11" ,.,CMI..pre. I T he elegant FMC motorhome was first sold in 1972 and pro- duced until 1976. This classic coach is still in operation today and is treasured as a co~ector'sitem. The Food Machinery Company Corporation, better known worldwide as FMCCorp.,has produced chemicals and machinery for more than a centu- ry. Its plant in Santa Clara, California, originally manufactured equipment to process the large volumes of vegeta- bles and fruits grown and harvested in the area. FMC expanded into the defense business and began to ~pI"f)- duce military vehicles, such as tanks. Today it also makes gold mining equipment, airport baggage handlers, people movers, and more. By the late 1960s, company plan- ners projected a cutback in government contracts and began to look for new product lines to offset the loss. Recreation vehicles were becoming popular, so motorhome production was selected. Key personnel from the FMC Ordnance Division were transferred to the newly established Motor Coach Division, and development of a proto- type motorhome began. A different sort of design. FMC's engineers a1ready~knewhow to design almost indestructible military vehicles. In developing the motorhome proto-, Classic FMC motorhomes fill the sales lot at Recreational Vehicle Services of Morgan Hill,.California. type, they focused on designing and constructing "from the road up." Rather than utilizing chassis purchased from Chrysler, Chevrolet, or Ford, FMC designed its own heavy-duty chassis, incorporating some of the features found in its military vehicles. The fIrst prototype was a mid-engine> 19-foot vehicle, assembled in FMC'sRiverside, California,plant, which was supporting the Santa Clara facility.It was followed by a 23-foot prototype. Neither reached the assembly line, but both underwent extensive testing that provided valu- able data for the final design of the 29- foot production model. FMC Corp.'s first coach, designated the 2900R, rolled off the line in late 1972. It was an intriguing unit pow- ered by a rear-mounted Chrysler440 v- B engine, with outside service accessi- bility. The need for a long front-to-rear drive shaft was eliminated, thus per- mitting a 10w~profIledesign. With the engine in the rear, there was little noise in the passenger compartment. Th{ 2900R's foundation was a fully inte- grated steel design with independent suspension for all wheels, creating superb control and a smooth ride. The upper aluminum frame covered by fiberglass provided passenger safety, comfort, and coach durability. And inside. . . The FMCwas an industry role model with a luxurious, livable interior. The ceilingwas 6 feet 4 inches high, enabling taller people to move without stooping or bending. Because of its low floor profIle, no step was needed inside the coach at the pas- senger door, thus permitting easy ingress and egress. A driver's-side continued ~,,~ ~.,"" n '0. .r...'"
Transcript
11" ,.,CMI..pre.I
The elegant FMC motorhomewas first sold in 1972 and pro-duced until 1976. This classic
coach is still in operation today and istreasured as a co~ector'sitem.
The Food Machinery CompanyCorporation, better known worldwideas FMCCorp.,has produced chemicalsand machinery for more than a centu-ry. Its plant in Santa Clara, California,originally manufactured equipment toprocess the large volumes of vegeta-bles and fruits grown and harvestedin the area. FMC expanded into thedefense business and began to ~pI"f)-duce military vehicles, such as tanks.Today it also makes gold mining
equipment, airport baggage handlers,people movers, and more.
By the late 1960s, company plan-ners projecteda cutback in governmentcontracts and began to look for newproduct lines to offset the loss.Recreation vehicles were becomingpopular, so motorhome production wasselected. Key personnel from the FMCOrdnance Division were transferred to
the newly established Motor CoachDivision, and development of a proto-type motorhome began.
A different sort of design. FMC'sengineers a1ready~knewhow to designalmost indestructible military vehicles.In developing the motorhome proto-,
Classic FMC motorhomes fill the sales lot at Recreational Vehicle Services
of Morgan Hill,.California.
type, they focused on designing andconstructing "from the road up."Rather than utilizing chassis purchasedfrom Chrysler,Chevrolet, or Ford, FMCdesigned its own heavy-duty chassis,incorporating some of the featuresfound in its military vehicles. The fIrstprototype was a mid-engine>19-footvehicle, assembled in FMC'sRiverside,California,plant, which was supportingthe Santa Clara facility.It was followedby a 23-foot prototype. Neither reachedthe assembly line, but both underwentextensive testing that provided valu-able data for the final design of the 29-foot production model.
FMCCorp.'s first coach, designatedthe 2900R, rolled off the line in late1972. It was an intriguing unit pow-ered by a rear-mounted Chrysler440 v-B engine, with outside service accessi-bility. The need for a long front-to-reardrive shaft was eliminated, thus per-mitting a 10w~profIledesign. With theengine in the rear, there was little noisein the passenger compartment. Th{2900R's foundation was a fully inte-grated steel design with independentsuspension for all wheels, creatingsuperb control and a smooth ride. Theupper aluminum frame covered byfiberglass provided passenger safety,comfort, and coach durability.
And inside. . . The FMCwas an
industry role model with a luxurious,livable interior. The ceilingwas 6 feet 4inches high, enabling taller people tomove without stooping or bending.Because of its low floor profIle, no stepwas needed inside the coach at the pas-
senger door, thus permitting easyingress and egress. A driver's-side
door, unusual for its time, providedadditional safety and convenience. Thecurtains, upholstery, and deep pile car-
pet complemented each other andblended well with the colors of thecountertops and tabletops.
