Hold onto your hats with this one, your combination Winnebago/Chevy hats, that is. This 1972 Winnebago Brave looks normal from the outside but there’s something lurking within this one. The seller has this very cool, modified motorhome listed here on eBay in beautiful Carlsbad, California and the current bid price is a mind-numbing $25,100, and the reserve isn’t met!
The bones of this RV rig are basically a very cool and very small, relatively, Winnebago Brave D-18, sometimes referred to as a Mini-Winnie in literature. I think of a Mini-Winnie as a Class-C van-cab type of motorhome, whereas this is a Class-A motorhome. Basically, it’s a box on wheels with no recognizable van cab and chassis with a big camper parked permanently on the back of it. Of course, it’s 18-feet long.
The company made a longer version of the Brave, a D-20 or C-20, depending on if it had a Dodge or Chevrolet drivetrain, and a D-20RD or C-20RD if a person wanted a rear dinette. If a customer wanted the shortest model, they were stuck with a Dodge engine. The owner of this D-18, or actually it’s a custom C-18 now, said yeah, that Dodge 318 V8 isn’t going to work as you’ll see in a minute. You have to read the seller’s description, it’s eBay hall of fame worthy, one of the best that I’ve seen. Very well done, seller!
Hey, that’s not a 1972 steering wheel! While this ’72 Brave looks bone-stock on the exterior, the interior has been updated considerably. I’m glad that they kept the dash in a time capsule early-70s avocado green color because the living quarters have been purged of any retro feeling whatsoever, which is super unfortunate in my world. Of course, what I like or don’t like has zero bearing on anything shown here. As long as an owner likes something, that’s literally all that matters. There is something about a bright, crisp, clean vintage motorhome that’s appealing, right down to the bathroom and kitchen area.
Here’s the big thing with this small Winnebago, a 2010 Chevrolet 6.0L V8 which should have more than 300-hp on tap. It’s backed up by an equally impressive 6L90E 6-speed automatic overdrive transmission from the same Chevy Express van. It also has the van’s independent suspension and quite a few more upgrades. If this isn’t as cool as it gets it’s pretty close. Yes, a Dodge Hellcat transplant may have been cooler to keep it in the Chrysler family, but who can argue with this? I hope not many. The seller says that it will happily cruise at 75-mph past slow-moving vehicles with their flashers on going up hills. The bidders are all over this one and I have to wonder what their reserve is if $25k isn’t cutting it. Any thoughts on this sweet Brave?
An “LS” powered box, what’s the worst that could happen? 1st, the tie-in,,the old man’s 1st motorhome after those dismal pulled camper experiences was a Winnebago like this, only a bit bigger, Chieftain, maybe? 2nd, it had to be one of the most dangerous vehicles to drive, a stiff crosswind will lay this over, LS powered or not. Semis coming at us on a 2 lane, made the old man grip the wheel, and cuss, almost blowing us off the road. His was a 318, and was adequate, 55 mph about it, and I wouldn’t want to go any faster. The amount of fuel it used, made OPEC smile, it was a miserable ride, to say the least. Comfy once you got there, but the ride there will be challenging, again, LS power or not.
Typical Chevy bigot with the overhyped LS.
Put any real Mopar in it and then post it. Doesnt have to be a Hemi, a 340 would do the trick.
It took GM over 50 years to match what Chrysler did in the 60’s.
These are fighting words!
Just one mans opinion
You’re quite correct. It did take GM 50 years to do things as badly as Chrysler did them in the ’60s.
You nailed it perfectly. My thought about these was always “death trap on wheels”. But as my one coworker would be quick to point out …. “ you’re good it has a pair of seat belts, mostly for decoration and not safety, but you will look good on the way out!”
I see they missed a conversion point It still has the mopar shifter
As an aside, I wonder if Winnebago used any GMC chassis. Literally the only difference from the Chevy uually RV chassis would be the emblem on the steering wheel but it might’ve been an important distinction if they were trying to sell a Winnebago franchise to a GMC, Buick, Olds or Pontiac dealership.
From what I remember, Winnebago always used Dodge components. Fact is, these original Winnebagos were built on a medium duty Dodge truck chassis and rode like one.
Not so.
They also used some Chevy chassis in the early/mid 70’s.
