450 LXi and A Little History

[beancounterman]

I note the conversations about the Drainmaster vs. Dupree valves, and the
"cheapening" of
the 450 LXi, with some interest. Frankly, I was shocked when Blue Bird took the
M380 and
then the new LXi "down market," abandoning not only their traditional price
point, relative
to the bus conversions and Newell, but also the price point well established
with their
customer base. I thought it was a big mistake when I first saw the M380, and
have only
grown more sure that BB has walked away from their heritage and their best
opportunity.

My first of many Wanderlodges was a new 1977 FC 31' gas. (I now have a SOB--Some
Other Brand). As many old timers still remember, these Wanderlodges were the
Rolls-
Royces of the marketplace, and built like bank vaults. John Harris and Dick
Seybolt headed
up a savy team that aggressively marketed these coaches into what was then the
very top
of the motorhome market. In fact, John and Dick virtually created the top end of
the
motorhome market during this period. At one point in the late 70s and early 80s,
Blue Bird
was building about 300 Wanderlodges a year. I hear that the goal this year is
about 30
units.

The short story is that Blue Bird simply lost their way. The first big mistake,
in my opinion,
occurred a long time ago in thinking that their success was based on building
the
Wanderlodge on their All American school bus chassis/body rather than the real
reason,
offering a product aimed squarely and successfully at the top of the market. But
the top of
the market is a moving target. BB was late in going to the rear engine, stayed
too close to
the All American while they transistioned to rear engine, and did not engineer
enough
weight out of the unit. The interiors became dated, and their products had
difficulty
competing with the rapidly expanding bus conversion products and Newell's
consistently
progressive offerings.

Since then, well, we have seen a succession in ownership and management groups,
none
of which seems to have had a clear vision of what a top-of-the-market motorhome
should
be. Ultimately, we get the M380 and M450, decidedly not designed to compete in
the
same field as the Wanderlodges of the past.

My sense is that the irony of this is that the motorhome market in the price
range of
$800,000 to perhaps $1,200,000 is wide open for a strong product. Newell is
the only
player (other than some of the cheaper, weaker conversion brands) and they
appear to be
prospering. The word on the street is that Newell's production is sold out for
over a year.
Where is Blue Bird?

One can argue the merits of Dupree vs. Drainmaster, and for one, I much prefer
the
products and especially the service offered by Girard rather than Zip Dee. But
for the life of
me, I cannnot figure out why Blue Bird is not aiming their new products at the
lucrative top
of the motorhome market, with coaches that are innovative and uncompromised.