So What Is It?

[W. Harding]

Hello. I am trying to determine what the chassis version on the 1967 Ford based motorhome I just purchased is. The registration lists the maker as Ford but other than that there are few clues as it has been extensively rebuilt and patched up over the years.

 

The VIN starts with P35B if that helps any and I have heard of something called either a P350 or P3500 chassis but know nothing beyond that. If I have read it correctly the weight ratings on the door frame seem to be be 3600 and 5000 but the ID plate has been repeatedly painted over and I have not been able to clean it yet, something I hope to do this coming week. It is supposed to be 18 feet long, although I have not gotten out the tape measure to verify that yet and only paced it off to be roughly that length.

 

The drivetrain is a 300 CID Ford straight 6 with what I think is either a C-4 or C-6 automatic and it has only 4 wheels, with no sign of having ever been dually equipped. Tire and rim size are unknown but for sure they are all way bigger than most car tires of the time. One suggestion I got was that it may be based on a delivery truck design and I should look for information and parts accordingly. Thank you for any help with this matter.

[Sam Green]

According to the P35 information given, this is a GMC Chassis.  Perhaps if you could give the full VIN more could be found out.  It sounds like a GMC with Ford innards.  Not a factory thing, I am sure.

[W. Harding]

Hi Sam. A knowlegdable friend got under the hood and confirmed that I have a 300 CID engine and a C-6 automatic transmission on a Ford chassis. Another source says it has to be a Ford P350 Parcel Delivery chassis, with a 122" wheelbase and a GVWR of 8000#'s over 8x16.5 tires.

 

Apparently back then Ford went with outsourced bodies for the barebones Parcel Delivery chassis and that included motorhome bodies. Also the drivetrain combination I have must have been a special order as the 240 CID straight six or a 4 cylinder diesel were the standard choices from Ford for that chassis. I can't see a diesel powered motorhome being a popular choice back then so my guess is the customer wanted a bit more power as the 300 runs around 20 more horses than the 240. A different chassis ID number than what looked initially like it was from GM would have been far less confusing, for sure. Thank you for your help and replying.