Ever had the itch for an RV??
 

Every once in a while I get the urge to get a tent trailer. Or maybe a conversion van. A few years back I picked up a Sidewinder converted Astro van, complete with funky grey velour curtains and green shag carpet. Then I realized that when the seat in the back folds flat, it doesn't actually make for a bed big enough to sleep on unless you are a professional jockey. But then, yesterday, I saw this:

http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/...psd159df40.jpg

1977 GMC Palm Beach. 455 V8 Olds powered, front wheel drive! Bought new by a local university, they gutted the interior and converted it into a mobile office for campus security. It still has all the desks and chairs inside. In the last 35 years it has racked up, wait for it - 37000 miles. It's up for auction this weekend, unreserved. (Meaning the highest bid will own it, there is no set price to buy it, for those that don't speak auctionese lol). I have to say, as appalling as the FE would be on this thing, I just can't help but picture it going down the road with my Insight on a tow bar hanging off the back! (Think of the regen if I left the key on!! ha ha)

I have tried to curb my V8 habits over the years, but once in a while something so terrible it's great comes along and I find myself really wanting to get it. Please, let me know I am not alone! Some of you get the urge for 8 mpg every once in a while too, right??

I have a major urge to buy a dodge sprinter and convert it for living in. That's more like 20/25 mpg, though. :)

Sprinters are a nice ride. Waaaay out of my price range though. I drove a dually 3500 one around for a day, man you feel ready for anything in a rig like that ha ha.

It's nice, but if I'd buy it I'd perform a Diesel conversion. I used to like V8 gassers when I was a teen, and at that time I already considered ethanol and CNG conversions, but nowadays I avoid engines with more than 6 cylinders at any cost. Unless it's a Chevy LS-series :D

I never would have guessed you'd say that. :p

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I sometimes get the RV itch. Lately I've been thinking ... if I were to do this in, say 5-10 years, what would be a good candidate to mod? And I keep coming back to a 5-speed Mazda 5. Cut out the rooftop, make it a pop-top...

You've got to let us know what this thing sells for.

It's front wheel drive, BUT not much weight on the front wheels. Expect traction problems on anything other than flat, paved, dry roads.

I wonder what MPG it could get if you did something with the roof mounted air conditioner, the rear view mirrors, other aero porn, and a grille block. And that rig is just begging for aero wheel covers. And just how rough is the underside? And ....

Dont go to the auction!!
 

:eek::eek:This thing will likely go very cheap. These things are very tempting cause they are a lot of bang for your buck especially when you sit in them out of the weather and imagine the possibilities. If you can;t afford a Sprinter or a small newer pop top, you deffinatly can't afford this white elephant or is it white and blue....NNNOOOOOO................nuff said...sorry for being blunt but you will thank me some day.....:D

Well I have to go to the auction, that's kinda what I do. Now, as to whether or not I will be able to avoid bidding on it, THAT's a different story lol. One of my lowrider friends saw that pic of it and just about lost it, he apparently loves these things, he has always wanted to make one into a show car/RV with candy paint and crazy interior. So at least if I get carried away and buy it, then come out the ether the next day I have someone I can pawn it off on ha ha.

As for a reasonable RV, I think I saw something you would have dug MetroMPG. It used to sit at a storage lot I keep one old car at, it was from the USA and I don't think they were ever sold here. It was a late '80s Toyota van, 4x4, with a pop top. It wasn't a JDM car, this one was left hand drive, and I seem to remember it was even a 5 speed. Now that would be a sweet, affordable little RV. There used to be a pop top, conversion 4x4 Suburban near where I lived. It was an '89 or so. Something like that would fill my need for 8 mpg on occasion, but would be a lot more useful than the old white whale I posted above. Sadly, I have only ever seen the one.

I always forget about this thing. I bought it last year, 1982 Dodge/Grumman. I thought it would be a good candidate for an RV, as it's a raised roof model. Apparently they were made to be ice cream trucks, hence the high roof and the 1 ton suspension. But this one was never converted, so it doesn't have any side windows. It has a slant 6 Chrysler motor, and it runs on propane. It's all aluminum so I can't imagine it weighs much for it's size. I guess it could be made into something RV ish, though it is a little on the short side.
http://i1189.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0c3d44ba.jpg

Saw one of these once, turned around and met the owner. With the BMW diesel engine they claimed 30 MPG.

regards
Mech

The Vixen RV with a BMW diesel. Sorry I tried to copy and paste the addy but it won't work for me.

http://ecomodder.com/forum/member-fl...1-dscn1266.jpg

Now you are talking ww, here is my one, that green one is a very rare find an 8 footer with a chrysler engine on propane!!!! You are a lucky man. If you go to my album you can have a look at what my interior looks like,

it looks a bit like the Vixen but I don't think this is a Vixen??????