Skip to main content ↑ ↓
Topic: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa] (Read 749 times) previous topic - next topic

Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Hello everyone, just joined.
Have an opportunity to purchase a 1987 Grand Villa, gas pusher. Need the good, bad, and ugly on these models. Just under 80,000 miles. Asking just under $17,000.00. Any help, opinions would be appreciated.

[modified topic title to be more descriptive - Michelle]

Re: Opportunity…………………

Reply #1 –
Do it.    A little high on the price but would need photos and inspection before I would commit.  Here is a photo of our 86 grand villa gas.  Just hit 50,000 miles this year.
1986 Grand Villa, 454 Chevrolet, 33 SBI tag axle
Build # 2658
2nd owner, original owner was Newman/Freeman Racing, racer Bill Freeman and actor/racer Paul Newman

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #2 –
Too much for that year and model. Look what you get for a little more,

For Sale 1995 U240 Unihome
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #3 –
And, the gas PUSHERS were probably the "least good" Fortravel ever made.

Overheating was a significant issue, as was poor MPG.
Brett Wolfe
EX: 1993 U240
Moderator, ForeForum 2001-
Moderator Diesel RV Club 2002-
Moderator, FMCA Forum 2009-2020
Chairman FMCA Technical Advisory Committee 2011-2020

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #4 –
When ever I hear of someone taking on a project vehicle I always recommend what will its value be when completed? I personally believe you can buy a better vehicle for less and be using today rather than spending a fortune to have something with little return on your investment.
Yes the coach crainman brought up costs more but during your ownership I bet it would cost less, work better, be more enjoyable. Hard pass for me.
Scott

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #5 –
Hands down buy the one Craneman posted!

2000 GV320 4010 build #5712  2019-?
1999 Bounder 2000-2008
Bardstown, KY
🥃The Bourbon Capital of the World🥃

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #6 –
There are a lot of beautiful Grand Villa's and Unihomes out there. I agree with others about the price and gas engines.
I also recommend a thorough inspection and careful consideration of the service records and the existing tires & batteries.
1993 U225 Build #: 4285
500 Watts Solar
Honda CRV AWD
Former 1981 Foretravel Travco
Retired, Full Time Off Grid Snowbird

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #7 –
I second the vote for Cat.  80,000 on a gas rig is a whole lot different than 80 on a diesel. 
 Especially if gas was overworked.
Robert and Susan
 1995 36' 280 WTBI 8.3 3060r
 1200 watts on the roof, 720 Ah of lithium's
 Build # 4637. Motorcade # 17599
        FMCA  # 451505
        18  Wrangler JLUR

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #8 –
The good thing about a gas rig is that the fuel is cheaper having owned both gas and diesel MHs the price of gas is the only good thing I can say.
88 Grand Villa 36' ORED 3208 (throwaway)Cat.
 Build # 3150
Happiness is the maximum agreement of reality and desire.

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #9 –
Quote from: Olde English –
The good thing about a gas rig is that the fuel is cheaper having owned both gas and diesel MHs the price of gas is the only good thing I can say.

When you factor in the mileage the diesel is probably cheaper at the pump. The gas mileage on my Vogue was 5 mpg.
1999 40 ft. U-320 wtfe build 5563 Chuck & Lynda's "Rollin' Inn"  2030 watts solar
prev. mh's 71 GMC 5 yrs. 73 Pace Setter 1 yr. 78 Vogue 5 yrs 81 FTX 40ft all electric 18 yrs. 1996 Monaco Signature 3 yrs.
2014 Grand Cherokee Overland
Dream as if you will live forever. Live as if you will die today.  James Dean

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #10 –
BTUs per mile
Diesel is hard to beat

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #11 –
I don't know what gas engine it has. I assume ether a 454 Chevy or a 460 Ford. I had both in vehicles.
A 460 Ford in a 4x4 Pathfinder 1979 Ford E350 Quadravan. My wife would occasionally ask what I got for MPG, I would quickly attempt to change the subject or  I would be forced to lie in order to save myself! The answer was about 6-8mpg, NOT a good answer if I wanted to remain in the house. This was babying it. If I got on the gas pedal you could actually see the gas gauge drop. Good reason that it came with 2 gas tanks. It had constant problems with the exhaust manifold cracking so I s witched to headers, they rusted out fairly fast. Rust finally claimed "my Baby".
The other was a 454 Powered Winnebago Elandan 34'. It also ate exhaust manifolds and you had to be constantly watching for vapor lock. I eventually had a Banks system installed with headers instead of the cast iron exhaust manifolds. I did not own that coach long enough to see how long the headers lasted. About 7-9 miles to the gallon.
I also had a 1970 Corvette with a 454 and 4 spd trans. I could have cared less about the mileage with that car. Back then, Sunoco 260 was about .44 cents a gallon and hearing the Quadrajet secondaries open under load was worth every drop of fuel it sucked down!
1995 U320C SE 40'
Jeep 4x4 Commander - Limited - Hemi
"The Pack"  Yogi and Diesel our Airedales -  Charlie our Boxer/Akita mix. Gone but NEVER forgotten Jake our yellow Lab.
NRA Law Enforcement Firearms instructor - Handgun/shotgun
Regional Firearms instructor for national Armored Transp. Co.

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #12 –
My first FT was a 36' Oshkosh Rear engine (OREG)  a 1989 and i got 4-5 MPG at 60 MPH, any faster and risk of engine overheat or burnt valves. Loved the coach, if putting a diesel in it made any sense financially I would have made the swap

Run, dont walk....away from a gasser Foretravel, unless you are a total nostalgia buff and dont care about useability and practicality

Tim Fiedler
Tim Fiedler    2025 LTV Unity MBL on Order
2000 Chevy Tracker 2 Door Convertible 4WD Now lifted 4.5"
1985 Citroen 2CV6 Charleston
Murphy Rebel on wheels with 175HP Titan
Cessna P337
1980 48' Westport MY (!/4 Share)

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #13 –
On our old 29 foot SOB with the 440 and Carter AFB was lucky to get 5 mpg. When I put the turbo 7.3 (manual 5 speed) in it, the mileage jumped up to between 11 and 12. Gas is a lot cheaper than diesel but unless you buy the coach for local trips, the diesel is going to be a lot better with the exception being the cost of any major engine work.

Pierce.
Pierce and Gaylie Stewart
'93 U300/36 WTBI
Detroit 6V-92TA Jake
1140 watts on the roof
SBFD (ret)

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #14 –
Several manufacturers tried their hand at Gas Pushers during that time. They all suffered from overheating problems. I am surprised that any of these are still on the road.
Bob and Pam Brumbaugh
Ernie (English Bulldog)
2000 U320 WTFE 40' Build # 5740 (former)
Xtreme "Lights and Paintjob"
Motorcade# 18659
Souderton, PA
Towd: 2021 Ford Ranger
Quickee Mini Golf Cart (former)

We Are....Penn State!
 

Re: Opportunity [considering purchase of 1987 gas pusher Grand Villa]

Reply #15 –
I purchased our 1990 diesel for 10k. It needed a lot of work, but there was no water damage. After solar and other upgrades I'll have it road ready with about 20k total into it. That includes tires.
Now, I did actively look for the right one for a couple of years. Missed out on Paul Newmans 86 coach by just a few hours and then a couple days later found the one I have. The guy was asking 18950 for it and my mother in law got him talked down to 10 thousand.
Some things are just meant to be...
1990 Grand Villa Unihome 36ft U280
Build # 3587

74 Super Beetle