Did you know that the Clark Forklift Co. built motorhomes in the 1960s? They got out of business in the 1970s and others carried to torch through the end of the decade. The Cortez was popular, perhaps because it was smaller than some of the land yachts out there. The seller found this 1965 Cortez in decent shape and transformed its looks to that of a vehicle you might have seen in Jurassic Park – on the right side of the electrified fence, that is. So, if you’ve got an inch to go dinosaur hunting and don’t mind a bit of mechanical work, check this interesting vehicle in southwest Virginia. This one-of-a-kind is available here on Barn Finds for $5,000.
For whatever reason a forklift manufacturer would go into the motorhome business, that’s what Clark did in 1963. These were Class-A motor coaches which are built as recreational vehicles, whereas Class-B motorhomes are built in a van body, and Class-C motorhomes add a recreational vehicle coach body to a truck chassis and cab. A front-wheel-drive transaxle was used in the Cortez to increase interior headroom while decreasing height. Powerplants were borrowed from whatever was already commercially available. Clark sold the business in 1970 and a group of Cortez owners would keep the production afloat through 1978.
This motorhome spent most of its life in New Mexico before 2000. Then it moved to Tennessee which is where the seller found it after the Clark had been sitting for years after the owner’s death. When he saw the Cortez which its Plain Jane appearance (older pic also provided), he envisioned this as a motorhome that fictional Jurassic Park founder John Hammond would have been tooling around it. So, he proceeded to transform its graphics in great detail to look the part.
The previous owner had jettisoned the original six-cylinder in favor of a 500 cubic inch Cadillac V8, so the transport should be a lot more powerful than in its early years. Though it had been sitting for several years, the seller got it to fire up and run with a minimum of effort and it still does though it needs some attention, like new brakes.
Having stayed out West for 35 years, the body of this Cortez is fairly good. Rust is at a minimum and there are a few little dings, but nothing you wouldn’t get from dodging dinosaurs. With all the decals and special touches that the seller went to the trouble of adding, this thing looks every bit the dinosaur chaser he had intended. The odometer reading is 29,000, but that’s probably turned over. If you got this running for regular outings, you’re going to get stares everywhere you go! This looks like a really cool acquisition for not a lot of coin.
Anyone know where they sourced the 4 speed transaxle?
I’m guessing from an 8 (or so) ton Clark Forklift.
It is an automatic, perhaps from an Eldorado?
There’s an article written up in a 1978 issue of “The Cortez National” magazine (who knew Clark Cortez had it’s own mag??) detailing the entire conversion of this particular Cortez. Apparently a man out of California by the name of Dan Ziol handled the very thorough engine build (some of you may know him for his Shelby Cobra builds). The engine settled upon was a Cadillac 500 out of a 1970 Eldorado.
It is truly unbelievable how smoothly the engine still runs; pump the gas pedal twice and she fires right up, automatic choke working as it should, leveling out to a nice, low, no-noise rumble with good oil pressure stamina – I’d say a true testament to a very complicated and well thought-out build.
Here is a link to the eBay auction:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/325247701456
I am wondering about the rear overhang on the roof rack?
Just seems like more cargo capacity for stuff to be stacked on top and/or hung under.
Uh, no thanks.
FIVE…….HUNDRED…….CUBIC……INCHES.
2 words “Fuel Prices”
’nuff said…
It would be interesting to see exactly what the drivetrain consists of. It is hard to imagine the rare and somewhat fragile Clark transaxle living contentedly behind a 500 co Cadillac engine!
Take the entire Eldorado drivetrain? Easier than trying to mate up to a transaxle from a different era.
BINGO!500 Cad is a great package . If you can’t pay for fuel stay home and watch Rick Steves have all the fun.
1. This is one reason I like Barn Finds… I learn things here which does prove I’m trainable and improves my self esteem. I had no idea Clark made RV’s.
2. Good writeup, Russ.
3. I think this isn’t a bad deal for $5K… hey, it runs. Everything seems like a good deal compared to old Broncos.
4. If I bought it, I don’t really know what I’d do w/ it after all the locals have seen it and it’s done the parade circuit. With gas prices what they are, I wouldn’t drive it just too far.
5. It is a whole different make & model of course but if it didn’t get “Jurassifed”, it could have been turned into a smaller tribute to Cousin Eddie’s tenement on wheels.
BEACH. Duh??
A late friend of mine played drums with some fairly well-known bands in the ’60s and was telling me about the time he and one such band toured the East Coast in a Cortez, playing one-nighters. He recalled they alleviated the boredom by throwing firecrackers out the window.
Retired from the sea and turned RV tech I am interested.. I currently own a 1978 GMC Motorhome The “Royale” version..
A basically bullet proof drivetrain (assuming they took the whole thing out of the Caddy), plenty of power, a nice retirement vehicle, if on a rest of the life tour of the continent, just a few miles every few days, tow an old small convertible,(think Cavalier) behind it, stay in one place for a week or more, so gas prices are not really an issue, and get rid of the graphics!
A perfect racecar hauler. Plenty of RELIABLE power to drag the trailer up any hill and small enough to get into those tiny towns along the way to get something to eat. (Small parking lots can be an issue at times.)
These were very reliable well built units. (Not like most crappy built RVs today. I’m talking about sub-$150,000 units here. And Lazy Dayz are exempt from this comment.)
I would buy it, but too far away. and restore it.. or upgrade.. and I would loose the Jurassic park stuff though and make it more stealthy for today’s environment..