Does anyone know why there are next to no Ford chasis class a motorhomes during the 70's? They are all Dodge or Chebby.

 

They are not all Dodge or Chevy...Ford offered their own M Series (Class A) motorhomes beginning in 1973 (built thru 1979). These units were built at the Louisville Kentucky Ford truck assembly plant.

From the early 1960's thru 1975, Condor, located in El Monte CA, built Class A motorhomes off the P500 series chassis..as did other manufacturers. The P Series chassis (P350/P400/P500) was usually used as a Parcel Delivery, similar to the Chevy Step Van. There were at least 5 different wheelbases offered on P Series trucks.

Prior to 1975, many P Series trucks were used to deliver bread...Frito-Lay once had 100's of them. UPS used the P Series from 1953 thru 1975, when the P Series was discontinued. After 1975, the UPS trucks are built off the E350 Econoline extended chassis.

EDIT: See ebay # 160080691123 for an original ad for a 1967 Condor Motor Home. Note that the headlamp doors are the same painted versions 1961/66 F Series trucks used.

 

I have seen some in the 60's but I have not seen any in the 70's so I was just wondering if the Dodges and later the Chebbys were cheaper tobuy in chasis form? I am not saying there are none just very few. I am not talking about class c or b just class a. I have been looking for months and finnally gave up and bought a dodge because in washington oregon and idaho if they are around they are not for sale.

 

Outside of knowing a bit about Condor and the M series (because all the M series parts are listed in the 1973/79 Ford Light Truck Parts Catalog), motorhome history is not my forte. Both the M series and the Condors were Class A's. Besides Condor, many other motorhomes were built off the P Series chassis. Besides Condor, Grumman built some of the motorhomes.

Survival rate, I would guess, is rather poor for these early models. There are a few FTE members who own Condors, and at least one member has an M series.

If I was looking for an early motorhome, the first place I would look is long established trailer parks...especially in rural areas. A friend recently found a super rare Pierce Travel Lodge being used for storage in a NV trailer park.

The Travel Lodge was one of the first mass produced travel trailers, and was manufactured in Buffalo NY by the Pierce-Arrow Motor Car Company in 1935/38.

 

I am not an expert on rv's either. I have been raised with them all of my life but we never got into the chasis of them as much as we got into the coach part. I have seen pics of the pace arrow they are pretty nice looking all areo dynamic and all with the swept back lines. The problem up here in the great north wet is that water plays havic with rvs and one that is just sitting and not being used it seems that they hardly ever treat the roof and never seal the side of the coach and you end up with tons of rot. I use mine in the woods and don't want to spend a bunch of money to put a hole in it with a tree limb when an older one serves the pupose and as soon as we find the floor plan that fits us perfect then I will start to restore it. I did that with a camper, had it so you could walk from the back door right out the front of it basically it was down to most of the floor and part of the two walls. Completely rebuilt her then we ended up out growing it and then on to motorhomes. But in the last three years I have been playing with these motor homes I have noticed very few available up here and was just wondering why, maybe it is a regonal thing? I dunno. Thank you for your input, it gives me more things to look into. I am starting to think about building my own coach on a silver eagle or mci bus chasis. eventually

 

You are looking in the wrong place! Take a drive EAST of the Cascades, around Tri-Citys, Walla Walla, Pendleton, Hermiston etc. There are lots of RV's around here, and most are in great shape because we get so little rain.

 

Too late, just bought one. Thanks though I will keep that in mind for next time.

thanks,

dj