There’s just one bid on this clean GMC Motorhome to $20,000, which means there was either no reserve or the reserve was quickly met. Officially known as a “BirchHaven” model, this 23 foot motorhome has been enjoying a resurgence of sorts in the collector marketplace. It’s always been a bit of an item, but nice ones are pulling consistently strong dollars. This one looks like a honey of a home on wheels, and the seller contends you can drive it anywhere tomorrow. Find it here on eBay in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida.
You can immediately assess how an RV has been cared for with one look inside the interior. In the case of this one, it looks like a nicely-kept upscale home inside, with ornate wood trim, clean carpets, spotless dining surfaces, and front captain’s chairs in excellent shape. The seller doesn’t even spend much time describing the interior accommodations, likely because the pictures tell the story pretty effectively. Worth noting here is that not one, but both windshields are new replacements. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg in terms of replacement parts – nearly everything, including the frame, is new.
The flooring is all new, with the seller including an invoice for just under $5,000 attesting to that work. The frame was $12,500 and the improvements didn’t stop there. A new transmission, completely overhauled air suspension, new torque convertor, rebuilt radiator, all new brakes, a new hot water heater – this is basically a brand new motorhome underneath, which helps to explain the opening bid as a potential suitor had to have looked at that list and realized it won’t get much better than this example of GMC’s front-wheel-drive motorhome any time soon.
The seller has also installed all new tires, new brake lines, and new wheel cylinders, so it hopefully will handle and stop as good as it looks. The following for these GMC motorhomes is quite strong, but I don’t recall seeing one recently as heavily invested in as this one has been. I can appreciate the approach, however, if you want to begin using a road trip machine as quickly as possible: get the work done ASAP so you can spend a few weeks on the open road without suffering a mechanical fault; otherwise, what was the point of buying something like this that won’t fit in your garage?
Most new motor homes are either too small (think van life movement) for a large person or just too humongous for comfortable driving or fuel mileage. Seems like someone could replicate this type of a setup and would sell a ton of them.
Many of these seventies motorhomes have multiple issues
The look is timeless but the floors and frames go bad so don’t jump on the cheapest one
This one is somewhat sorted and cheaper and quicker than a restoration at a dreamweaver shop …
I have been lucky to have two friends who owned one of these. I got to experience both of them , on several occasions. I also drove them and they were very easy to drive and had no issues. If I could I would buy this one in a heartbeat, I know it depends on how you expect to use it. I would think for a retired couple it would be great. Maybe not for extended long trips, but for events , small trips and just general use, I think it is perfect.
45 years later, the design still looks good.
One bid at $20k hey seller end the auction take the money and run
A 23 foot GMC!
By far the best of the GMC coaches. The 10,000 lb. Hot Rod.
With only 1500 23 footers made out of the total production of around 12,000 GMC’s these 23 Foot coaches are by far the best they made.
Less rear over hang, 2000 lbs less weight, side bath floor plans and you have the perfect GMC coach!
Yes I like the 23 footers and have had lot’s of em over the years. The typical 26 foot GMC is to long, to heavy and underpowered.
BIG IS NOT BETTER!
The one big problems with these coaches is the front wheel drive. You can get stuck on were grass
¨-You can get stuck on were grass-¨ What the hell are you babbling about?
I don’t know what he means as front wheel drive is great !
Grass , snow, rosks are not an issue
It seems obvious to me that Al Braybrook’s post was a typo, and that he intended to say “You can get stuck on WET grass”. Why do you have such a short fuse? Please speak to others with kindness. It’s so discouraging to see the way people talk to each other these days…
“Were grass” the kind the “Were Rabbit” eats…eh!
If we were not invested in a timeshare (turnkey arrival, no storage, maintenance or cleaning) this would be very tempting.
Is this GMC still available?
Follow the ebay link in the ad!
Nice rigs and if you have to ask you probably can’t afford it, but what kind of mileage can you expect from that Olds 455?
What kind of mileage can you expect ?
I would say BAD
But seriously , you get bad from anything that weighs so much and is BRICK
This one is improved with fuel injection only a 3 speed transmission
I get 10 MPG with mine doing 65 MPH. Anything more than 65 MPH and fuel mileage drops quickly into the single digits. That 3 speed transmission and final drive ratio make the engine spin at 3K+ RPM’s which kills MPG!
Unfortunately there is no suitable strong enough Overdrive transmission swap option for the FWD platform used in the GMC. NO the 1980’s 4 speed FWD GM Overdrive transmissions used in the Cadillac Eldorado or Oldsmobile Toronado are nowhere near strong enough for swapping into a GMC motorhome.
This to me the lack of an available Overdrive transmission swap option is the biggest issue in making a GMC a great option for MODERN travel in the 2020’s!
This one being a ’77 it wouldn’t have a 455, which went the way of the dodo bird at the end of the ’76 model year with the downsizing of the B/C platform at GM. Along with the Toronado, the ’77 and ’78 GMC Motorhomes got the largest remaining Oldsmobile engine, the 403.
One more reason to have a 23 Foot GMC coach!
It absolutely has a 455, early models had a 455 later model in 77 had the 403!!
Nice Rig!!!
8.5 mpg downhill with a tailwind
Brand new hot water heater? Why install it if the water is already hot? 😎
I just had to do it, I appreciate your write up’s, keep up the great job!
Reply to Bull
You are so right
Its the main reason that i have never owned one
The engine revving at 3 k would drive me nuts
My f150 has a 6 speed and i would need an 8 but it would cost too much to upgrade now
This rv looks good and has has a lot of upkeep but until a proper swap is made easy , i just cant commit to it
Sorry Kenny, I didn´t mean to offend, I was irritated at what I perceived to be miserable English, a sadly frequent occurrence.
Sold for $23,100!
I’d say that’s a real BARGAIN if you wanted one.
Given the price of POS coach it’s easy to spend far more that $23K on that POS and it still would not be at the quality level presented by this GMC coach in the Ebay auction.
Well Bought!