ford made cabover camper

No tech discussion, please

Moderator: FORDification

Post Reply
User avatar
1972hiboy
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2421
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:44 pm
Location: California, Santa Cruz

ford made cabover camper

Post by 1972hiboy »

Well this weekend I had a little adventure and thought id include you guys! A little background information in 1973 ford was promoting their super camper special and wanted to have a dealer option cabover camper with their name on it. Ford contracted through Starcraft to make a one peice fiberglass cabover camper and it would be branded Fords "American Road" camper.Of course this was Fords second attempt at a camper with the first being the "Gold Line". Ford contracted to make 2,000 units throught 73 and 74, however the oil embargo of '74 caused recreational vehicle sales to all but come to a grinding halt. Ford cancelled the contract and a whopping 825 units made it out of the factory. Today they are all but myth and totally forgotten..........or are they? I just happened to come accross one for sale in CA and had to make the 4 hour drive to see "and possibly buy" a real life American Road camper. When I finally pulled up to the small mountain town where the camper been living on a flatdeck trailer for years it was almost unreal, sure enough in all its glory was this massive fiberglass camper. Complete with all the factory brochures and owners manuals. This unit happened to be production number "321" made in Sept '73. Once there I quikly realized that "321" (as I started to call it) was in mayjor neglect. Sever water damage over the years and no maintenance had all but crippled this do-do bird. If somebody else had one and needed parts or could build one from two this woul be a good buy. I decided it was going to be too much of a project for this guy but was happy I made the trip to see and be inside one of these rare Ford acessories. If anyone is interested the fiberglass hull was in acually good shape with one stress crack in the right rear corner. all factory aplliances were present the fridge did work on propane only. some pictures I took......
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
User avatar
1972hiboy
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2421
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:44 pm
Location: California, Santa Cruz

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by 1972hiboy »

some more pics
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
User avatar
69rangerf100
Blue Oval Guru
Blue Oval Guru
Posts: 1381
Joined: Tue Nov 27, 2007 8:14 pm
Location: Dallas, Georgia
Contact:

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by 69rangerf100 »

that is awesome to bad its on the other side of the country otherwise i would get it
David

Dream as if you'll live forever, live as if you'll die today - James Dean

Daily Driver - 1998 Honda Accord
Wife's Ride - 2007 Ford Explorer Sport Trac
Project - My Dad's 1969 F100 Ranger 390 w/ 3spd manual coming soon PS, PB, A/C and alot of paint and body work - Miss you Dad
http://s936.photobucket.com/albums/ad208/69rangerf100/
User avatar
Mancar1
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 5390
Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:13 am
Location: USS Gramps Garage (DD-727) Tehama County, Northern Ca.

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by Mancar1 »

Wouldn't mind having it. I would think it is heavy. Oh well, I'll stick with our 57 Streamline.
May your sails stay full, and your knots not slip. Unless a slip knot.
Once I thought I was wrong, but I was wrong.
Life is a banquet, and every days a feast.
68 F-250 CS 390 C-6 P/S A/C front disc. 2nd owner.
2016 GMC Terrain Denali 301 HP V-6 AWD.
2009 Silverado Crew Cab, V-8, 4X4.
DD-727
DD-806
AE-35
LSD-39
AS-41
AR-8
User avatar
1972hiboy
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2421
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:44 pm
Location: California, Santa Cruz

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by 1972hiboy »

Haha it always works out like that right? I do hope somebody gets it. It's worth putting the time and money into its a documented rare ford accessory. I was really hoping it would be in better shape since the owner and the ad claimed it was "really clean". I just have to many rods in the fire and wouldnt have been able to provide what was really needed by this particular coach. I really have no idea how many are acually still in exsistance....if anyone is interested pm me and I can get you the owners contact info. its located in the greater northern ca area.


