Romance the Road: 1974 Winnebago Brave D19
Here is a time capsule straight out of the 1970s – a very original 1974 Winnebago Brave D19. With only 43,000 miles on the clock and retaining nearly all of its’70s decor and appointments, this RV is ready to roll: the seller has driven it once a week or more in the two years he’s owned it. Its eyebrowed bulldog looks are typical of Winnie’s offerings during the mid-70s. Built on a Dodge chassis, the D19 is 19 1/2′ long, 7’10” wide, and a full 6’6″ tall inside. In a pinch, it can sleep six. Winnie touted its “thermo-steel” construction, with exterior aluminum cladding, and a steel/insulation inner layer. The D19’s wet weight is 8400 lbs – not much different from today’s Class B RVs. It’s only July – plenty of summer weather remains to enjoy camping and hunting trips; this charming RV wants to be your companion.
The engine is Dodge’s 318 cu. in. V8, coupled with a three-speed transmission, power steering, and power brakes including discs up front. The seller has replaced the starter, alternator, fuel pump, master cylinder, driveshaft, blackwater tank, and drain valve. The fuel tank was upgraded to a stainless steel aftermarket version. The seller notes a small oil leak when the engine runs, but never enough to show on the dipstick between oil changes. These D19s can cruise at 55 mph, though some owners suggest a slightly slower speed is more comfortable. Aside from the vehicular mechanicals, the Brave has a 2020 Onan 4000 generator. The seller notes that he hasn’t used the water system but the pump works; ditto the LP system, though the furnace turns on.
In the living quarters, the cushions are original, but the curtains were custom-made to match the patterns and colors offered by Winnie back in the day. There’s plenty of storage, all the more so since the refrigerator was removed to make a closet. The dry bath is tiny but serviceable. The roof air conditioner blows cold and the lights and outlets work.
The driver’s quarters show more wear than the cabin, with torn upholstery and a non-working fuel gauge. An aftermarket replacement is installed. The dash AC does not work. The glass is good, and the exterior is amazingly clean, with only a couple of blemishes. The seller provides a generous set of documents with the sale, including an original owner’s manual. This 1974 Brave D19 is available here on eBay, bid to $9500, reserve not met. The new owner can toddle it home from Mashpee, Massachusetts, exploring back roads along the way. Can you feel the romance of the road?
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Comments
Yep, still another memory jab. After the pull trailer days, which ended in the early 70s, the old man switched to motorhomes, and THIS was our 1st one. A bit older, had the old van style gauges. It was just before I got my license and never drove it, but was relegated to sit and stare. The upside was we got to stop for gas so often and get out of that rattle trap tin can. That’s right, a miserable experience. These are built on a Dodge mid range dump truck chassis, and boy howdy, rides like one. The other thing, unless you pull a vehicle of some sort, you have to take the motorhome into town, or attractions. That further reduces fuel economy. If I remember, in a stiff headwind, it barely made 50mph, and all over the road. Especially on 2 lane roads when trucks came at you. I remember the old man fighting the wheel and cursing.
As far as a camper goes, pretty standard, but rest assured, getting there will be a hassle.
His 2nd motorhome was an Escapade, with a 440, did a little better, but didn’t last, as by then I had adventures of my own, and he went with a van//camper for him and my mom.
BTW, I don’t believe the mileage claim, looks like a 5 digit odometer, this baby has seen a lot of miles. Underside tells the story, and still usable, but be ready for lots of “camping out” behind the mechanic shop in Bugtussle, Tennessee. Been there, done that.
While in HS, saw a brand spanking new one of these at the ARCO station. It had a little Trail 70 mounted on a rack on the front bumper, and (what to me was then) an old “hippie” couple step out. I started to fill the MH tank to which he said “No, I just need gas for my bike” and gave me a dollar. Filled the bikes tank, washed all the windows, offered to check the oil then gave him the $.50 change and he magnanimously gave it back as a tip.
Had sticker outline of the USA on the side with the Southwest and the West Coast on the side filed in with state stickers. Seemed like a cool move up from a VW van for traveling..
Don’t think 43K is the real deal here judging by the wear and tear.
Not feelin’ the romance, eh Howard! Thanks for the comments – I always enjoy hearing personal experiences from readers about the vehicles we write about!
Hi Michelle, well, maybe a little. I still think this could be a lot of fun, if you survive the trip, that is. It’s just, I’ve done so much traveling in my life, it’s a blessing to be sitting “in a seat that ain’t moving”. I too enjoy the comments and your, um, shall we say, interesting posts are some of the best. Keep ’em coming.
NICE…I’d do a GEN III or CUMMINS swap tho…
many on the dodge/chyrsler but the 460 ford and a BB chev were all the same. Swap ina modern cam & make a great race motor – not this.
Agreed the 12v & an allison transmis = pep & MPGs both.
LOVE the colors! And the best thing about 1974 is that I was 50 years younger.
me too!
Yea…I’d love to be 15 again!!
These Winnies were pretty common when my family was RVing during the ’70s. We bought a leftover 1973 Coachmen Statesman M-25 that could handle our family of six(it could sleep up to eight!). The big MoPar 440 and Torqueflite were not speedy or efficient, but dead nuts reliable.
Our summer weekend ritual was getting everything ready to go and as soon as Dad got home from work he’d take off his tie and get behind the wheel and the rest of us would pile in for the 50-some mile trek from our home in the Philly suburbs to the Hickory Run campground in Denver, PA.
We’d also do a big trip for a week or even two once each summer to some region of the USA. Thanks for posting this cool old motorhome to shake loose the old memories of my childhood.
It’ll do a lot better than 55- downhill. Back in the day two friends of mine each had similar rigs with 318s. