I love old RV’s, Motorhomes, Travel Trailers, Campers, etc. And when I see them I get excited and want them all, just like hot rods and race cars, but when I saw this thing I about flipped. First off it’s an insanely clean 1970 Ford Class C motorhome, and second it’s powered by a 5-cylinder air-cooled Deutz diesel engine with a Dual Range overdrive bolted up out back. This sucker should be the cruise!

Deutz diesel conversions were not unheard of, but they certainly weren’t common. The Deutz air-cooled 912 series diesel engines came in 3,4,5, and 6 cylinder models and were naturally aspirated diesels that made between 32 and 172 horsepower. According to a quick Google search these suckers are bulletproof, but loud, and are easily capable of handling double their as delivered power once a turbocharger is installed. According to the ad this one is turbocharged, but we question that as they did not come that way. Apparently the Deutz 912 series is known for making good power, living forever, and being easy to maintain. One negative is the fact that they are known for a little oil consumption, but that wouldn’t bother us at all. Parts are still readily available, as are complete engines, which is one nice thing too. They were used in tons of agricultural and industrial applications which is why they are not an engine you’ll have a hard time finding parts for.

The motorhome itself appears to be in great condition although the pictures could be a little better. In the condition that it all seems to be in, the Buy It Now price of $10,000 doesn’t seem out of line. When we started writing this blog item the price was at $5000, and was climbing quickly, so if it keeps rolling someone might want to jump on that Buy It Now option.

Here is what the seller has to say about it:

FOR SALE :  VERY RARE 1970 FORD CLASS C MOTORHOME 18 FT.  WITH TURBO CHARGED DIESEL WITH AUXILIARY 2 SPD OVER/UNDER DRIVE !!!

THIS IS THE OLDEST CLASS C MOTORHOME I HAVE EVER SEEN . ALMOST ALL OF THE EARLY CLASS C MOTORHOMES WERE DODGES  . IT WAS VERY RARE TO SEE A FORD OR CHEVROLET . THE REASON FOR THIS WAS THAT DODGE WAS THE ONLY MANUFACTURER THAT WAS  MAKING CUTAWAY CHASSIS MISSING THE REAR BODY READY FOR THE CAMPER BODY TO BE BUILT ON . THE FORDS HAD TO ACTUALLY HAVE THE VAN BODY CUT AWAY BEFORE THE BUILD COULD START . THEY WERE A MUCH MORE EXPENSIVE OPTION .  IT IS ONLY SHOWING 43,827 MILES AND I HAVE NO REASON TO DOUBT THAT THAT IS THE ORIGINAL MILES ON THE CHASSIS . BUT I CAN NOT VERIFY THIS .  IT ALSO HAS THE ORIGINAL BLUE CALIFORNIA PLATES !

THIS MOTORHOME IS EVEN MORE SPECIAL IN THAT IT HAS BEEN RE-POWERED WITH AN AIR COOLED DEUTZ  5 CYLINDER TURBO CHARGED DIESEL . THERE ARE EXTENSIVE BOOKS , INFORMATION AND RECEIPTS THAT ARE WITH THE MOTOR HOME . FROM THE INFORMATION I COULD PUT TOGETHER IT APPEARS THE MOTORHOME WAS RE-POWERED IN 1979 . THERE ARE BUILD SHEETS FOR THE MOTOR PKG. AND SOME OTHER RECEIPTS THAT ARE DATED 1979 . IT APPEARS THAT IT WAS A BRAND NEW MOTOR AND THE INSTALLATION APPEARS TO HAVE BEEN DONE BY PROFESSIONALS . MANY THINGS WERE CHANGED OR ADDED .

I BELIEVE THAT THE ORIGINAL OWNER MUST HAVE BEEN AN ENGINEER OF SOME KIND FROM ALL OF THE RESEARCH AND NOTES THAT ARE IN THE PAPERS WITH THE MOTORHOME . I DID SOME RESEARCH ON THE DEUTZ MOTORS AND EVERYTHING ON THE WEB RAVES ABOUT THEIR DEPENDABILITY . IT CERTAINLY HAS BEEN GOOD TO ME .

THE TRANSMISSION IS A DODGE 727 TORQUE FLIGHT POPULAR IN DRAG RACERS OF THE ERA .IT ALSO IS EQUIPPED WITH A 2 SPD OVER/ UNDER DRIVE . IT HAS 2 FUEL TANKS . BOTH CUSTOM WELDED ALUMINUM .

