The RV boom really got under way big time in the seventies, thanks to rising incomes and the falling price of motor homes, like this Winnebago. The Forest City, IA firm revolutionized the industry by introducing efficient production methods starting in 1966. By 1968, the F17, priced the same as an Olds Toronado, really started the ball rolling. In 1970, Winnebago went public, and in 1971 its stock was the highest flying of any on the exchange, up 462%. Winnebago was the high tech IPO of its day.
I’m not sure of the exact year of this 24′ Chieftain one, but it appears to be from 1977, possibly 1978. And it’s got a For Sale sign in the window, so this could be your opportunity to travel the wide open spaces of the West in true seventies style.
RV sales grew strongly during the 70s, peaking in 1978 with 390k units sold. The second energy crisis put the kibosh on that, sending sale tumbling to 106k in 1980, followed by a long slow climb. Finally in 2006, that ’77 record was tied at 390k, to tumble again during the great recession. In 2016, a new record of 430k was finally set, which was of course soundly thrashed by the Covid-fueled RV mania of 2021, when 600k units were sold.
The helm looks original and in pretty good shape, right down to the original green upholstery. These were all built on Dodge chassis until 1979 when Dodge suddenly exited the RV chassis market due to the huge slump and Chrysler’s near-death.
The original fake wood paneling in the kitchen and dinette have given way to green paint, perhaps to cheer up the atmosphere. That stove/range looks very familiar; our ’77 Dodge Chinook had the exact same unit. I couldn’t get anymore interior shots, so you’ll have to call and make an appointment.
Here’s the number. it’s been a few months since I shot this, so I make no guarantees.
Related reading:
Curbside Classic: 1968 Winnebago F-17 – The Model T Of Motorhomes
That is awesome.
Does it come with a Shazam costume and a lighted ball so you can talk to ‘The Immortals”?
One of the original owners, is prepared to supply ‘mentorship’, to prospective buyers.
A pic of a couple of its early owners.
that’s actually from a ’70s tv show called Shazam!
Outstanding, that you retained the exclamation mark.
…and Isis
Shitter’s full.
They were usually equipped with Chrysler’s 440 engine.
Yeah, and mpg is undoubtedly in single digits (quite possibly ‘low’ single digits).
Fuel mileage has never been a motorhome’s forte.
It’s rather remarkable how little RVs have actually changed over so many years. One thing that ‘has’ changed is the cooking appliances, specifically, the stove. What appears to be just a slightly smaller (but otherwise complete) 4-burner kitchen unit in the feature vehicle has now given way to a much smaller, 2-burner propane stovetop (itself just a camp stove) with a small microwave, usually in an overhead cabinet.
Yeah, I always thought it silly to have four burners in an RV; I rarely recall using even two at once for a group of five people. Even at home we could get by fine with a two-burner stovetop.
Electric induction cook tops are the hot new thing in vans and RVs.
But yes, the four burner cooktops were a joke. Three burner units were common before the two burner units took over.
Many fond memories of driving to and from Lake of the Woods (to in the spring, from in the fall) in our ’74 Winnebago Indian. The 440 was thirsty but ran effortlessly. Seven miles per gallon with nothing behind it, five miles per gallon with Dad’s 19-foot Crestliner behind it. But even with the Crestliner in tow, you really couldn’t tell it was back there…
I am always amazed at the condition of vehicles in general out West.
Here around the Great Lakes, especially the south shore of Lake Erie, nothing lasts long until the tin worm eats ’em up.
The #1 thing to check on these is internal body rot. I don’t know the exact year of the change-over between wood and steel body framing, but this one seems to be the earlier wood body frame version. As a buyer, you want to check the interior body panels carefully for any sign of water damage. Even a slight evidence on the inside surface can mean extensive body frame rot inside.
Be extra vigilant at the areas below windows or any other place on the body roof or walls where a hole was made, around roof vents or A/C units, water or electrical ports, etc. If you can push on the outer ribbed aluminum body sections and there is some “give” and movement in/out, it’s almost guaranteed to have some rotted wood behind it.