My parents came with the 318 though. My grandfather bought it new in 72 or 73 if I remember correctly. My parents retired it in 2019 when they bought a newer pull type so they would have a runaround vehicle when they go to threshing shows. Now it needs to find someone else to love it.
Didn’t they used to put GM 455s in these vehicles???
I just got back from putting 9,700 miles on my Winnebago Vista 2003, 21’6” having the VW VR6. Got an average of 14 MPG. I would not consider it Well Built, on the part of Winnebago. But it must surpass this Brick, as it handled the cross winds of So Dekota on Intestate 90 very well. I would love to drive this 18′ Winnebago to make a comparison.
My parents still have a ’72 (21 footer) if you would like to try one out. They are east of Watertown about 30 miles. They retired it in 2019 when they upgraded to a pull type so they would have runaround vehicle when they go to threshing shows. Dad (In his mid 70’s decided the maintenance was probably not worth it anymore for the Winnie for the couple threshing shows a year that they go to, and in reality I think he just didn’t want to have to take on the project of the cracked exhaust manifold on it, and was tired of trying lo locate a new exhaust manifold for it.) Otherwise it is in pretty decent shape as it had been shedded most of it’s life until the last couple years. It could probably use a couple newer tires and the brakes bled too) Otherwise still all original except the fridge.
We took a 3000 mile ride in our newer Minnie Winnie this spring and saw quite a few retro RVs. They even make new retro Winnebago RVs. Even newer ones get a little shift when passed by TT rigs. I put a different steering stabilizer on mine that almost completely eliminated that problem. During our 3000 trip i never saw one blown off the road. As far as the LS, apparently a few people like the fact that one was transplanted into this one. I like it too.
Add says it has a 6.0 LS Chevrolet and can be driven across the country today. In my experience Chevrolet is NOT that reliable. I would have put a dodge back in it.
I worked for a Pontiac dealer who also had a Winne franchise. I drove one of these for a 3 day camping trip and the 2 1/2 ton army trucks drove and rode better.
The LS platform is very reliable this vehicle will run a very long time and even longer with maintenance
Back in the early seventies my father had a 1967 or 1968 Winnebago F-17. That’s right, Ford chassis! Powered by the 300 cubic inch straight 6 engine. Performance seem to be the same as a similar vintage Winnebago D-18 with the Chrysler 318 engine which had 212 horses if I recall correctly.
During that era Dodge had the lock on RV chassis. It was not until their bankruptcy when Chrysler was forced to divest. If I recall correctly, this was the avenue in which GM was able to penetrate the market. Dirty tricks? Probably. Politics? Most likely.
Winnebago built these motorhomes to be ENTRY LEVEL motorhomes and were by far the CHEAPEST motorhome offering by any manufacturer when introduced in late 1960’s by several thousands of Dollars UNDER any other motorhome competitor.
Remember, CHEAP was the name of the game for Winnebago in the late 1960’s and that’s why this particular model motorhome sits on a Dodge chassis.
The Dodge chassis was far cheaper for Winnebago to purchase than the Chevrolet P30 chassis.
Dodge once again WINS THE CHEAP AWARD!
Perhaps so, but my family had seven or eight Winnebagos during the 1970s and they all performed quite well. Dad’s first one was a 1962 Frank which was the predecessor to the Travco. 318 engine (202 hp IIRC) in that one which was 28 ft long took us to Mexico City and back from Chicago!
The chevy P30 chassis was by far the worst RV chassis ever. Google it.
Never said the P30 was a better chassis than the Chevrolet P30 just the Dodge chassis was whole cheaper to buy for Winnebago. Remember it was all about the retail price of Winnebago’s then new small motorhome that revolutionized Winnebago and the RV industry!
Wreckreational Vehicle.
Your mileage may vary.
Only Bowtie types would try to add more power to a barn!
Pray that you have the wind at your back.
Had a 34′ Winnebago on a Dodge chassie, worse one I ever drove, handled terrible, rode the same, it was a1 ton chassie upgraded W/pieces and bits to sell. Seen a few of these Minnies lying by the side of the road out west as kindling, frame was wood…2X2’s
As far as I can tell, the LS swaps are popular because they are modern, plenty available, easy to install and cheap. Maybe great on mileage, also.
If they are as cheap as I have been lead to believe, why is this one going for so much?