I REPLACED THE TOILET WITH A NEW PORCELAIN MODEL . I ALSO REPLACED THE WATER PUMP AND SWITCHED OUT SOME OF THE LIGHTS TO LED MODELS . EVERYTHING ELSE IS COMPLETELY ORIGINAL AND IT ALLS WORKS PERFECT . THIS THING IS A REAL TIME CAPSULE . ALL ORIGINAL CARPET , UPHOLSTERY  AND CURTAINS . FRIDGE IS ICE COLD . TIRES ARE IN GOOD CONDITION BUT DO NOT ALL MATCH .

I THINK THIS THING HAS THE BEST FLOOR PLAN I HAVE SEEN . VERY WELL ENGINEERED . TONS OF SPACE IN SUCH A SMALL PACKAGE . ONLY 18 FT. LONG !!  VERY COMFORTABLE BED . THERE IS ALSO GENEROUS OUTSIDE STORAGE COMPARTMENTS WHICH WAS VERY UNCOMMON BACK THEN . IT WAS BUILT BY CAVE MAN INDUSTRIES IN OREGON . THE QUALITY IS AS GOOD AS I HAVE SEEN ON SOMETHING OF THIS VINTAGE  . I JUST HAD THE FRONT CAB REPAINTED AND A NEW WINDSHIELD PUT IN ABOUT SIX MONTHS AGO . THERE WAS NO RUST AROUND THE WINDSHIELD AT ALL JUST A COUPLE OF VERY SMALL SPOTS ON THE FRONT EDGE OF THE HOOD . I ALSO TOUCHED UP THE STRIPES ON THE SIDE AND REPAINTED SOME OF THE WHITE . IT  ALL TURNED OUT VERY NICE . ALL THE COLORS ARE ORIGINAL TO THE MOTORHOME .  THIS MOTORHOME IS A ONE OF A KIND . I HAVE USED IT FOR THE LAST 5 YEARS . IT ALWAYS TURNS HEADS IN THE CAMPGROUNDS . IT IS IN SUCH GREAT CONDITION AND WHEN SOMEONE HEARS THE BIG DIESEL IT KINDA OF MAKES THEM SCRATCH THEIR HEADS .

THE DIESEL IS VERY QUIET BECAUSE OF THE SHIELDING ON THE MOTOR SINCE IT IS AIR COOLED . BUT YOU CAN HEAR THE MOTOR PUR .  THIS THING CAN SIT FOR SIX MONTHS AND JUST BUMP THE KEY , NOT EVEN TOUCH THE ACCELERATOR AND IT WILL START WITHOUT EVEN A STUMBLE  AND RUN LIKE  A SEWING MACHINE . IT STILL AMAZES ME . BRAKES STOP ON A DIME . THERE IS A LITTLE BIT OF ROT AROUND THE BOTTOM EDGE OF THE SIDES BUT YOU CAN’T TELL UNLESS YOU GET UNDER THE MOTORHOME AND START POKING AT IT WITH A KNIFE OR SOMETHING , YOU CAN’T SEE ANY DAMAGE ON THE BODY AT ALL , IF IT WERE A PROBLEM I WOULD HAVE DEALT WITH IT BUT IT DOES NOT EFFECT THE APPEARANCE OR STRUCTURAL INTEGRITY . I JUST WANTED TO MENTION IT SINCE I NOTICED IT .

THERE IS NO SIGN OF ANY PREVIOUS WATER LEAKS IN THE CEILING WHICH IS VERY UNCOMMON FOR THESE OLDER CAMPERS , THE CEILING IS PERFECT . IT EVEN HAS THE ORIGINAL SHOWER CURTAIN !! TONS OF CLOSETS AND DRAWERS . IT LOOKS REALLY CLEAN . SO IF YOU WANT SOMETHING THAT IS A ONE OF A KIND WITH LOTS OF SOUL HERE IT IS . THIS IS NOT A PROJECT , IT IS READY TO GO CAMPING . THIS IS NOT ONE OF THOSE OLD CLASSICS THAT HAS BEEN SITTING SOMEWHERE ROTTING AWAY , THIS HAS BEEN USED REGULARLY .  I HOPE YOU WILL ENJOY IT AS MUCH AS I HAVE .   IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS AT ALL YOU MAY CONTACT ME THRU EBAY BY E-MAIL OR BY PHONE AT 619-497-1007 …. THANKS  …GOOD LUCK !