For the record, I have not been able to establish the origins of this incredible motorhome, so fact-checkers will have to provide commentary in the comments. But wow: what an amazing rig! Monaco Coach Corporation is a real-deal company that produces motorhomes to this day, but I can’t find much about this particular model, referred to as the Diplomat. It utilizes a Caterpillar engine of unknown origins but check the smokestack on the rear end! This thing is wild, and the bodywork and paint suggests it was not a cheap build when it was new. Find it here on Facebook Marketplace in Shelburne Falls, MA for $9,000.
The Diplomat seems like a fitting name for a luxury home on wheels, and the interior accommodations suggest it was a high-end model when new. The 3-spoke steering wheel is downright racy and makes us wonder if this model was intended for someone who wanted a rig that offered tighter-handling than your typical luxury coach. The plethora of gauges is something your average gearhead would love, and the large monitor in the center stack rivals that of the modern-day Tesla. The driver’s compartment seems to be in good shape overall with just typical signs of wear and tear.
The interior features your typical couch and lounge area directly behind the driver, followed by a dining area, bathroom, and large bedroom. The couch presumably folds out into a bed as well, and there’s certainly plenty of storage with all the wood cabinetry at the ceiling level. While it’s impossible to assess the water-tightness of the cabin from here, it at least appears to be dry in the photos with no obvious staining. The device by the door at first gave me some pause as to whether it was tied to reducing dampness or odors, but Google Lens seems to think it’s a standard air compressor. We’ve seen lots of motorhomes left parked for long spells, and few are as clean as this one is inside.
The rear end shows the engine compartment, and if you click on the listing, you’ll see a close-up of the engine which may allow our resident Caterpillar experts to identify it. Bonus points if you can identify where the taillights came from! The nose obviously is from a Dodge B-Series van of some vintage, and it’s an unusual combo to see such a flat grill and light combo paired with the pointy nose panel of the Diplomat. In a world of shorter-wheelbase RVs dominated by the BMW diesel-powered Vixen and the front-wheel drive GMC camper, this Caterpillar-powered entry is an intriguing one. Have you ever heard of this Monaco model?
Ooh, it’s a killing machine, its got everything,,,, like a driving power, big fat tires and everything,,,when was the last time you heard THAT one? Indeed a Highway Star, except, for that boat anchor of a motor and has an “up pipe” for a reason. Have to bring out the big guns here, Geomechs, but looks like that worthless, non-turbo 3208 boat anchor, turbo models helped a little. Nice unit, never saw one, probably an Allison automatic, and I suppose the motor is adequate, if you can afford the fuel. Diesel is over $5/gal here( be ready for that down the line at the grocery store) and this might get 7 or 8mpg, it adds up. I’ve pretty much S canned the traveling idea for a number of reasons, but a person could easily live in this, if you like hanging out behind the laundromat, that is.
Been thinking about this unit. 1st, I don’t think it’s a ’95. I can’t find any images past say, ’86 that look like this. Also, by ’95, they were using Cummins motors. One RV website says this is indeed a non-turbo 3208 Cat, and an Allison 4 speed automatic. While I don’t have much to say about the motor, to be clear, in a unit like this, big rubber(24.5) I bet this unit would do 80 mph easy, down wind, of course. It’s when they were used in a heavy duty application, they fell short. More for a school bus, than a dump truck hauling 50,000 lbs. all day. And a smoker, reason for the up pipe, in fact, I wonder if these old motors are even allowed in Cal. today. Might want to check on that. This is a cool coach.
And in case all my rockin’ buddies are dead, that song was Highway Star by Deep Purple on the Machine Head Album released in 1972( eep), and the AMAZING guitarist Richie Blackmore, who, at 80, is STILL rockin’,,hmm, considering the life those people led, and are 80, I should live to be a 100,,,too bad it doesn’t work that way.
Looks like you nailed it again, Howard. Monaco Coach Corporation didn’t list a Diplomat as a model in 1995 which tells us someone in Shelburne Falls, MA. really hasn’t any idea of what it is they have for sale.
With regards to CARB standards you’re again 100%-this would never pass smog regardless of whether the engine is a Cat or Cummins.
