| Inaugural run of new to me 1977 Royale [message #348830] |
Wed, 02 October 2019 16:08  |
Stephan Ashe
Messages: 32
Registered: October 2016
Location: Tucson Az
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Greetings all from long time lurker, GMC tinkerer. Having owned a 1973 26' PD for a few years now I realized i just don't have the time to get into the shape I want. Don't have much $ into it so went looking for something a bit more complete to satisfy the GMC itch. Boy oh boy there are choices out there and I've looked at 5 before making the plunge. Decided on Royale or Avion (dont see alot of Avions for sale) as the hardwoods just add that much more to my eyes and wanting the last generation if only for the dash air. Almost pulled the trigger on a 78 center kitchen in Bell Buckle Tenn but the exterior was to rough and 10k for paint is just to rich. Bounced into a 77 royale on one of the facebook pages. Got a bunch of pictures and some PMs later Bam, good price, good value, and all the boxes checked ! Fun part is that it's in Victoria BC and we are in Arizona. Tried to bank to bank earnest money etc, ended up fedex a cashiers check. Well short story long, my wife and I ended up in Victoria saturday evening and were picked up by the coach. went through the vehicle with Kelly, Carol and John. Everything as described and in good shape, sign the papers, hand over the check. Next morning we are at the ferry 0830 getting in line for customs and boarding for the 1030 crossing. Already a bunch of thumbs up from the crowd. Get to Port Angeles and roll off the COHO to get through customs and importing a motorhome into the country. Again Plenty of thumbs up and please pull over across the street, come back to the office with your paperwork. To easy, officer Johnson recalled a time in his youth when camping in the family GMC. Good stuff and out the door we go. Get all the way to Prosser Wa for an overnight stay and gas up. The dash lights are out so no night driving till we get that sorted. Any way we made it from Canada to Tucson leaving Sunday on the 1030 ferry and got home Tuesday 1830. Couple of nights and a bunch of gas later nothing but an easy drive with only a low air bag to fill up in kingman then rolling strong home. Roy did NOT like the mountain passes, maybe a combo of sea level tuning on the carb and the stock 307 gearing but when shifted to Super we never got below 45. Idaho was 80Mph the whole way. What a great and easy trip. hope to get a bit more involved now that we own a road worth coach. Please excuse my initial Verbosity but man oh man this is gonna be fun! Currently going through all the build provenance from 2001-2005 from the build. looks like a bunch of goodies hiding under the bed in back ...... Kelly, Carol, John if you are reading this thank you for waiting on us and taking the time to walk us through Roy. You were great caretakers and we hope to continue in this tradition.
Stephan Ashe
1973 26-6 painted desert?
1977 Royale sidebath
Tucson Az
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