While I may not be much of a motorhome expert, I do think this nicely presented 1963 Dodge Travco motorhome is a very good deal. Now, it’s not to say that vintage RVs have been taking off price-wise but more that buying a cheap one is never cheap given the amount of work they require to be set right. This Dodge Travco looks to be in good working order with awesome period-correct colors and a super clean interior. It’s just $8,000, which seems like a very good price to me if you’ve been on the hunt for a motorhome just oozing with period style. Find it here on craigslist near Knoxville, Tennessee.
Thanks to Barn Finds reader T.J. for the find. If you’ve followed the world of influencers (I don’t blame you one bit if you don’t), you likely know that converting an old school bus or some other rig into a classic motorhome is considered a gateway to celebrity status. This Travco won’t win you new followers on YouTube because the hard work is already done, but that’s OK – I’d gladly trade the enjoyment of actually using a vehicle for all the straphangers in the world that are only earned after working for free for years to bring an abandoned vehicle back from the brink. The interior has clearly been refinished with new floors and fresh upholstery, which is no small feat in a vehicle this size.
The seller is a dealer which makes it even more surprising that they took the time to make this Travco look as good inside as it does on the outside. It seems like based on the description that the selling dealer acquired the Travco with some work already done like fresh rubber but that the lion’s share of the work came under their care. In addition to the interior improvements, other work included repairing plumbing faults, changing the fluids, installing new spark plugs, and installing a new engine air filter. Interior features include a kitchenette, a dinette that converts to a sleeping surface, a sitting area, a rear twin bed, and a bathroom. There is also a roof-mounted air conditioner, a rear ladder, a generator, shore utility connections, and dual air horns.
You cannot beat that paint job for a motorhome from this time period – it is just killer. The bodywork appears to be in excellent condition with no apparent faults other than I’m sure some rough edges in the paint here and there. The listing also mentions that the Travo comes equipped with laminate countertops, a three-burner gas range, an exhaust vent, a double-basin sink, a water heater, a Dometic refrigerator, and storage cabinets, making it a rig you can truly live in for months at a time. What’s most impressive is the restraint shown in over-modernizing the Dodge, as it seems to remain largely the same as it was when the first travelers set off on a road trip, aside from the Sony CD player. Does $8K seem like a bargain to anyone else?
I think I can speak for most that were kids in the early 60s, and did “canned ham” camping, a motorhome,,,as we watched, look a shower a TOILET, ( not those stinky outhouses we were relegated to, oh, THIS was high class, my friends. At around $9 grand new, it wasn’t even in the same league as our lowly Shasta camper. In the 60s, camping can be described in 2 words,, roughing it. It was a break from the modern life, you crapped over a log sometimes, the camper was for sleeping only, the great outdoors was the draw. This unit started it all. There were funky home made jobs, converted buses really, this was the 1st motorhome for the regular folks, that had money, but were too old for camping, this opened up a whole new world for them, and still does today.
These had 318s, a medium truck chassis, and rides like one, but this unit had it all, and a great find. I read only about 130 were made in ’63, but changed little over the years. I believe this is the most popular one,( 27 ft?) nicknamed the “Dodge Mahal”,,so clever, and were made up to 32 feet. Unbelievable where that market went from these beginnings.
Cool rig….
Great stuff Howard.
As usual a sterling appraisal. I’m getting an itch and I’m not an RV guy :)
Right, Howard. I remember the term, “Dodge Mahal”! This one is indeed the 27′ which was later called the Travco 270. I also seem to recall, around 1972 or so (perhaps shortly thereafter) they also had a shortened version, the 220.
Travco was unique as the walls were of fiberglass. The rounded configuration did limit the interior cabinet storage, however, the trade-off was not trying to “push a brick wall” through the wind as the 1967 and later Winnebagos.
I’m green with envy
I so admired a sample of this RV starring in the movie “Barefoot”, same colors and in similar condition. I did like it then, and now, but it is 20 000km to far to the east of me and I no longer swim well.
Or maybe it was the excellent acting that got to me…
The grill is worth the 8 grand. Where else can you get a small home for that kind of cabbage? I am smelling day old carp here.
It’s a scam.
Wow, if this isn’t a scam…’cause those NEVER show up on craigslist…this is a steal
It’s on BaT, 4 days left and sitting at 10k as of now.
I was just coming to say the same thing. The CL listing is a scam ad.
BaT lists this vehicle in Sheridan, WY, hence the snow. The Craigslist ad has it in Knoxville, TN. Hmmm.