With regards to Deep Purple’s Highway Star (a favorite)-there’re a lot of things we forget (WTH did I do with that Whitworth socket set??!?!?) it’s a good bet that most of us from that era with you have it memorized and ping on it within the 1st 3 notes😆.
One of the best road songs from the time-record a few more to the cassette like Born To Be Wild, Bad To The Bone, plus Radar Love and make some Highway miles!
Howard A, why is it that posters here always refer to music I’ve never heard of, or that came out years after my heyday, or that sets my teeth on edge? Did all of you spend your youth in that dreadful 1965-1990 era? Where are the rest of us whose prime popular music vintage runs from the mid-1930s to the mid-1950s? About where pre-war automobile afficionados are, I suppose.
Hi Harrison, don’t feel bad, Lawrence Welk had a profound impact on the music scene too( cough). It was probably a bit later, say, late 60s, when things got trippy, and of course the war had a big impact on rock music. It was short lived, as by the late 70s, disco came in and by the 80s, it was done. It was a heck of a toboggan ride while it lasted,,:)
Hey Howard, ran 210hp 3208na engines in trash trucks that weighed empty what this rig weighs loaded, never had a problem. It was a bit of a struggle, but I managed to cross the scale at the dump weighing 73,300# with this engine and a 10sp in an L8000.
I agree with the 1986 statement. By ’96 most of these were running a CAT 3126, or a Cummins 5.9.
For Jim, yes, the 3208 was a common engine in a trash truck. For that matter, a lot of Ford 8000s, powered by 3208s were very common. I remember the 1160 that preceded the 3208; Ford called it a V225, even though very few of them were actually rated that high. It held up quite well too.
Hey, Nevada, I still have all my Whitworth tools…
Amazing how one name, Richie Blackmore brings a flood of musical history to my brain. Thanks for that, Howard.
Hi Howard. I tried to get into this conversation since this morning and it keeps telling me that I’m a real person but won’t print anything. This is the last try.
Yes, that’s a 3208 NA. Good for 210 hp. I don’t think this outfit ever tried to go with turbocharged versions although they were available. Back in the day I saw a lot of gravel trucks that ran the turbo’d versions and they actually held up pretty well.
These motor homes started running 5.9 Cummins, coupled to an Allison automatic. The funny thing was they were rated at 190 hp. I found a spec that pushed them up to 230hp and they pulled a lot better. Of course there was always the snowbird that suddenly decided to take advantage of the extra power and tow a full-sized SUV down to AZ for the winter after that.
Totally defeated the purpose.
The 3208 carried a few rumors that were mostly unfounded. If you lugged them, you could risk breaking the crankshaft; that one could fit in either voter’s box. Extend the oil change intervals and the timing advance unit would get choked up solid with black sludge and would quite operating. True.
I saw them on airport runway sweepers, to trucks, to tractors and combines, to excavators, and even to push engines in scrapers. They did the job they were designed to do. And fairly cleanly. I never cared for the 2-ring pistons (that were in some of them) but as long as you kept the revs up, they didn’t complain much.
Bottom line: Nothing is designed to fail.
Now, let’s see if this comment posts…
‘ nothing ‘ ??
Hi Geo, yeah, I’m having problems too, I guess that’s a given. The asphalt outfit I worked for( by the hour, luckily) had Louisville tandem and tri-axle dumps, and some of the triaxles had 3208 with a turb, maybe added 30hp(?). It brought them up to 238 Detroit specs, but a 237 Mack would leave them both in the dust. The 3208 non-turbo( NA, naturally aspirated) had a 5 speed main, 4 speed aux. and there wasn’t 10 seconds in any one gear. Lot of shifting, and why in part, shifting just doesn’t have the zing anymore. Like I say, I think with a little bit of your magic, you could get this spinning what, 2800? Left lane, my friend. I’d put another stack on the back, twin chimneys would get a nod from the most novice of truckers.
Note: my comments didn’t take either just now, and powerful frustrating. I see later, it seems, the comments are recorded, eventually. I see the comments on the “regular” posts are WAY down, some have none at all, and that’s a shame. The authors work hard for nothing. Jesse, get it together, hey? I tried the “logout/log in, and nothing. I’m telling ya’, you have a great audience here, and you’re pixxing them off. Who else here would say that? :=)
Hey Howard, all of your comments are going to moderation for now because you’ve had a lot of negativity lately. We will remove the filter once you cheer up a bit. Thanks!
