1979 FC-35

[Scott Forman]

I believe there are plenty of pre-'87 owners here who do not consider
themselves "uninformed". .

Rae-the old coaches can be great. I had an 82 FC before my current
coach and really enjoyed it.

Scott Forman
86 PT38
Memphis

--- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, "michaelhohnstein"
<MHOHNSTEIN@...> wrote:
>
> There is an abundance of inventory on the market. The advantage
of
> FCs over the PTs are cheaper up front investment and some what
> simpler systems access.
> In this economic environment I don't recommend anything less than
an
> 87 or newer Wanderlodge. The older stuff is reserved for those who
> are uninformed or able to do ALL thier own work.
> The book price is about right for the 79 you are looking at.
> MH
>
>
> --- In WanderlodgeForum@yahoogroups.com, brad barton <bbartonwx@>
> wrote:
> >
> > Rae,
> > If you plan to do any driving through mountains, you would
probably
> prefer the 3208 Turbo with 250hp for going up hills. I would
suggest
> going to Vintage Birds, Bird Connection, Trader online and any
other
> site that would have multiple interior pictures to get a better
feel
> for the layout and features of coach before such a drive. If you
do
> make the drive, I would suggest you look carefully for rust outside
> (and under the coach) water leaks inside around windows and the
> ceiling (sniff for a moldy or musty smell around the upper corners
of
> the ceiling, below the windows, near the booth dinette and in the
> bedroom) and have an oil analysis done. If you're pretty handy
with
> electrical, plumbing, hvac and general mechanics, it could be just
> right for you. As for price, there's no real guidance for a coach
> that age other than condition.
> > Good luck. Brad Barton 00LXiDFW bbartonwx@
> >
> >
> > To: WanderlodgeForum@: raven.polaris@: Sun, 1 Jun 2008
> 03:13:35 +0000Subject: [WanderlodgeForum] 1979 FC-35
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Hello!Hello!Am I glad I was referred to you.... Until two days
ago,
> I wouldn'thave given a Bird a second look and now that's all I want
> (I blame thecockpit). Being in Canada and not wanting to go through
> the hassle ofimporting from the US, I expected to search for my
Bird
> for a longtime. Then, I found a 1979 Wanderlodge located in
Windsor,
> Ontario.The owner sent me the following specs:1979 Blue Bird FC-35
> Wanderlodge motorhome with 210 hp Cat 3208diesel, 4-speed Allison
> automatic transmission, King cruise control,Telma electromagnetic
> drive-line retarder, 12.5 kw diesel generator.EXTERIOR: brown over
> cream base, 20 ft. Zip Dee curb-side awning,street-side window
> awnings for living room and bedroom, 2 dockinglights per side.
> INTERIOR: dark wood-grain laminate cabinetry, creamquilted vinyl
> ceiling and walls, light oak laminate flooring, allfurniture re-
> upholstered, new curtains and mini-blinds. LIVING ROOM:twin fabric
> sleeper sofas, overhead storage cabinets, storage cabinetsadjacent
to
> sofas, half high closet/pantry/TV stand with hook-ups forantenna
and
> cable TV. BATHROOM: private side bath with cultured
marblesink/vanity
> top, Thetford Aqua-Magic toilet, fibreglas shower stall,linoleum
> floor. KITCHEN: laminate countertop and stove cover,stainless steel
> double sink with separate drinking water spigot, foodcenter,
Dometic
> 2-door 110V/propane automatic refrigerator withwood-grain door
> panels, 110V ice maker, 4 burner propane cook-top andoven,
microwave
> oven, half-height slide-out can pantry, cushioneddinette booth.
> BEDROOM: rear side bed (street-side), vanity, stool,and drawers
(curb
> side), carpeting, overhead storage cabinets (sides &rear), under-
bed
> storage drawer, TV connection, accordion privacydoor, 2 full-length
> closets, 1 half-length closet. GENERAL: this coachhas most Blue
Bird
> options – 3 roof A/C's, 3 propane furnaces, 110Velectric heater in
> bathroom, power vents in bath and kitchen, indirectlighting and
> miniature spots throughout, 3 station intercom system,central
vacuum
> (new motor), double-cartridge water purifier underkitchen sink, HWH
> leveling jacks, roof storage pod, spot light, airhorns, new
> batteries, new front tires, spare tire, plus 3 vinyl wheelcovers
and
> an entire coach cover.Does this sound like a Bird that would be
worth
> driving 18 hours(round trip) to see? What questions could I ask the
> current ownerprior to committing to a viewing? While I'm handy and
a
> quick learner,I have no experience whatsoever with mechanics. I'd
> hate to buy aperfectly good Bird and then ruin it. Also, I'd be
> living in this busfull-time for a year and then possibly selling
it.
> Does this soundlike a Bird that is likely to cost me an arm and a
leg
> in repairsduring that time?He sent some pictures, but they don't
> really tell me that much, otherthan to confirm that the '70's was
> seriously lacking in decoratingtaste. :-D He's asking 29,500$. NADA
> puts the high-end value at 10,000$. Which iscloser to reality?
Anyone
> know someone in the Windsor area (including Detroit, Michigan)whom
I
> could reasonably trust to perform a mechanical inspection onthis
Bird?
> Any help would be greatly appreciated!Cheers,Rae
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________________
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