Land speed records are a hell of a thing. Imagine racing down the Bonneville Salt Flats at almost 800 km/h in a purpose-built rocket-shaped car, or even just over halfway in something a little more mundane. The thrill you might get from traveling that fast is something most of us will only dream of doing…unless, of course, you buy or build something capable of setting records.
One such example is this 1977 GMC motorhome. Yes, motorhome. But it’s not just any motorhome you would use to take your family on vacation. Instead, it’s a record-breaking 700 horsepower beast capable of a whopping 122 mph – fast for a Class A motorhome.
This speed demon started life as a 1977 GMC Kingsley motorhome. Its owner, Britt Palmer, decided he wanted to break the 2006 land speed record set by another GMC motorhome and raise awareness public to a neurological disease called Charcot Marie Tooth disease while doing it. The number to beat was 102.7 mph. So, as The Autopian points out, the GMC was sent to the custom maker behind many of your favorite cars from the fast furious franchise, Dennis McCarthy, to prepare for the salt flats.
McCarthy and his team at Vehicle Effects completely gutted the RV. Every faux wood cabinet, appliance, and decor piece has been removed from the interior and replaced with aluminum sheets. A 20-gallon fuel cell was added, along with fire suppression and a 360-degree video camera mirror system.
A modernized racing cockpit was built for Palmer with a RacePak IQ3 Dash and a Kirkey racing seat. And, since the motorhome was built to gallop at high speeds, a full front-to-rear chromoly roll cage was installed to protect the occupants in the event of a collision.
The beast is powered by a 700 horsepower Chevrolet Ram Jet 502 engine mated to a TH425 automatic transmission. The engine receives a power boost from a wet 125 shot of nitrous and is designed for top speed through a 3.07 final drive ratio.
Palmer and McCarthy also opted for some upgrades outside of the interior and powertrain to tie things together. All six wheels received modern disc brakes and the aging factory suspension was replaced with a Ridetech Air Ride system. The exterior has also received aerodynamic treatments to help it cut through the air, but there are only so many ways a cinder block can be shaped to cut through the air more easily.
In total, the modifications were enough to break the previous land speed record for a Class A motorhome. The ’77 GMC was able to reach 122 mph, which broke the previous record of 102.7 mph, but couldn’t beat some of the smaller, more modern motorhomes like the current 141mph record holder.
That being said, you might be destined to break the record next. Palmer listed the RV for sale for $95,000 on Facebook Marketplace and suggested the new owner could use the RV for whatever he thinks best suits his needs. Maybe a food truck, party bus, or race support vehicle? Or, maybe build it to go a little faster and break the overall LSR for the world’s fastest motorhome.
The choice is yours, all that’s missing is this motorhome.
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