Most of the time, when you see an old RV for sale, it doesn’t get much more than a second look. But in that cursory glance, you’ll likely notice small details that suggest this isn’t like every other forgotten motorhome project. That’s the reaction I had when gazing upon this Country Coach motorhome listed here on Facebook Marketplace for just $1,500. A few things stand out: first, this looks like it was a highly-prized possession at one time, with custom decals and a body design that looks like it has some intention behind it. Second, Country Coach is still in business today and building high-end conversions.
Some motorhomes appear to be slapped together, with acres of sheetmetal simply bolted together with no thought given to the final design. The Country Coach actually looks decent going down the sides, and even the retrofitted headlights and taillights sit in their space well (are the headlights from a Dodge Caravan?) The brand of Country Coach motorhomes was typically considered one of the best you could buy, with the build quality and rich list of features rivaling that of a much more expensive luxury bus-style coach. I totally dig the graphics going down the sides.
The seller admits he has started this restoration project but didn’t get very far in finishing it. This looks like a classic example of the disassembly phase beginning and then energy or interest quickly running out. The 3-spoke steering wheel is a sporty touch, and the seller notes that it is powered by a Caterpillar 3208 10.4L V8 engine, which apparently has a very distinctive sound and boatloads of torque. The numbers I’ve found indicates it generated 210 b.h.p. and a monstrous 5o0 lb.-ft. of torque.
It’s hard to tell if that’s fresh wood paneling on the side, but it might be. Original fixtures remain and it appears that some of the ceiling has been opened up, potentially to deal with moisture issues. The seller notes that sadly, there is no title, which is going to dramatically limit interest in this project. If you can figure out a workaround for the paperwork, you’ll have a very period-correct vintage motorhome with a reputation for high build quality and tons of torque. That seems like a winning combo to me; do you agree?
I wonder if this is the same small Cat motor that was in the body job Freightliner I drove. It had a 10sp Eaton trans. Howard or geo may know. 🤔
Seems a very low price, thanks Lavery.
Hey Stan, not quite. If it says 210 HP., then it’s a non-turbo, the hair dryer added about 40hp. and probably what was in the Freightshaker. To be clear, the 3208 was a heck of a motor. I never cared for any V8 configuration( 6 in a row makes ‘er go) and in an application like this, probably does an adequate job. Get Geo to work his pump magic now that he’s retired, and this baby will roll with the big boys. It’s when you had 20 tons to move, they fell horribly short. I read these were usually paired with an Allison 4 speed automatic, and will do just fine. Country Coach offered a wide range of power, the Cat most common. Looks like a nice unit, better have deep pockets for this one,,,
Thx for the reply pal. Nice call on the motor configuration. Inlines are proven tough… “six In a row, ready to tow”
Mind you, wasn’t the 500hp Mack V8 a sweet mill ? Never drove one.
pull the drivetrain and scrap the rest, tiers alone are going to be $1000 bucks
If the kitchen works, this is a perfect business opportunity. For a very low cash outlay, you too can start your own mobile meth lab. Low overhead, and profit potential is enormous! Of course, like any profession, such an endeavor has risks, cops for one and the long jail times that may result. And you’ll want to hire skilled “chefs” who know the “recipe” and how to avoid having your investment blow up in their faces, so to speak. But if you feel adventurous, it’s a great time to take advantage of a burgeoning market!
LOL
Hey Jeff, Country Coach went belly up in around 2008 if memory serves, they were based out of Junction City Oregon. I was at their liquidation Auction. They were a premium coach builder, along with the likes of Beaver, also in the same area. This coach looks like one of their earlier ones. I have a ’06, and previously an ’89 beaver. Stark contrast in build quality between the older Beaver and the new one. Just thought I’d share!
Headlight bezels are from the Chevrolet S-10.
Well, that was the unexpected laugh of the day, Terrry!
No title
There are endless choices for cheap, old coach RVs in this world. At least This one is better than most.
For rigs like this, there is no market from the typical all-American camping family. Old rigs (10 years old is often the number cited, and this one is 40) are not at all welcome at many commercial camping grounds, unless they are pristine on the outside. Even then you have to beg for an exemption, which is a huge hassle.
As well, a productive, modern family can’t really risk the mechanical issues.
The main reason for the rules is because cheap, beaten down old rigs arrive at the camping site with the less attractive members of society hiding inside. That eventually brings law enforcement onto the property, while loose objects around the campground begin to disappear.
So there is really no market for a “very period-correct vintage motorhome”. Old travel trailers, maybe. Old coaches, no way.
Literally nobody cares about preserving these things. There are no shows to go to to show it off like a car. They are nothing but problems and parts nightmares, all the time.
Old motor homes like this are strictly the domain of hippies looking for a festival rig, gold diggers hunting cheap housing near their stake, and various other elements of our modern society looking for very cheap housing. I’m not looking for a political discussion here, just stating the facts.
So the $1500 price is in the ballpark and all the money.
I drive past a campground on the way to work and see the 10 years old sign and always wonder about it. You basically confirmed what I thought, thanks.
Dalton, we are festival and party-boondock campers, and generally not commercial campground campers. It’s two very different classes of people.
Campgrounds have become rules-laden domains, out of necessity. Maybe in the old days, campgrounds were party spots. Not anymore. It’s shut up and lights out at 10 pm, everywhere, and public campgrounds are often noise and alcohol-free zones.
Commercial campground camping nowadays is strictly for people who are avoiding the party lifestyle.
You have me thinking of “harmless” Cousin Eddie and his family.
We have a 1991 Foretravel Grand Villa, and love it. Just invested real money in a lifetime-warrantied roof coating, that will long outlast me. The unit has under 100K miles, powered by a Detroit 8.2L V8 through an Allison 4-speed. Yes, it is fully depreciated, and my investment was less than 10% of its original price when I purchased it in 2017. The biggest expenditures I’ve made on it were tires, a water heater, a refrigerator, and now the roof.
The coach is in need of a buffing and a refinishing of the Alcoa wheels, but still is quite presentable, just not modern or high-end current. We haven’t been barred from a campground, but then we have no real interest in staying at one of those which aims at a resort type of experience. Mostly we use it for automotive events that we participate in, as a great alternative to local hotels, and often we can stay on-site, being fully self-contained.
There IS a market for older coaches in good physical condition, but it is small. Those who own them are generally capable of doing maintenance themselves. In 2024, the Detroit’s starter failed when it was time to leave a fairgrounds in WV. That didn’t faze us, we had food, water, and AC. a starter was delivered, and I installed it myself. We got two extra days of very comfortable camping, plus donating dog walking time for the county animal shelter.
How to change a $1500 motorhome into a $40,000 motorhome ……. spend a $100,000 on it
Would make a nice tour vehicle for a small local band. Just add a rear hitch to pull a tandem axle
trailer for your equipment and call
it done. Or, it would be a nice tiny
house once you add solar panels
for power and one of those mobile Internet thingies to keep you connected to the web. Sure, I
love those old 8X35 mobile homes, but they’re way out of reach for a retired guy like me so this would be the next best thing.
Just a place for me to have a really nice evening with a willing
young lady and live by myself albeit not too far from my niece and my SIL. A fella can dream
can’t he?
“the smaller the better” esp in RV (as interior AND mechanical to deal with). Must be the 38 or 40 ft (no body talkin here) as the 36 hada ford or cheb DL.
Seems a worthwhile project but way too big for my ownership (know boats’n planes better and the $ suck-out-de-pocket faster, the bigger U got). I’d go for a 36 ft blue water sloop instead aahahahaa