One of the more diverse categories of old vehicles is the wasteland of motorhomes and RVs. These land dinosaurs were once the stuff of dreams for people with wanderlust, and the pinnacle of a purchase for anyone who felt a motorhome was a better gift for retirement than a condo in Florida. Still, that didn’t keep them from becoming other things, too, as this odd 1985 Revcon motorhome listed here on Facebook Marketplace goes to show us. It was apparently a mobile data center for Lockheed Martin, and never got to experience the joy of being a mobile home parked by the campsite.
The seller is asking $7,999 for the rig, and thanks goes to Barn Finds reader Moparman for sending in the tip. First of all, this is simply a large machine. You will need a generous driveway to park it, to say nothing off a spouse who is happy to see this rig parked outside everyday. You’ll also immediately notice the slab sides with no windows, as good a sign as any that this motorhome was never intended for sightseeing. Truthfully, without the context provided in the listing, I don’t know that I would have noticed this detail at first, but it’s as tell-tale of a sign as any that this Revcon was plucked from the assembly line with a specific purpose in mind.
As far as the how and why the Revcon of all motorhome brands was used by the likes of Lockheed Martin for a mobile data center, it’s hard to say. Revco was somewhat known for using “….aircraft-grade aluminum monocoque body construction” that reflected the best thinking of aerospace engineers at the time, so maybe there was someone in the Revcon hierarchy who had a connection to the defense industry giant. The bigger question to me is where and why the mobile data center was needed: did it support ground operations across the country, or monitor civilians planning an event of some significance? With less than 9,000 miles, it wasn’t used much.
Given the frequent headlines about companies like Meta consuming hundreds of acres of prime farmland in rural America to build more data centers, this project-grade motorhome shows us that we were well on our way even in the middle 80s to needing more resources for our insatiable thirst for information. The bigger story for this Revcon, however, may simply be that there’s a big block engine residing somewhere inside, likely a Chevrolet-sourced 454. Will it see the road again, or simply be stripped down for its engine?
Well, the “2026” version would be a lot scarier, and in 1985, we didn’t have near the intrusion of today. Since the Iran-Contra Affair was big news, this probably had some sort of surveillance duty, and a lot of coffee. It’s big enough to be made into a living arrangement, but its days as an RV are over. Now today,,,hold on,,,who’s at the door at this hour? Wait,,,who are you people, where are you taking,,,,,
“Order a DefCon?? I thought you said order a Revcon. Sorry, skip.”
Looks more like a mobile command center.
if procured as a rebuild into a motor home at least the buyer won’t have to invest $ for window shades. Always best to look at the upside of things.
20 years ago, I bought a 78 Revcon , 30 k miles. I got from an Air Force jet pilot, in storage here in Tucson. The plug wires had a foot or more eaten by Packrats! I rewired in storage and drove out of the Airbase here. The brakes on front were medal to medal. It quit at 40 mph and had hydro boost, no power steering or brakes! I picked it up later, drove 12 miles home, ground off medal on the rotors, new brakes and Sold! 16.5 tires from Firestone, and got advice from the last expert in California. It was around here 10 years ago—-
really stuck with the spelling of ‘metal’ on that one
an x friend has one, hes a self proclaimed ‘alpha male’ so narcissism is only the half of it.. anyway,
these are really nice inside, the floor is flat all through and a 455ci is the heart of it all. If i recollect correct, its got an Olds Torinado under it.
What a monster, out on the road, or in the driveway.
I owned a 1972 Revcon, it was billed in a couple of magazines as the fastest motorhome built – and it was fast. These rigs came with the 455 Olds engine and front wheel drive which this one also has but it probably using the engine that all of the GM vehicles seem to go with. The Aluminum siding was very well done. I eventually traded it in on a Blue Bird Motor home with a diesel engine – Now in my 9 Diesel powered Coach and still love traveling in them
Mobile test rig. Arrive and connect up 3-phase power and ready to test within a day or two. (and all test equipment could be run and calibrated prior to delivery)
Looks like they even removed the loo, as there was facilities right outside the door. I was expecting to hear “and one wall was curiously replaced with fiberglass panel”, as then some test equipment could remain inside (aka: remain unseen).
Look how clean the drivers area carpet is. And no CB radio. This thing was almost never used, or at least remained parked for most of its “purchased for” project life.
Drivetrain organ donor at this point?