John Wayne Slept Here? 1975 Blue Bird Wanderlodge
Load ’em up, Pilgrim… in my best cheesy lounge act voice attempting to do a John Wayne impression. Celebrity ownership isn’t exactly the case here as this 1975 Blue Bird Wanderlodge FC-35 wasn’t directly owned by John Wayne, but by an associate of his. The seller has it listed here on eBay in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania, there is no reserve, and the current bid price is $25,000.
Having basically grown up in a pickup camper, having something like this 35-foot Wanderlodge would have been a dream. The Wanderlodge FC (Forward Control, i.e., front-engine) was made for just over two decades, from 1968 to 1989 and they were typically powered by a Ford V8. This one, however, has a diesel that we’ll check out in a bit.
Blue Bird was known for making school busses and the Wanderlodge RV was made for several decades beginning in the early-1960s, and they came in several configurations and sizes. This one is a Forward-Control (FC) as mentioned, and there was also an SP (single axle pusher), PT (pusher with tag axle), as well as a WB (wide body), which was a 102-inch-wide model compared to the 96-inch-wide model. As mentioned, the front-engine models went away beginning in the 1990 model year and I would have to believe that having a big diesel engine between the two front seats wouldn’t be ideal, sound-wise.
The seller says that this example was bought new by John Wayne’s business partner so it really doesn’t have a direct connection to Marion Morrison and/or The Duke himself, but did he ever ride in this Wanderlodge? Who knows.
The decor is classic and I don’t know if I’d change anything if it were mine. The Wanderlodge RV was basically a custom unit rather than a standard factory-produced motorhome and the company stopped producing Wanderlodge RVs in 2009, unfortunately. The seller says that the four-cylinder Onan generator fires right up. There should be more than enough sleeping room in this one.
Yes, there is a full bathroom including a separate shower which the seller has included a photo of in the many photos they have provided in the listing. They say that this Wanderlodge was in storage since 2004 when they found it and partially revived it, other than not touching the plumbing or propane systems as it had been winterized. Everything supposedly works other than the refrigerator which turns on but doesn’t get cold.
That big engine between the seats is a Caterpiller 3208 NA (naturally-aspirated/non-turbo) V8 four-stroke diesel. It would have been rated at around 225 horsepower when new. I found some information saying that this engine was first available in 1977 so, as usual, there is some conflicting information. In any case, they say that when they found it in storage, they checked the fluids, replaced the four batteries (!) and it drove perfectly. Would any of you own a camping rig this size or do you prefer smaller RVs?
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Comments
These are, flat-out, the best RV’s ever made. I had one for a short time that was a low-mileage (72K) pusher with a Detroit 6V92 Silver that was awesome. Should’ve never sold it but I quadrupled my money when I did, so…
This looks in fantastic shape for a 47 year old motorhome. Well cared for. The storage and upkeep costs must be substantial!
Would love to own one but the cost; dollar exchange and border fees make it hard to do so. They were a fantastic RV as mentioned, all custom built for the owners. I worked for BB in Canada.
Never fails go drop a bunch of cash on a new car because you wanted to not because you needed to then a week or so later something like this comes up for sale. We have been in the market for a Class C but I think I can learn to love this one better but I already blew the cash on a new car
These were built in Fort Valley, Georgia, about 40 miles from where I live. I’ve heard some interesting stories about these. But, you’re right, BB 4-Speed. A damn fine motor coach.
I personally prefer more room so 4 slides works better for me.
The vast majority of Wanderlodge FC (and others) were diesels. I own a 1984 PT 36 with a 6v92 Detroit Diesel. I know of nothing available today that I would trade for.
BTW although later Bluebirds we’re available with slides REAL Wanderlodge afficianados are not fond of slides.
My wife and I bought a 1988 FC-35 Silver Edition a little over a year ago and have been getting it ready for Route 66 next year. Been wanting one since I first saw one in 1988. It came into the shop where I worked for service. I got to look inside and was hooked. We bought this from a couple who were 92 and 91 years young.
These rigs are themed after aircraft with the same overhead storage as old airliners, dual gauges for pilot and copilot and even a built in altimeter. So cool!
Ours has the 3208 turbo and ZF automatic.
Scotty G, at highway speeds there is almost zero engine noise.
Have the slides installed,not a hard change
3208 Cat? OK..pile on if you must, as it isn’t the BEST engine that could be in there next to your left ankle, but much like the Chrysler slant 6, it will do what it does and do it almost forever. Some people had head gasket and/or cam issues with them but those should have been sorted decades ago. Walk on a fishing boat and there’s a REALLY good chance it’s powered by a version of this CAT. Yes yes yes..I’d PREFER the Detroit but, really? IN THERE? In the BACK of the rig, sure..A few hours of “WONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN..” would have you selling it pronto…
A Blue Bird Bus Mobile/Motel. Neat !
I remember back in the 70s, motorhomes were not what they are today, and the best one you could have was a Blue Bird. Not any schmoe drove a Blue Bird. Again, nice for 1975, but out of date today, the “widow maker” tires have to go, and that worthless POS 3208,( turbo ones were a bit better) I’d almost rather have a Ford V8. I say that because I sat behind those motors, for hours at a time. Good thing I was paid by the hour. The Allison was in truck automatics infancy, and were troublesome, and I don’t care if JW used the bathroom. Due to the lack of being able to get around, you’ll probably have to pull something, further exasperating the power issue. Headwind? Fuggetaboutit. Crosswind? WHOA!!! Be nice to live in up on blocks,,,
Like many other enormous auto on these pages I think the electrification for motive power is the way to go. What do others think.
