Chrysler partnered with Travco in the mid-1960s to build motorhomes based on Dodge underpinnings. This relationship would exist for more than 15 years which resulted in a variety of models and sizes. The 210 got its name from its 21-foot length and was one of the smaller of the rolling motels that Dodge and Travco marketed. Looking to be in fine shape and ready for some more RV fun, this 1968 edition is in Huntington Beach, California, and is available here on eBay where bids of $8,000 haven’t knocked down the seller’s reserve.
The Dodge/Travco motorhome was a variant of the Frank Motor Home, a conventional box RV built in the late 1950s/early 1960s. Its founder, Ray Frank, was inducted into the RV/MH Hall of Fame (who knew there was such a thing). Travco’s products sport fiberglass bodies and were considered to be lower-cost alternatives to the famed Winnebago. For some two decades, Travco used Dodge’s M-series chassis for the mechanical side of its models. The smallest was 21 feet (like the seller’s) up to and including 32 feet. Chrysler got out of this business in the late 1970s as its financial situation became dire.
We’re told this 210 is a running, driving, and stopping vehicle that spends most of its time these days stored indoors. Its history isn’t known, nor do we know how many miles it’s been driven, but it looks to be in admirable condition, powered by a Chrysler 318 cubic inch V8. This edition of the Travco has seating for eight and we assume there are enough accommodations to sleep that many folks.
Travelers will benefit from a working bath and shower, and kitchen fixtures like an oven, stove, and refrigerator. There’s no mention of any maintenance or other work needed should you decide to press this RV back into a regular summer camping routine. When it comes to camping, I’m more inclined to seek out a Holiday Inn, but I can visualize where this would be a fun way to see more of the USA.
Guarantee 💯 not to sleep alone at the music festival 🥳 😮💃 🛏 💅 when you’ve got the Dodge 🏕 onsite lol.
Looks like it’s in great condition. Usually these things that are this old have more mold on them than a wedge of blue cheese.
Wow. Anyone that spent any time around an RV Park knows that classics like this are very desirable, just beware of the stinky slinky.
Great looking RV but why just 6 pictures? Needed more shots of the interior and shots of the engine area. Underneath would be nice. I bet if they had more pictures of the whole RV the bids would be higher. Good luck to the seller. 🐻🇺🇸
Pretty lacking in photos, would be nice to see more of it. I always liked these, a little more stylish than the usual boxy ones. How do we know it’s a 318? I thought these all came with 440s. Seems like a lot for a 318 to pack around. Sure looks to be in nice condition.
Back in the day, most had the 318 engine. The larger RVs had the possible option of the 413 engine. I never recall a 440 be put in one of these.
I know some Chrysler powered Winnebago’s had 440s
Oh good, a camper. I get to vent a little. 1st, the unit itself. Self contained motorhomes were in their infancy here. This era was the height of our camping adventures, and motorhomes were few and far between. They were slow to start( pun intended) as camping hadn’t made the jump to cushy yet. We were still pulling 14 foot Shastas around. Motorhomes had several advantages, but just as many downsides, the biggest being, getting around after the destination was reached, or getting around period. For many, it was the biggest vehicle they had driven, and jokes about “Marvin in the motorhome” flooded the CB radio. Us truckers had a field day watching them in precarious situations.
This unit is an okay find, I’m sure it has “old camper funk”, they all do, naturally price is off the scale and this is nothing more than a glorified Dodge dump truck underneath. It handles, rides ,stops, and steers like one, so be advised. After our pull behind campers, the old man “graduated” himself to the next style motorhome, a Winnebago, with the same chassis. These have the distinction of starting the whole motorhome phase, that has gone full tilt with ultimate behemoths pulling Jeep Wranglers, but slowly replaced by these goose neck campers, pulled by 4×6 duallys, and 2 ATVs behind that. America, right? Well, yes and no. Colorado is literally inundated with these rolling monsters, and the roads are plugged SOLID with them. Couple that to motorcycles, bikers, day trippers, practically gridlock. Everybody thinking they are the only ones, as the ads depict. What happens, is these “camper trains” take up entire lanes at the gas stations not designed for them, and everybody has to wait while they take their break. They are waiting parked on the road causing a dangerous situation, with the person holding the whole mess up, blissfully unaware of any problems, until THEY are the ones waiting. I’d say go to a travel center( aka truckstop) but nobody wants one of “those” in their little town either.
The other obvious “problem”, is fuel consumption. Fuel, fuel, fuel, just blow it out the exhaust and let our kids worry about it. These motorhomes comprise a small number of vehicles today, but these “camper trains” get single digit mileage, and with Covid officially over, it’s as if the flood gates were opened up, and everybody wants their living room behind them. I can’t blame people, this IS the Rocky Mountains, but newsflash, our society can’t handle everyone in ultimate campers, it strains our whole society, from law enforcement, to theft, to the Walmart parking lot, it’s NOT open roads all alone, like the ads depict. It seems, most of these “camper trains” are from city folks, desperately looking to get away from the “shootings” that grace our news daily. I’m not really sure what to make of that.
Nuff said Howard. No … really.
I don’t know why but I have an overwhelming urge to see this thing go through a slalom.
Now THIS is what I needed when my
family, a neighbor, and I went to Sea
World in Orlando yesterday! Just think of all the cash you could save on your next visit with this rig or
something like this. Lunch? No problem! Just leave the park for an
hour, eat, and call it a day. Wanna relax for a bit and cool off in the A/C?
You got it! Just turn on the generator
or add solar to the roof, set the thermostat and forget it. Your space
will be cool, inviting, and ready for you
come lunch time. Need shelter when
it’s pouring rain? You’ll have that too.
Sure beats payin’ $10.95 for an 8 oz.
drink or $60 for a burger and fries.
That’s what they were charging for
those things yesterday when we
were there having a great time getting
fried by the sun or drenched by a flash thunderstorm. All that said, a
good time was had by all.
This isn’t what you wanted, there is no air! This is a low buck unit, lacking most creature comforts. Sure tear it apart and refinish it and drop a small fortune turning it into something that it never was. It was 1968, my Dad took us around the country in a 20 Ft travel trailer in 67. Rain, well was better than the folks in tents. But four of us were cramped and a small fan was our A/C. Wouldn’t trade it but nothing like the rigs on the roads today.
318 was common in these, I have seen a few. Its only a 21 footer not much bigger then a pickup truck, so It shouldn’t be too bad.
These used the “Poly-spheric” 318LA engine- a real truck engine with lots of torque.
Beautiful looking Travco. Although 55 yrs old today, it still looks futuristic. If only more pics were posted on eBay Motors. It would’ve been cool to see more interior pics, more exterior pics, etc. If I were to buy this, I’d keep as much of the Trav as original as I can, while also upgrading a few mechanical things. Given its condition, I’d pay between $5000 and $10,000 for it. I hope whoever buys it enjoys it.
Wish there were more interior photos. It may help with the bidding (or not, depending on the interior condition).
In my fantasy alternate universe I would buy this restore it with modern interior, running gear and live the dream, even though I could have a “COACH” for the same money!
A 440 would be super in this rig. It would make it a real sleeper.
Bill, it already is a sleeper. I guess 4 sleepers at least :/
My dad had one of these in the 70’s. Gutted it and did a complete restoration. Built a platform out back with a generator under and a deck for his motorcycle on top. Was pretty cool
There is a FB link to an ad with the 4 pics and a $20k ask