EDIT, Ive acually had a few people email me asking for contact info, problem is they are a couple years to late. I no longer have the guys information and have no idea where this camper is now.
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
R90+6daily
New Member
New Member
Posts: 2
Joined: Tue Mar 24, 2015 7:15 pm

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by R90+6daily »

I purchased THIS VERY awesome fiberglass camper from a guy near Orovill ca. At that time the plywood TUB that supports the camper was so rotted, I had to transport it on that rude flat bed trailer..........I'll have another story about the wheels on that trailer......

It's been at least 5 years of putzing..........but this camper is unrecognizable now.........the tub has been replaced with a molded EPOXY tub, that will slide into ANY pick-up.......and the interior was totally stripped, and while it was a shell, I cut-off the extended sleeper over the cab, and extended it 18 inches and structurally re-built that entire section.......

I had an extensive inventory of kayak western red cedar strips, from a former project with my son, so I got the crazy notion to line the entire interior with western red cedar, and saved the shower enclosure. everything else was tossed, including the goofy plastic ceiling liner........the walls & ceiling were systematically re-insulated with great stuff window & door foam, that also bonded the new cedar to the interior wood frame.... cabinet doors are a custom tambour material / design. Upsholstery will evolve soon, I am also an "upholsterer."

I will do the final paint THIS SUMMER 2015.........and also stain & varnish the interior..........I can share pic's with anyone interested in how this is evolving.

I have been scolded for "ruining" the original design, but the stubby short cab-over, simply looked stupid on a modern extended cab pick-up........I plan to find & modify / restore a 1975 extended cab ford camper special........

there truly isn't another one of this....... :nono:
User avatar
sargentrs
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 9866
Joined: Fri Jun 22, 2007 9:30 am
Location: Georgia, Jasper

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by sargentrs »

:nopix: Photos please!
Randy
1970 F100 Sport Custom Limited LWB, 302cid, 3 on the tree. NO A/C, NO P/S, NO P/B. Currently in 1000 pcs while rebuilding. Project thread: http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=59995 Plan: 351w, C4, LSD, pwr front disc, p/s, a/c, bucket seats, new interior and paint.
1987 F-150 XLT Lariat, 5.0/C6 auto.
User avatar
1972hiboy
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2421
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:44 pm
Location: California, Santa Cruz

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by 1972hiboy »

HOLY COW. This thread is old and the fact somebody acually bought the camper and found their way here is incredible. Im glad something happened to the camper but im also glad I passed at the time. The trailer alone scared me. I'd love to see pictures and welcome to fordification. :wel: :wel:
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
User avatar
Mancar1
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 5390
Joined: Thu Jun 10, 2010 8:13 am
Location: USS Gramps Garage (DD-727) Tehama County, Northern Ca.

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by Mancar1 »

1972hiboy wrote:HOLY COW. This thread is old and the fact somebody acually bought the camper and found their way here is incredible. Im glad something happened to the camper but im also glad I passed at the time. The trailer alone scared me. I'd love to see pictures and welcome to fordification. :wel: :wel:
Wow that is some what of a mind blower.
May your sails stay full, and your knots not slip. Unless a slip knot.
Once I thought I was wrong, but I was wrong.
Life is a banquet, and every days a feast.
68 F-250 CS 390 C-6 P/S A/C front disc. 2nd owner.
2016 GMC Terrain Denali 301 HP V-6 AWD.
2009 Silverado Crew Cab, V-8, 4X4.
DD-727
DD-806
AE-35
LSD-39
AS-41
AR-8
angie2009
New Member
New Member
Posts: 1
Joined: Sat Sep 30, 2017 7:42 pm

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by angie2009 »

Hi guys. I'm in Melbourne Australia and own a 73 American road camper. Any info would be amazing.
User avatar
1972hiboy
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2421
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:44 pm
Location: California, Santa Cruz

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by 1972hiboy »

angie2009 wrote:Hi guys. I'm in Melbourne Australia and own a 73 American road camper. Any info would be amazing.

Angie, have you been to this website yet? :wel:

http://www.americanroadcamper.com/
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
User avatar
Manny
Blue Oval Guru
Blue Oval Guru
Posts: 1190
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:15 pm
Location: Georgia, Lake City
Contact:

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by Manny »

1972hiboy wrote:
angie2009 wrote:Hi guys. I'm in Melbourne Australia and own a 73 American road camper. Any info would be amazing.

