior space (due to the absence of a transmission tunnel), proved instrumental in RV design.
After successful use in the Toronado, the UPP was adapted for the 1967 Cadillac Eldorado. Car and Driver magazine praised the Toronado’s design, highlighting its innovative engineering.
The Nascent RV Market
At the time, most RVs were built on existing commercial truck chassis, resulting in a higher floor, a harsh ride, and less-than-ideal handling due to a high center of gravity. The GMC Motorhome was a departure from this concept, offering a lower ride height, improved handling, and enhanced interior space. Automotive journalist Mercedes Streeter offered a great primer on motorhome history.
RV pioneer John Hall, stepson of Airstream’s founder, combined the UPP with an aluminum body and a custom chassis. This innovation led to the first Revcon motorhome. According to the website Tin Can Tourists, the Revcon’s design offered an unexpected combination of low profile and front-wheel drive, giving it handling comparable to American cars of the day.
Although the Revcon’s construction was advanced, its aesthetics were not considered a success. This opened the door for an RV that combined innovative construction and powertrain with an attractive exterior.
General Motors Wants A New Halo Vehicle
With the RV market expanding, GM saw an opportunity to create a new halo vehicle. Under the supervision of GM Vice President Martin Caserio, the new vehicle was designed from the ground up, drawing on the company’s vast design resources. The goal was to create “the Chevrolet of motorhomes.”
The team began by studying the layouts of existing RVs, building full-size interior mockups to experiment with the design. GM was determined to deliver a comfortable ride. The solution was a unique tandem twin-wheel arrangement at the rear, providing a more comfortable ride.
Exterior design work began in 1970, with Michael Lathers leading the team. They developed numerous sketches and clay models. The full-size clay model was likely one of the largest ever made by the GM studio. A smaller model was used for wind tunnel testing, achieving a drag coefficient of 0.31. Fiberglass panels were made using plaster molds taken directly from the finished clay model.
While the exterior design progressed, other aspects of development moved ahead. This led to Firestone replacing the hydraulic suspension system with a simpler, compressor-driven air suspension system. Eventually, the project was moved to the commercial vehicles division.
For interior design, GM consulted with House and Garden magazine and considered the latest décor trends and finishes. The goal was to create a complete, well-considered design inside and out.
The prototype GMC Motorhome was revealed at the 1972 U.S. International Transportation Exposition. The vehicle, initially known as the TVS-4, was designed to be adaptable to various uses, including a small bus, ambulance, and mobile medical clinic. The exterior design was plain, and the vehicle was intended to be marketed in 1973.
It Wasn’t Just Going To Be A Motor Home
GM believed in the TVS so much that it offered the motorhome in two lengths and even provided “Trans Mode” models for conversion by existing RV builders. GM had grander ambitions for the Trans Mode, designed with a removable body cap for various commercial adaptations.
Production began in late 1972, and the main vehicle was built at GM’s Pontiac, Michigan, assembly plant. Interior construction was subcontracted to Gemini. The motorhome was available with diverse layouts, and the base price ranged from $13,569 for the 23-foot model to $14,596 for the 26-foot version. GM anticipated producing 8,000 units annually and capturing 10% of the market.
Despite its production lasting only six years (until 1978) and low volume, sales were reasonable for the time. GM officially ended production so space could be used to build more profitable trucks, but the design-led vehicles proved to be expensive to produce.
How The GMC Demonstrates The Importance Of The Design Process
In 1973, the GMC Motorhome’s design must have seemed futuristic. Its design was taken as seriously as any of GM’s cars, resulting in a refined appearance, a wide field of view for the driver, and a modern exterior.
One of the key reasons the GMC Motorhome remains an exciting vehicle is because it illustrates the crucial role that designers play in creating a successful vehicle. Modern RVs often lack the design sophistication of the GMC. Many large RVs are “McMansions on wheels,” while smaller companies often produce poorly designed vehicles due to a lack of resources.
One of the company’s advertising lines was, “Our goal was to make getting there as much fun as being there.” The GMC Motorhome aimed to remove friction associated with camping and road trips. The GMC Motorhome website reports that many of the units built, approximately 12,000, are still registered. The original design continues to have a committed following.
Design transcends time, and brilliance endures. With modest updates to lighting, bumpers, and the grill, the GMC Motorhome, which was a bold design, could still be sold today. The GMC Motorhome remains proof that brilliant design can stand the test of time, and for those looking for a modern approach to comfortable travel, the GMC motorhome continues to be a great example to follow.