The FMCwas built only in a 29-footlength, but different floor plans wereavailable. The interior was sensiblydesigned, providing for a spacious liv-ing room, galley, bath with tub, andrear bedroom with twin beds that could
be converted into a queen-size bed,The coach had tinted safety glass allaround. ,Readily accessible interiorstorage totaled 84 cubic feet, excellentfor a coach of its size.
The driver's compartment providedfor efficient operation of the vehicle.Luxurious pilot and copilot seats wereadjustable for complete comfort. Theever-present engine hump, normal forfront-engine units, was eliminated,permitting easy movement into and outof the front seats. A full complementofuseful instruments was clearly visibleon the dash, and controls were withineasy reach. This, along with excellentroad visibility,allowed for many hoursof comfortabletravel.
Public acceptance. The FMCwas acoach built for the upscale traveler.When initially offered, it had a retailprice of $27,000. By the end of 1973 itwas approximately$29,000, and as theyears went by, its price soared to as156 JANUARY 2001 . FMC
The first FMC prototype was 19 feetlong and had its engine mountedmidway between the front and rear
axles (left). Charles Kuralt, host of CBS'"On the Road," in the doorway of his
FMC motorhome (below).
high as $54,500. Prices charged bymotorhome dealers were sometimes
even higher by 1976, when dealersrealized that the popular coaches wouldno longer be made. To compare thesefigures, consider that one could pur-chase a brand-new stationary home inthe mid-1970s for $40,000 to $50,000.
FMCwent all out to assure customer
satisfaction, and dealers were selectedacross the country. A customer servicetraining center and logistics system inSanta Clara assured prompt vehicleassistance and availability of neededspare parts nationwide. In addition tothe dealer network, FMC contractedwith many 76 Truck Stops across the
continued
InterstateAmerica/ExitAuthority,Circle91 on ReaderServiceCard [>
...-Mi,,EMORYLANE"""""""""""""""""""""'" ,
, . - -'
United States to provide on-the-roadwarranty service.
This beautiful motorhome received
excellentmarket acceptance.But unfor-tunately, it was launched just beforethe first of a series of oil crises hit and
gasoline prices skyrocketed. Even withthe gasoline shortage, owners lovedtheir new coaches. One former FMCowner who remains a motorhome trav-
eler today stated, "The ride, drive, andclass were great and better than any Ihave driven since." Like top-qualitymotor coaches today, FMCswere in thepublic eye at automobile racetracksacross the country. Prominent driversMario Andretti and Parnelli Jones bothowned FMCsand traveled to and fromraces in their coaches. Famous enter-tainers such as ClintEastwood, JamesBrolin, Carol Burnett, and Pat Boonealso owned FMCs.
Perhaps the most publicity the2900R ever receivedwas thanks to CBS
TV's roving reporter Charles Kuralt,who crisscrossed the country in variousmotorhomes for more than 20 years.During the years Kuralt's "On theRoad" series aired, he and his crewwore out six motor coaches. The sixthand final motorhome was an FMCthatwas still running strong when Kuralt
retired. The coach is now on display atthe Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn,Michigan.
End of the line. Even though theFMCmotorhome was a product of out-standing engineering and loved by itsowners, the company ceased its motor-home operation in 1976. The coachwasintroducedjust as a major fuel shortagehit the United States. Gasoline priceseventually jumped almost 300 percent,and supplies were low. RV travel wasdrasticallycurtailed, and the market fornew motorhomes almost disappeared.Not only was the FMCthe victim of badtiming, but it also became unprofitableto make in relation to FMCCorp.'sotherproducts- namely,militaryvehicles.Much greater profits were available intanks and similar equipment, so thecompany focused on these instead.
When production ceased, many ofthe 915 FMC motorhomes built were
still under warranty, and the remainderrequired routine maintenance andlogistics support. FMCkept its commit-ment to its customers and arrangedwith Jim Black, an FMCmanufacturingexecutive, to set up an organization toservice these coaches, which continuesto this day. Black, who runsRecreationalVehicleServices,C1249,
in Morgan Hill, California, holds therights for FMCparts and even has all ofthe original tooling. RecreationalVehicleServicescan, if needed, producelarge parts, such as a new 29-footfiberglass top.
More than 25 years after thegroundbreaking FMC coach debuted to
high reviews, these units are still mak-ing fans across the country.
1J.voFMCA chapters are devoted toFMC coaches: FMC Club Southeast and
FMC Club East. For more i1Jformation,
contact FMCAs Chapter ServicesDepartment at (800) 543-3622.
Memories wanted FMCA mem-
bers accumulate memories asfast asthe odometer racks up miles on theirmotorhomes. Because everyoneeTJioys riflecting on the "good olddqys," FMC welcomes members tosubmit their early-day motorhomeadventures - and misadventures -
for possible inclusion in this column.please include photos, as well as acurrent dqytime telephone number ffpossible. !fyou're not a writeryourself,don't worry,'our editorialstqff can helpyou put your memories down on paper.Send to Memory Lane, Family MotorCoaching, 8291 Clough Pike,Cindnnatz;OH45244. ~
ONECALLDOESIT ALL. . . VVITHTHERVINS-URANCESPECIALIS