Craigslist is free. Sheridan is a smaller sized town surrounded by nothing. A lot more buyers elsewhere. So, it makes sense that a person would post this ad in other places to get it seen.
Alot of campgrounds will not let older vehicles register, regardless of condition, welcome to the new world.
Re: Oregon Campgrounds and RV age. There are 4 types of campgrounds in Oregon that I have used. #1: Federal. That means BLM or US Forest Service. #2: State of Oregon. #3: County. #4: Privately owned. Only #4 may have age restrictions on RVs and even some of those are “subject to” RV condition. Example: We have a very nice 1990 Allegro class A that we have kept up and updated constantly. I sent pictures of it to a Private Campground with age restrictions and the manager said “If it looks as good in person as it does in the pictures you are welcome to stay here”. :-) Terry J
I’d heard of restrictions and had concerns when we bought an older motorhome; probably stayed at a couple dozen campgrounds so far and not a single one had any kind of restriction. Maybe I just don’t pick the snooty ones!
Cool rig!…the only thing missing is Jimmy Hoffa in one of those blue swivel seats with a cigar.These are a bear to store and maintain though.
I agree, a scam. Nobody’s selling a restored RV like that for $8k. The upholstery and flooring alone were probably more than $1K. I loathe the yuppie flooring though. I wish they would have replaced it with period-correct flooring. I’m surprised they didn’t put in brushed stainless appliances and granite counter tops like every other yuppie’s kitchen..
Maybe if everyone here flagged the ad,it might get pulled.
Done
I also texted the seller “Stevie” at the number listed in the post, then blocked the number.
Quite frankly, agt, couldn’t care less if it is a scam, for me, it’s just fun to see this kind of stuff, and the authors descriptions, many times, makes me want to dig up more. Anyone here gonna buy this rig? ( crickets), Mmm-hmm, I didn’t think so, but this, to me, is what makes BFs, well, BarnFinds, regardless how far it may have strayed from the original mission.
To Tom, I don’t know, times are pretty tough, I could see someone EASILY “unload” this for $8grand. I see the losses some of these folks must take on auction sales, I’d have to think half that would take this home and “Stevie” would jump for joy.
CL ad is a SCAM. Find this on Bring a trailer and flag the CL ad
It’s for sale on several websites. BRINGATRAILER the bidding is around 10K. Might even be on ebay.
The Craigslist ad is 100% a scam. Says it’s in Tennessee while the Bring a Trailer auction says it’s in Wyoming.
Beautiful looking motorhome! I find this way more attractive than most Class A motorhomes produced in the 1960s and 70s.
Definitely a scam. Our family had the predecessor to the Travco, a 1962 Frank which was painted the same colors. The Frank was built on a Dodge chassis with the 381 cid V-8 and had a push-button selector for the automatic transmission.
Mom & Dad took us out of school for an additional week during Christmas break (something unheard of these days) and we did our homeschooling during a three-week vacation from the Chicago area to Mexico City in December of 1968.
Engine was a bit tired but still VERY reliable. My job was to top off the engine oil every time we filled up with fuel…the ol’ 318 got about 200 miles to a quart. We filled up with fresh water in Laredo and never got sick during our trip (remember, don’t drink the water!). What an education! Saw parts of Mexico the average tourists would not be exposed to. Of course, lots of poverty in rural areas but the locals were friendly and it gave us an appreciation for what we have here. This is when I fell in love with Mexico with its rich history, warm people, and great food!
Sorry for going off-topic…traveling by RV is SO much more fun than flying. Still enjoy RV’ing to this day! The journey is the fun part, not the destination.
Sorry, 318 cid V-8…my fingers are dyslexic.
Good story Steve, and it illustrates what is the real point of RVing. 2 ads: Tennessee and Wyoming, which location is correct? Could be BOTH a week apart. :-) Terry J
Regardless of whether it’s a scam or not, that is one great looking motorhome. At least the extrerior anyway. Most old (or new) motorhomes are pretty ugly but this thing is just too cool.
Where are the avacodo boomerangs?
I really like this unit, and scam or not (since I won’t be buying it anyway), this is really a cool RV… love the chairs in the back too. As a kid, the closest we had to a “camper” was a pitched tent. But if this is truly a real deal, this price would be a ‘steal”… no pun really intended… well, maybe a little.
https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1963-dodge-motor-home/
Lovely looking Travco. I’d buy one if I had someone to share the experience and responsibility. I find it way more attractive than the Winnebago motorhome.
Bid to $37,000. 1/13/23 Reserve Not Met.
Given its condition and rarity, I’d be willing to pay around the asking price of $37k.