5 outrageous reasons to love 1970s FMC Motor coaches
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Motor coaches are fascinating to me. Gigantic rolling boxes filled with everything a person needs to lead a fulfilling life, all neatly packed in locking cabinets and fold-out compartments. A 1973 FMC 2900 R is about to close on Bring a Trailer brought these homes-on-wheels back into my daydreams. This thing very well could have been the coolest motor coach on the market—if not exclusively for these 5 reasons.
Two air conditioning systems
20190129210944 "1973 FMC 2900 dual zone ac")
With 29 feet of exterior length, interior square footage on the 2900 R was also substantial. To keep all parties happy while on the road and parked, the cabin cooling duties are split between two systems. An engine mounted system keeps the driver cool while covering miles, and a roof mounted system keeps the living quarters chilled whenever the need arises.
Charles Kuralt was a fan
20190129154637 "1973 FMC 2900 R badge")
When Charles Kuralt travelled the country for the CBS On The Road television show, he did so along with the crew in a motor coach. He went through six different models during his time on the show, eventually finding (mobile) home in a FMC 2900 R. The On The Road motor coach now resides in the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan. Other notable FMC owners were Mario Andretti and Parnelli Jones, as well as Clint Eastwood.
FMC built the 2900 R as a side project
20190129154736 "1973 FMC 2900 R side profile")
FMC stands for Food Machinery Corporation. Initially a producer of canning equipment, FMC had diversified in many directions by the 1970s. The 2900 R was birthed during a lull in military ordnance contracts, as FMC set sights on a new market. Prototypes arrived in 19- and 23-foot length, but the final production was 29 feet. FMC also produced buses and other heavy equipment, so the large motorhome was a perfect side project.
Built with a muscle car heart
20190129154707 "1973 FMC 2900 R engine")
The blank-slate design was finalized in a pusher configuration, meaning it is rear-engine and rear-drive, with a Mopar 440 V-8 backed by a 727 TorqueFlite transmission. Sure, more powerful combinations were available, but the 440 had already proven its worth in other motor coaches and industrial applications.
The toilet burned your waste while you drove
In the modern age of composting toilets, the Thermasan waste system seems… extreme. Using heat from the engine’s exhaust, the system would incinerate the human waste deposited in the coach’s restroom. A brochure for the system invited motor coach owners to join “the unhooked generation” by installing their system. Claiming the exhaust heat would break waste down to “micron sizes,” the system waited until the engine was up to temp at cruising speed and then injected waste directly into the exhaust system. And you thought following a garbage truck on a warm day was bad.
20190129154217 "1973 FMC 2900 R interior view towards the room")
20190129154351 "1973 FMC 2900 R bathroom")
20190129154427 "1973 FMC 2900 R electric plant")
20190129154528 "1973 FMC 2900 R drivers side front 3/4")
20190129154541 "1973 FMC 2900 R rear")
20190129154600 "1973 FMC 2900 R interior")
20190129154609 "1973 FMC 2900 R front")
20190129154722 "1973 FMC 2900 R steering wheel")
Lovely looking motorhome. I regret that I don’t own an FMC motorhome, nor have I seen one up close or in person. I’d buy one if I had someone to share the experience and responsibilities with. I find it, along with the GMC Motorhome, and the Dodge Travco 270, the best looking RVs offered at the time. I find them way more attractive than what’s offered today.
Beautiful looking motorhome. IMHO, the FMC is the best looking RV of the time, with the GMC Motorhome a dangerously close 2nd place. I consider it a damn shame that it was discontinued when it was. They had a good thing going, and should’ve been continued.