Hi Jess. It’s been acting up from time to time. I get a piece all ready to submit and it goes through the primary circle check to verify if I’m human then it stops and doesn’t go any further. I had a couple of good comments stall and I just let them die because I was spent by that time. But especially since that little circle came into play, I’ve had to try to submit comments twice…
Here is some info on the motor home…
https://www.oregonencyclopedia.org/articles/monaco_motor_coach/
I know nothing about motor homes, but I’ve read enough write-ups on them here on BF to realize that aged ones for sale are often in poor condition. Typically with mechanical and/or structural issues.
That said, this one doesn’t look terrible. Too bad the ad is so poor. I guess a prospective buyer should be glad that the “breaks” work, and that a selling point is the aimable spot light.
Always thought diesel pushers were the best buy in RV land. Love the roomy interiors.
Someone had to mention “Radar Love”-I just spent the last hour down the Golden Earring rabbit hole-time well wasted!
Well wasted, indeed.
I preferred Twilight Zone zone but Radar Love is good too.
I would say run away unless you want the drive train or you are good with construction its leaking on the right side some evidence on the inside roof majority evidence is on the outside where the tin is pulling away bubbling water is getting in there. For cross country travel in some areas you are limited to state or county parks because the private RV parks won’t allow it. If you are good with your hands this might be a fun project. For me I would pull the engine and put it in something else.
Did some from design at GMC quit and move to Chrysler?
Monacos in the late 80’s were tanks. Solid oak cabinets, plywood floors, and more. Were some of the best motorhomes made. Not like cereal box modern construction today.
I can smell the interior from here.
The grille/headlights on this thing look to be “imitating” the Dodge vans from the early ’90’s.
Certainly the headlight/signal clusters are Dodge van, but I reckon the grille may be tailor-made, as a flat grid (or two) adapted to this V-prowed shark-nose profile would wind up looking like a chevron from the front.
Not duplicated, but made to look like they are “related”. Look at the Dodge vans from that time frame. I had friends who had one (Dodge van) that was even in the same maroon color as this RV.
A lil Aries-K in there
Pre-slide outs, by 95 I think it probably would have had one at least. If you were given it, you’d still need deep pockets I fear. For what you’d invest, you’d find a much newer one with more amenities and modern (relatively) features. I have a 2001 Winnie Chieftain and its interior is very dated. Originally had square tvs, and I am only hands-free when I let go of the steering wheel. I bet that’s an old tv there in the center, or possibly a back up cam screen. I suppose here you’d have a clean slate.
Along with the underpowered motor, the a/c belt is missing so I’ll guess the compressor is seized and was probably R12. Live with no on the road a/c or be prepared for multiple thousands there. The (air) brakes might work but what issues might they have? Nothing is cheap in that area. Also, most jurisdictions require an air brake endorsement. Do you really want to take on a 40 year old motorhome with no guides to help you? Parts? Pretty scary.
never did hear of this 1. Vixen, Realto, yes. I like the similar smaller (wish the ’73/8 GMC was shorter than 23 ft) .
A plus here, the motor – hope it has the alison attached too. That combo is for any upgrade to these older conversions (dump the 390/460 or 425/55 etc).
The power reduces fuel consumption and if the 12v, no computer to mess w/on ur ‘happy trails’ to the nice spots (usually less populated so fewer mechanics, more parts delay). I guess ‘the war’ will B reducing the “tripper’s” round bout now (spring, summer, thru fall, and….) War aint good for anything (pollution, loss of life, disruption, hate building more hate – multi-generationally).
Nice rig but repairing the delaminated siding would be a major task and very expensive if you can’t do it yourself. Three grand, keep it under a roof and hopefully it’s structural integrity will hold up well enough to take you to a nearby lake or weekend event but I’d never consider crossing this great nation without remedying the aforementioned problem.
As this beauty demonstrates, few vehicles cost more, then depreciate faster, than an RV!
How to turn this into a $50,000 unit, spend $100,000
Rick D, That’s ONE way to do it!
This is the EM50 project. The army gave this to crack group of army soldiers in Eastern Europe. Well documented espionage project.
Wow! What a rig!