Being the Datsun zcar junkie, 9-240z's. this caught my eye today......Wouldn't it be so cool to tow a small "light weight" trailer with an old z to the track with this classic?
Used by Paul Newman......
1985 FORETRAVEL GRAND VILLA (CELEBRITY OWNED) USED BY PAUL NEWMAN & BILL... (https://www.ebay.com/itm/1985-Foretravel-Grand-Villa-/162992095110?_trksid=p2141725.m3641.l6368)
Wonder what kind of pedigree other then the Bumper sticker to confirm "Paul Newman slept here"?
May make an offer....
david
The wood paneling indicates there have been/are water leaks at the various side windows.
Chris
It is a nice looking coach, not sure if they might be asking a little to much, bit I guess if you can document that Paul Neuman used it that might be worth something. ^.^d
It's ended
454 Chevy. Sold
TOO much coach for a gas engine...
Tim Fiedler
Sure Start Soft Start (http://www.gen-pro.biz) - home of SureStart soft starters TCER Direct (http://www.tcerdirect.com) - home of Generac Approved Aluminum and Copper TCER Composite cable generator-gas-prod (http://www.generatorgasproducts.com) - home of X-Riser Gas Risers for PE installation Call me at 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
And one of the worst engines ever built for Motor Homes. My mechanic called them "BBQ Specials".
"For entertainment purposes only", check out this video of a stock 32 year old 454 with 35K miles boosted over 70% in power using $3500 worth of bolt on parts from Summit, 567HP, 537 FT Lbs Tq. The big question of course would be the MPG and how to keep it cool. And yes, not sure they planned to put it back in, by the way they removed it.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JG438976rK8
I wish I still had my old Itasca.
I've still got my '78 Vogue out in the yard. 440 with Edlebrock cam and intake, MSD ignition, Doug Thorley headers, modified Thermal Quad and MSD dial timing. Built 747 trans. Maybe they would buy it and do their thing.
Craneman, you brought back some good memories. Not sure what I owned, built in the 70's with a 440 (I'll eventually find a picture) but about 14 years ago I owned one that was like new, one owner, out of a barn, traded in by the orig owner. I took a trip thru the Siskiyou mountains from Oregon into CA to camp to Lake Shasta. I was amazed, took the hills the best of anything I could remember with that stock 440. I'll add some pictures when I find them for someone to identify.
First rv a basic VW camper in 1968, second a Silver Streak Trailer in1975, third in 2003 or 04 this 70's 440, then 2004 a Toyota powered camper, then a couple Bounders, and finally my first 300HP 8.3 a 1990 Barth 32' with a fire engine Spartan chassis (I was hooked). When I called Cummins to get engine info, he asked what kind of fire truck I had. I told him it was a Barth rv. He said, wow, those were only to be sold to firetruck mfgs.
Did my eyes deceive me or did that MH engine come out of the RV with tube headers attached?
I had a 85 Winnebago Elantra with a 454 Chevy, It of course cracked the exhaust manifolds so I had a Banks system installed, BIG difference in power.
I also had a 1970 Vette with a 454 and 4 spd, BIG difference between the 2 - 454 engines.
My brothers Allegro with the 454 is sitting in our other yard and PO had the banks kit with headers and air cleaner installed. Even with California smog sticker. It will be going for parts and I had just had hardened seats and a valve job done on it. The headers are better than throwing money on cracked exhaust manifold.
Nah, Torque in my 1995 is WAY better! That is what we need, for all the weight we have! And the Fuel Consumption alone does not make it worth it, I am sure! Maybe 5 MPG, due to the Higher RPM's required in that 454? If I keep it at the Sweet Spot of 65 MPH, fully loaded I now get at least 10 MPG
Cummins M-11 Celect :
1,450 pound force-feet (1,966 N⋅m) @ 1200 rpm, 400 horsepower (298 kW; 406 PS) (246 kW) electronically governed at 2,100 rpm
GM 454 :
535 Ft Lbs of Torgue, @ 5,350 RPM, 560 Horsepower (Shown @ 5:10 mark in the Vid)
Those Numbers are Great for Moving a >5K Lb Vehicle, down the Strip, but for our RV's, not a Chance of much Benefit, in Operation! LOL
As far as having that Motorhome....that would make a Great Investment, I'd say? The Right Buyer, would pay more, I'd Bet?
We purchased this MH from Bill Freeman... Bill was the Freeman part of NEWMAN/FREEMAN Racing... this is the team that Paul Newman created in late 70's to race Datsuns.... This coach was titled in Bill Freemans name and been used sparingly over the decades. Last few years in San Diego storage.... we flew from Boulder CO to San Diego last month and drove it back to boulder ( 1300 miles) without one issue...only 6mpg per mile but just trying to get home before dark... we have sent the RV to its first full Dr medical check up... all systems are good.. filler for water leaks a bit.. generator needs tuning for our Boulder altitudes...some AC compressor work and we are set up for some CO/WY road trips... our local DMV verified VIN to Bill Freeman ownership.. we haves original Newman/Freeman Racing decals and signed photos of Paul Newman...
congratulations and welcome
6MPG will be your average unless you want to go 55MPH
gassers are notorious for having head and manifold issues - the key is to NOT overwork/overheat them and again that suggests slowing down, especially when towing, when hot, or when climbing extended grades
Welcome to the club !!!
- my first coach was a 460 Ford FT, rear engine gasser - loved the coach, hated the drive train
relas, take your time, keep it cool and you will have a better time with your engine.
Tim Fiedler
Sure Start Soft Start (http://www.gen-pro.biz) - home of SureStart soft starters TCER Direct (http://www.tcerdirect.com) - home of Generac Approved Aluminum and Copper TCER Composite cable generator-gas-prod (http://www.generatorgasproducts.com) - home of X-Riser Gas Risers for PE installation Call me at 630 240-9139
Gen-Pro
Carry a couple of spare fuel filters and tools to change them, insulate or protect fuel line from hot stuff. Have the exhaust manifolds been changed to headers? Can't imagine a couple of motorheads leaving the stock ones in place.
Tom you worked with my old bud roger T?
Hello again. Sent the GV to a local RV Tech Center to have a complete House physical done and we have a few things to take care of.. ONE of the AC's was locked up... no compressor running... minor leaks with toilet and generator tune up... all good for now... BUT. I am wondering why this 1985 Grand Villa FEG 454 33'was built with a tag axle. I am unable to find any photos anywhere on the internet of another 85... however. When i review FT history the GV was first built mid 86... is my coach legally an 85 because of the Chevy Chassis? I will call FT NAC and see what manuals and build spec's i can get... thanks for any info/knowledge you can share...
Chevy was 178" WB. Too much overhang. Chevy front was 5k capacity. So they moved the coach body as far as possible to lessen the front end loading.
Air bags in the front coils for loading and a air tag.
Dodge had a 6k front straight axle for more load
As I recall FT had a fire years ago and lost records prior to date of fire, not sure what years affected.
Foretravel s fire in the late 70's burned all their tax records in a new brick building. Lots of old stories, I was there.
Chevy's were fixable IF you replaced the blocked head gasket passages head gasket with an unblocked one.
Drove a 1979 super luxura 29' with a $1,000 optional Chevy 454 chassis.
100k on the clock. Unblocked head gasket stock in those years.
Ran perfect. Soft floor in hallway like most back then.