By: Maria Allard | Metro | Published June 6, 2023
METRO DETROIT — Each time Karen E. Breen travels in her 1978 GMC Royale motor home, it attracts a crowd.
“There’s a lot of excitement. It’s an attention-getter no matter where I go,” Breen said. “The minute I pull into a campground, I’m approached by young kids and older people. Everyone gives a thumbs-up. People get their cameras out. You can’t be an introvert and own a GMC.”
Breen purchased the 1978 model in 2016. The Birmingham resident is the fifth owner of the 26-foot-long vintage vehicle, which has logged miles upon miles of adventures.
“It’s about the road trip,” Breen said. “It’s about the experience.”
Since getting the keys to her own RV, Breen has hit the open road with good friends traveling to New Orleans, Nashville, Memphis, Philadelphia and Cleveland. There are some favorite spots up north Breen likes to visit, and she has two trips on her bucket list: Route 66 and U.S. Highway 89 through seven national parks.
The ardent traveler always tries to find a campsite in which the RV’s bedroom faces the water. Not one to stay idle, Breen finds various activities, such as hiking or checking out lighthouses, when traveling. A professional photographer, Breen takes plenty of snapshots of the spots she visits.
Breen keeps a journal of each road trip by tracking the date, starting point, time of day, mileage and destination. The GMC motor home has everything needed to hit the open road. It’s equipped with all the original appliances — refrigerator, stove and microwave. The walnut cabinets provide warmth. The dinette table located near the front of the vehicle can be made into a bed. The sleeping area can accommodate a large bed, or be rearranged to make bunk beds.
Breen has decorated the RV to make it “comfortable and cozy.” A white, fuzzy throw blanket, for instance, fits snuggly on the back of the booth dinette and a Lucite table provides a bit of home. There is a bar area for a favorite cocktail and an espresso coffee maker. Control panels adjust the RV’s systems for climate, water and power.
The Detroit native, who grew up in South Bend, Indiana, discovered the GMC motor home when she was 11 years old. She remembers when they first appeared on the market.
“It was so futuristic looking. When you saw them, it was a rarity. They were not cheap,” Breen remembered. “My parents said, when they retired, they would get a GMC motor home and travel the U.S. Who knew they would only be around five years?”
That’s right. The GMC motor homes were only produced from 1973 to 1978. The RVs were designed with contemporary styling and large windows and built in Pontiac. There were four models named after national parks: Canyon Lands, Glacier, Painted Desert and Sequoia.
Breen and her family eventually moved back to metro Detroit, settled in Warren and in 1980 Breen graduated from Mott High School, which is now Warren Mott. According to Breen’s findings, the GMC motor home was the only motor home produced by a car manufacturer and was considered to have been “ahead of its time.”
“The technology of the front wheel pin allowed it to be lower to the ground,” Breen said.
She also discovered almost 13,000 GMCs were produced from 1973 to 1978, and over 8,000 are registered. While the majority of GMC motor home owners are in the U.S., there are also owners in Canada, the U.K., Australia, the Netherlands, Venezuela and other parts of the world.
The vehicles were produced by GM Truck and Bus at the site that is now M1 Concourse, Breen said. Because 2023 marks the 50th anniversary of the GMC, the international club, GMCMI, is planning a fall convention in metro Detroit culminating with a caravan through Pontiac to M1 Concourse.
“We are expecting approximately 100 GMCs to participate,” Breen said.
Through her on-the-road ventures she has crossed paths with other GMC motor home owners.
“They are salt-of-the-earth people,” Breen said. “They’re super helpful. Everyone is always willing to help out.”
Breen is a bit of a vehicle collector. She owns a 2013 Volkswagen Golf R, which is her car and a rare production vehicle. She also owns a 2019 Kawasaki Ninja 400 and a 1979 Volkswagen Beetle Cabriolet “Epilog” edition, which she said is the last year of the German-produced Beetle.
Breen, a data factory communications lead with Ford’s Global Data Insight and Analytics division, volunteers throughout the community, including with M1 Concourse in Pontiac and the GMC Great Lakers club.
The ardent camper is a board member of the GMC Great Lakers, where she is the editor and publisher of the club’s newsletter. The Great Lakers was the first GMC club chapter, formed in January of 1976, according to Breen. In addition “there are a few very active GMC Facebook groups providing lots of information and camaraderie.”
For more information on the GMC Great Lakers, visit gmcgreatlakers.org. The GMC Motorhomes International website is gmcmi.com. The Facebook page is called GMC Great Lakers Motorhome Club (1973-1978).