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From FMCA’s Family Motor Coaching

Bill Bryant, GMC Motorhome historian, authored a three-part article on the history of the GMC motorhome for Family Motor Coach Association’s monthly publication, Family Motor Coaching. This series is probably the finest produced on the history of the classic design that copied but never completely emulated. Enthusiasts may view/download the reprint from the 2004 issues.

Bill’s interest in GMC motorhomes began in 1984 when he purchased his first GMC Motorhome, a 1976 Palm Beach, which he still drives to this day. He also owned a 1976 GMC Birchaven. His inquiries into “TZE history” began when he started collecting everything in print that dealt he could get his hands on. He had the good fortune of being able to contact and interview a number of GMC engineers who were responsible for the development of the vehicle and now has 32 cassette tapes filled with interviews. His collection of GMC Motorhome memorabilia includes 50 different sales brochures, 14 dealer sales films, 60 different magazine advertisements, 50 different models sold as HotWheels by Mattel, three different Barbie GMCs, Hess Training Vans, playing cards, Frisbees, belt buckles, clothing, ballpoint pens, flyswatters, and much more.

The GMC community owes a debt of gratitude to Bill for giving us this story of a timeless design concept that is still providing substantial use to happy owners today.

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Still Cruising In 1978 the GMC community celebrated the fact that it had been 30 years since the last GMC unit with a VIN starting with TZE rolled off the production line at GM’s plant in Michigan. In celebration of this achievement, Jim and Audree Rowe compiled a story for Family Motor Coaching. The article was published in the issue of October 2008. View/download a reprint of this great, well-written article containing several photos of GMCs that have been kept in good running order since they’re “still crusing after all these years”.

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