Angie, have you been to this website yet? :wel:

http://www.americanroadcamper.com/

Yep that's where i found the best info on the Ford campers for the supers. Ron the fellow who got my 73' F350 SCS found and american road that he is still pondering. Wasn't there also like a Goldline? :?
Just another Ford fool named Dan.
The Junk that hangs around
67' F-250 highboy Camper special cross breed currently under way
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=86706
1974 Bronco 302 3 speed
1984 bronco 302 c6 35's
1994 F350 7.3 5spd dually.
woods wrote: The rust holes in my truck were a factory install (very rare).
User avatar
1972hiboy
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2421
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:44 pm
Location: California, Santa Cruz

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by 1972hiboy »

Manny wrote:
1972hiboy wrote:
angie2009 wrote:Hi guys. I'm in Melbourne Australia and own a 73 American road camper. Any info would be amazing.

Angie, have you been to this website yet? :wel:

http://www.americanroadcamper.com/

Yep that's where i found the best info on the Ford campers for the supers. Ron the fellow who got my 73' F350 SCS found and american road that he is still pondering. Wasn't there also like a Goldline? :?
yup, there was the gold line. It was the predecessor of the american road camper, although it wasn't fiberglass, it was a industrial plastic shell. Never seen one, seen a couple american roads now. Its funny, ive been sitting on my SCS for several years now, then the spare door thread kinda opened up the scs topic and locally somebody listed a scs and american road camper. so now im kinda in scs revival mode. but I need another camper and project like a hole to the head. I was contemplating selling my scs to focus on my 72 crewcab. but they are such neat trucks and mine has ridiculously low miles i keep flip flopping.....
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
User avatar
Manny
Blue Oval Guru
Blue Oval Guru
Posts: 1190
Joined: Wed Oct 04, 2006 7:15 pm
Location: Georgia, Lake City
Contact:

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by Manny »

1972hiboy wrote:
yup, there was the gold line. It was the predecessor of the american road camper, although it wasn't fiberglass, it was a industrial plastic shell. Never seen one, seen a couple american roads now. Its funny, ive been sitting on my SCS for several years now, then the spare door thread kinda opened up the scs topic and locally somebody listed a scs and american road camper. so now im kinda in scs revival mode. but I need another camper and project like a hole to the head. I was contemplating selling my scs to focus on my 72 crewcab. but they are such neat trucks and mine has ridiculously low miles i keep flip flopping.....
Mine left to make way for the 74' bronco. However i still see mine know right where it is and can drive it when i want.. As neat and rare as they are i would have never sold it out of my sight.... Sorry yeah i know i'm not helping the sane part but i'm not trying to.... :lol:

The 74' my other project like a hole in my head.
Image
Just another Ford fool named Dan.
The Junk that hangs around
67' F-250 highboy Camper special cross breed currently under way
http://www.fordification.com/forum/view ... 22&t=86706
1974 Bronco 302 3 speed
1984 bronco 302 c6 35's
1994 F350 7.3 5spd dually.
woods wrote: The rust holes in my truck were a factory install (very rare).
User avatar
1972hiboy
100% FORDified!
100% FORDified!
Posts: 2421
Joined: Thu Sep 09, 2010 5:44 pm
Location: California, Santa Cruz

Re: ford made cabover camper

Post by 1972hiboy »

Those small broncos are ever so popular. Nice ride. I salvaged up a couple pics of my SCS that's hiding in the back of the barn. just for fun.
You do not have the required permissions to view the files attached to this post.
Rich
1973 f350 super c/s 460/c6 22k orig miles
1972 f350 srw crewcab special 390
1972 f250 4x4 sport custom 390fe Red
1972 f250 4x4 custom 360 FE " Ranger Ric"
1972 f250 4x4 custom 84k og miles 390
1971 f250 4x4 sport custom 56k og miles. 360
1970 f250 4x4 428 fe hp60 205 d60
Dont eat yellow snow.....
Post Reply