Like many other enormous autos on these pages I think that electrification for motive power is the way to go. What do others think.
Electric semis and RVs that have tons of torque and are silent sound like a great idea on the surface. If that’s the goal then great but the whole thing about it being green is a farce. If there ever comes a time when vehicles can run on electricity that is 100% self generating, self sustaining and point of use instead of burning coal and polluting the air to recharge and dumping spent lithium batteries and huge wind generator prop blades that do not biodegrade into the ground which poisons the ground water, I’ll be all for it. As it stands, electric power for vehicles is the as far from green energy as we can get.
Also, have you ever noticed how when it’s really hot or really cold, people like to have the air or heat on? Eg: I have a cop friend who has recently been assigned a Ford MachE. He said it’s hands down the fastest patrol car he’s ever had However just a week ago I was talking to him while he was pulling security detail and it was 100+ degrees outside. He said he was sweating his rear end off because he had sat and ran his A/C for 1/2 hour and now his batteries were so low he probably didn’t have enough juice left to get home, much less go on a call to help someone.
I think this electric vehicle idea is just another big money game and nothing more.
Correct…but electrification doesn’t mean only batteries. For heavy loads and/or long distance, the future is hydrogen fuel cells: fast refueling, lighter powertrain+fuel tank combo, only water vapor emissions, just a small complementary battery (doen’t have to be lithium) for power balance and braking/downhill energy recuperation, none of the huge mining and geopolitics consequences of battery production.
Boy..I hate to be the wet blanket here and it’s not the forum for it but I have done work and research on alternative fuels and we have a SLIGHT problem. Electric (I own and drive one) has well known issues of weight/range/recharge time. The environmental issues include making and disposing of the batteries AND where is the power coming from to recharge the batteries? Even if we had a couple quadra-zillion KWH laying around, can the grid deliver? Nope..sorry. Hydrogen fuel cells? Hyper expensive material. Environmental issues in supply and manufacturing. And..where, exactly, are these hydrogen wells? Sorry..no. we have to release the hydrogen from whatever it is stuck to now.H2O, right? We can chemically or electrically break these compounds apart but the 2nd law of thermodynamics comes into play and we get no more (really, less) energy than went into the process to “produce” the H2. Break down water? Sure give me a big ol megawatt power plant to give you less than a megawatt of hydrogen…
And storage…due to the size of the molecule it is the lightest material. And..it leaks out of EVERYTHING you try to store it in. Energy density means you need a LOT of it and so you compress it down to..Oh..I dunno..20,000 psi? Power to do that AND you are riding around with a tank with that much pressure. Crash much? AND (yes, there’s more) it burns with an invisible flame. Follow the PhD through the reactor containment building and he’s swinging a corn broom in front of him. Why? Better THAT contacts the flame before you do. Hydrogen is, at this point, a pipe dream.
Agreed Gerard. Hydrogen is a better option. Even diesel or hydrogen driven generators like in locomotives are better than rechargeable batteries. With the price of diesel fuel right now gasoline would even be better.
AND..how about a solution? Try this on for size. How about a gas turbine hybrid? Gas turbines failed for road use because the use almost as much fuel at an idle as they do at full power. So you need to keep it loaded (dynamic compression ratio!) to get the fuel efficiency. “Well if I’m at 100% power and I come to a HILL, then what?” Well..OK..let’s put a reasonably size gas turbine engine in there. Something in the 400 hp range? Ones that size take up no more room than your average 6 and often less than a 4 cylinder. Hook that to a generator. Have a decent sized battery bank and have the drive, like a locomotive, be motors. Depending on what you’re asking of the drivetrain, you can be full battery or, if needed, engine only. (locomotives do a pretty good job without a battery) Or a combination of engine/battery with the engine providing the power to turn the wheels AND, under level cruise etc, also be charging the battery or the battery helping up the hill. 100% engine output and send the output where it’s needed. Battery fully charged? turbine shuts down and now you are full battery. Lather Rinse Repeat. Turbines, within limits, will run on just about anything. Super unleaded? sure! Kerosene? yup Olive oil? you betcha! Yeah, ok there’s limits, The P&W PT-6 has a 30 hour overhaul time if run on gasoline vs a 2000+ hour time on the correct fuel. ( I pointed this out to a pilot who said “Yeah, but when the mortars are hitting the end of the run way? If it burns, it goes in the tank..”)
They run, or can run, at “excess air” which means no smoke, no unburned fuel, no carbon monoxide. Such a system would be ideal for something like this. Come up with a billion or two and I’ll get this concept up and running. R+D and setting up a plant ain’t cheap….
I apologize everyone because I think I may have started this. Great info though. I agree with you guys.
On a happier note, I love my Bluebird Wanderlodge!!
Thanks but…NO! I’m 67, I love oldtimers but as for the future, I’m not going to lose time with anything else than fuel cell and hydrogen!
Regds!
OK I’ll stop… Nice rig and with the tenuous John Wayne connection not being a plus or a minus, I’d sure like one even if it’s not running on clean/cheap fuel.
I see these new motorhomes which, UNLOADED are already overweight for the springs and brakes. This chassis is up to the job. How many new RV’s INSIST that you dump all the water before going on the road? Like..ALL OF THEM! It has a look of strength and quality to it.
Ended:Aug 29, 2022 , 4:31PM
Winning bid:
US $30,700.00
[ 39 bids ]
Thanks, Mike!
You bet Scotty, I wish I had this for The Cheese Days festival in Monroe Wisconsin this weekend!