We had a Chieftain when I was a kid and found it lacking, so, after blowing up the 318, we made it better. Dad bought a wrecked New Yorker and we built the 413…bored to about 426 with good pistons, ported aluminum heads with stainless seats, different valves, good springs, retainers and a Holley. Electronic ignition, headers, rebuilt transmission with a shift kit and 36″ glass packs. Re-arched springs, sway bars and good shocks also made it handle way better. We’d hang a motorcycle off the front and back bumpers, tow our boat or a buggy and it didn’t even notice the load after that. The bonus was that it got way better gas mileage and was MUCH more fun to drive!
Let’s cook.
It’s at $30,200 now with one day left. If I had any use for it and a place to keep it I’d love to have it. I have always thought those Minnie-Winnie’s were neat looking. In the seventies I had a 32 foot Winnebago Indian motorhome. The Indian was the model between the Brave and the Chieftain. Mine had a Chrysler 440 engine that ran good, and it would cruise at the speed limit on the interstate, getting seven MPG. I don’t know what some of you guys had heard, but it didn’t get blown around on the interstate like some of you seemed to think.
Minor correction
I own 4 / 70s Winnebagos and they didn’t make a 32’ in the 70s
The chieftain model was a 27 and I believe the 28’ was a chieftain ll
But the indian was a 22
And the brave an 18 or 20
And Winnebago started with a Ford chassis in the late 60s then dodge in the 70s and Chevy in I believe the 80s
Love the classics !
Dad had a Winnebago F-17. 300 in.³ straight six Ford with single wheels at the rear, not duals. If I recall correctly, it was advertised as being the same length as a typical American station wagon (boat/barge) at the time.
Dodge power started with the 18 foot units.
Drove one of these with a bunch of other guys to a convention in Daytona Beach Florida back in 1980. That square box body had absolutely zero aerodynamic benefits. As has been mentioned, at highway speed on a two-lane highway, passing a semi felt like you ran into a wall for a second. When I was being passed by one, I literally had to turn the steering wheel to the left a portion of a turn to keep the Winnebago in my lane on the highway. Learned pretty quickly that a semi under a full head of steam could literally push you out of your lane onto the shoulder if you didn’t turn the steering wheel to the left a bit.
There is “cheap” and there is “inexpensive”. I wouldn’t call Winnebagos cheap IMO.
Love the comments, I am truly a sucker when it comes to things like this. I would love to have it, for short fun trips. However, the real reason I want it if I am being honest,”No One Else Has One”.
The ad says that the suspension is upgraded
Lets say that 2 straight axles and 4 leaf springs are pretty easy to better
I had one of these with the 440
That was 30 years ago and i still have nightmares!
Ring Brothers Winnebago.
https://silodrome.com/ringbrothers-happy-camper-winnebago/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=918nQqzsK2A
Mine had a mint 413, the bias ply tires would rattle everything in the cupboards And i was afraid to go faster than 30 Untill the tires warmed up im grateful the drywall screws or glue or whatever held this box together would hold for just one more time. I never got a good vibe .
The LS swap compared to a 70 vintage chevy 350 with a quadrajet and hei Will probably offer more hp more mileage more control as well as plug and play .
But i will give up the hp the mpg, and all the electronics for the simplicity and reliability of a 70 vintage 350. I would rather carry a spare hei and a two bolt fuel pump. For the privilege of never having to worry about s sensor or a bad plug, gas cap sensor, mapp sensor maff sensor, check engine light, pcm ecm , oh we cant give you a sticker, you need the upgrade, yah it could be a bad ground making the computer finiky, Gee for myself only i am more apt to save money and have less hassle going old school, sorry garage
Ive changed a fuel pump in the gas tank, i would much rather the simple 2 bolt fuel pump on the side of the block, theres a huge price difference too.some may call it progress, gag me with a screwdriver your not making my life easier i guess it keeps the garages in buisiness.
Subaru 1.8 timing gears never went, so they changed to belts in the mid 80s??? Truth be told i would rather keep the gears and know im going to get home vs $ timing belt kits and failure, i guess it keeps the garages in buisiness
Well thank God we arent stupid enough to have our cars hijacked like our infrastructure or hospital software being held for ransom
Boy i guess im kinda crusty today, Howards comments on his dad made me laugh,
Auction update: bidding has ended at $30,200 and no sale.