Located about 10 miles from the 2026 World Series champion Milwaukee Brewers’ baseball stadium, this 18,370-mile 1986 Toyota Cormorant Motorhome is listed here on eBay in Brookfield, Wisconsin, and the current bid is just $5,500. The reserve isn’t met yet, of course. When you see the photos, you’ll know why. You wouldn’t let this one go for $5,500 either; it really looks like a gem.
We’ve seen many Toyota-based chassis-mount mini-motorhomes here on Barn Finds over the years, and this has to be one of the nicest. Unfortunately, it’s also one of the most obscure. I can’t really find any information on a “Cormorant” motorhome on the entire internet, going all the way back to Al Gore’s birth, or whenever it was invented.
There’s information on the Cormorant Clipper, but not just a Cormorant. From what I’ve found, it’s basically the same thing, but this one doesn’t have the Clipper name on it anywhere, just Cormorant. I did find info on Spickler Enterprises, the other name on the back, but it relates to not paying sales taxes… I’m hoping one of you internet gurus can find something about just a Cormorant motorhome rather than the Cormorant Clipper, which is typically badged as a Clipper.
Whatever it is, this looks like an absolute gem of a little Class-C motorhome. Those are based on a chassis-cab truck frame and are typically much nicer than a slide-in pickup camper, and less bulky and easier to drive than a Class-A motorhome, which is basically a box on wheels with no identifiable truck manufacturer. Most truck makers offered chassis-mounts for RV manufacturers, and we’ve seen a ton of these little Toyotas.
Class-C motorhomes are typically based on a one-ton truck chassis, and some have two rear axles with a tag axle to handle the extra weight. I could live in this one, even though it’s smaller than what you’d see on a Ford/Dodge/Chevy chassis. Our own Todd Fitch has a really nice vintage Lazy Daze Class-C motorhome with much more living area inside. This Cormorant looks great from what I can see, and it has everything, right down to a bathroom with a shower.
The engine is Toyota’s 22R-E, a 2.4-liter fuel-injected SOHC inline-four with 113 horsepower and 140 lb-ft of torque when new. It sends power through a three-speed automatic to the rear wheels, and the seller says this one has been in the same family since it was new and has been stored in a heated garage when not in use. It has no water damage or soft spots in the roof, has cold AC, new tires, and a new battery, and everything works as it should. Have any of you owned a Toyota Class-C motorhome?
Waaaait a minute, a Cormorant? Why the noive( see Avatar) I was furious until I read, Packard officially changed the name of the hood ornament to Pelican in 1949, what it was supposed to be all along. After 1951, Packard officially dissolved the Cormorant name, and featured swept back wings, for liability purposes.
The unit itself is pretty nice, the 4 cylinder is too weak for these, and the new owner will find out why it has low mileage. Automatic a nice touch, and I’m flabbergasted at the seemingly low price. When I had that bug up my tush to do this, I found $5grand basically buys what Fido was living in. This, sadly, is yet another stark indication that “these times they are a changin”,,,
Yes, the 4-cyl 2.4l means it is slow. But if you’re not in a hurry, everything else is great. We all know how reliable those older Toyotas are.
The interior is fantastic and hopefully everything else is too. There are two kinds of RV’s – those that have been taken really good care of all their lives, and all the others. This is the former.
The 6-lug rear wheels mean it’s the 1-ton chassis not the 3/4 ton.
A very nice older lady I know had a ’87 Toyota RV, was run off the road, and it was totaled. I helped her deal with the insurance company and got $16k for it!
Very rare to see one that has been taken care of like this one. Will be interesting to see where the bidding goes on this it could be a really good bye. When i was younger we did a fair amount of camping first with a tent and then with a popup with roof mounted A/C that made a huge difference we always had a great time.