Good Morning,
Having scrolled through our "foreforum member list" looking at 99-2003 units, very few 320s were Grand Villas.... I turned up three 2000-2001s. Also noticed some overlap in VIN numbers versus production years...
Looking for information or direction to help in determining the production ratio GV320 versus U320s during 2000-2003 years.
Since purchasing our "camper" last fall, I've been surprised how few foretravels I see on the road compared to other models....
David
I have come up with about 10 Gv320's in 2000, 3 in 2003, 3 in 2002 & 7 in 2003. I think they were special order in these last years.
If you mean Build numbers instead of VIN numbers, that is because like my coach was a pre production prototype and was built in 2002 so the build number falls within the 2002 build numbers.
Yes, Build numbers....
My numbers derived from member entries on their profiles..... Narrowing down production volume by finding high 99 build numbers, and low 2000 units and high 2000 and low 2001s and so forth, arriving at total yearly production of 270s, 320s, not quite as easy or accurate as I originally thought.
David
Why not just ask FOT for their production numbers for those years? But then again, what is the reason for knowing?
Asking a reliable source would take all the "fun" out of it!!!
Just curious I guess..... I enjoy the early Datsun 240z cars....searching for that low production model early Vin 69 Z is fun.... For example, the datsun world just recently was introduced to a new lowest Vin discovered for the 240z..... I guess same reason many are intrigued with all types of anomalies, the odd commonly collect the odd.
Lost storage overhead and floor space were only drawbacks for the GV during those years?
Or is there a more sinister reason so few were produced?
David
Ah. understand. We have always loved the Grand Villa dubbed "Coupe DeVille" with us. I liked the sloped front and mid entry. I think most folks want(ed), a front entry to gain more room.
Question for Grand Villa owners, do you all get tons of bug guts on your windshield or do they just slide up the slant of the shield? On our "flat fronts", all we get is a "splat", no hope at all for anything glazing up and off.
Being in the pest control business since birth, I do attempt identification of the various critters in the grill....and window. I would guess the angled impact would elongate, and cause some difficulty if insect was rare or of low VIN number!!! Sry couldn't resist. :)
David
They were really only wanted by previous owners of Unihomes. I think there were only 6 tag axle models built. By the way, driving my '67 Datsun 1600 roadster felt exactly like driving a 240Z, except it had a full frame and a removable top... Biggest difference between it and an MG is that the Datsun was reliable! I flipped it three time with no roll bar and walked away with scratches. Always wanted to try on a 2000 roadster...
Bugs is bugs, They splat just as bad on a GV as on any other. Especially FLORIDA Love bugs. In all Fairness there are love bugs in LA ( lower Alabama ) too as well as grasshoppers in CO, NE. :)
Gary B
We need to realize that the total Foretravels built is like only 6550, if I remember the serial number info on the 3 new coach flyers on Josh's desk last month at FOT.
As a GV owner, I do love the side door, as my wife loves her nest called the passenger seat. The dog has her bed under the dash. I do think the sloped windshield seems to be less of a mess at the end of the day, than the bus front windows parked next to us when we arrive somewhere. We do loose some storage of course with the mid door, but a full slide on that compartment gets to those spares and seldom needed things deep inside.
Love seeing newer GV's, and hope that we might upgrade into a 2000 generation some day. Plus by then we will be seeing many more new designs with sloped fronts as the need for better mileage and economy push the designs "back into the future", like my old classic.
There is a beautiful 2003 40 ft Grand Villa with slide on the FOT website, with tag and headlight conversion...very pretty..asking $165,000
OK, were chatting here, but were there any real reasons for the end of the GV's? yes, 5 or so cabinettes lost in the front overhead and some space maybe lost with a passenger side sliding drawer in the 6' opening. (yes, I know i do not know all the terminology yet...forgive;))
Wife and I like the thought of handing up groceries and quickly putting them in the refrigerator, but not if it's many thousands more!!
why DID ft give it up? Any comments from FT?
I asked them the same question and the answer I received us that nobody was ordering it. If they wanted mid entry they did it in a bus style not the GV. So it was special order only at te end till the new wners changed from the U series.
The GV320 was Ray Fore's response to repeated requests for the Unihome styling on the Unicoach chassis. I think its a great testimony to the foretravel attitude toward customer service. They didn't sell many, but each only made a former Unihome owner very happy!
Interesting John and thank you!
I cannot imagine that the costs were different to produce and with the apparent almost cult following and even newbies and SOB's turning heads, that the option is not present. Options are good! Wasn't it Burger King said, 'have it your way!' and it made it a major player.. If the molds were there, why let them get dusty and discussion material for archeologists? Just wondering...
Hmmm.
A fellow in SC owns a beautiful GV320 and when I visited with him he told me he bought it used as when he asked FT to build him a new one they wanted 1/2 mil upfront and then a 6 month build time. I never did get around to the final cost.
You are right that the molds are still there and it could be done but the cost might shock you. In fact if you look closely at the last of the GV's you will see a Nimbus shell with the Shovel front GV.
I love out GV, mainly for Mid Entry and overall good looks, the disadvantage is lost storage.
Gary B
Last time to FOT, Cory said they could and would be happy to build me a GV after I told him l loved the looks and the interior of our old classic.
Good to see that used ones come around every so often.