As this seems likely to have spent most of it’s life in drier areas of north America, the new owner may be lucky and not have body wood rot. That said, it would be highly recommended that all the window and door frames, the extruded aluminum moldings at the edges of the walls & roof panels, and the above mentioned items mounted to the walls & roof panels, be unscrewed and removed, as the caulk sealant used in the 1960s & 70s has hardened and cracked from age. This will allow water to begin entering the body and can lead to rapid wood rot. The cure is easy, just remove the old caulk, and replace with modern equivalents. This replacement of the caulk sealant is not a challenging or difficult job, it’s just time consuming because there are hundreds of screws to remove & re-install.
As my restoration shop had it’s own woodworking facility, in the 1980s and 1990s my shop was asked to do wood body work to numerous older RV and camping trailers like this one, and the only way to repair the wood rot requires the disassembly of the outer skin just to access the wooden framework.
Just remember, the body can LOOK great, but if there is any “give” to the exterior panel when pushed on, there is probably rotten wood under the skin. More early RVs and camping trailers were junked as a result of wood rot, than all the mechanical failures combined.
Are there still new wood-framed RVs?
Regardless, the wood-rot issue of any used RVs is a killer. I don’t have any evidence, but I would imagine that, of anything that has wheels, a wood-framed RV must suffer the absolute worst depreciation of anything, and it’s all due to the wood-rot issue, and repairing it (correctly) has to be virtually as costly as just buying a new one.
Frankly, other than living its entire life in a dry, moisture-free, arid enivironment, I don’t see how even the best cared for RV is not going to have some level of wood-rot. And it’s not due to poor maintenance or construction, either (although that’s certainly going to accelerate the process). I mean, even the most carefully maintained RV is going to have internal condensation and moisture in the wood framing, right?
Are there still new wood-framed RVs?
Yes, mostly smaller outfits that have used wood framing for a long time. It can be fine, if it’s done properly, and has a good roof.
https://www.truckcamperadventure.com/why-wood-frame-construction/
Whenever I see vintage RV’s for sale, the one thing that is never mentioned is that many RV parks/campgrounds reserve the right to refuse entry to any RV more than ten years old regardless of condition. There are some that are more accommodating and some will make individual exceptions, but it’s a real issue. I hope the buyer of this Winnebago is able to enjoy it in the way they anticipated.
Why are older RVs not permitted?
To keep out the riff-raff. Folks who drive those giant newish bus-rvs don’t want poor neighbors. Same thing as in their neighborhoods; no low-income housing!
I see so many wood framed RV’s around Southern California, they all rot like Bill warned and it doesn’t even rain much here .
Once they begin to have that softness they’re quickly bought by those who live in them full time as they sag ever lower until the crumble into the street or catch fire from the crack heads .
I spent much of the Summer of 1969 traveling the U.S.A., Mexico and Canada in the short version of this .
It still had a band typ parking brake on the back of the transmission .
-Nate
Even County campgrounds have a limit on how long someone can camp there. Someone living in an old beat up RV is likely looking to stay somewhere for a while. If that old RV breaks down, the owner doesn’t have the resources to fix it or have it towed out. I can see that as a real problem for private campground owners. New Rvs are usually owned by affluent people who use them as a holiday, not a residence. I would be wary of buying any old RV. I think that renting one for a Summer trip is the best choice.
Hi, I remember watching CHiPs, in the early mid 70s. Officer Poncherello had the coolest RV I had ever seen. Does anyone know what it was? Thanks.
Am I the only one that noticed the 4 bullet holes in the windshield? Right there front and center right at the FOR SALE sign.
First thing I did on my 84 was change all rubber fuel lines to braided steel lines. I’ve had another RV burn down because of leaks. Rear air bags and roof coating helps too. Have done many repairs and mods to mine and have others planned in future as soon as I build my garage.
Asking price
It’s probably sold eh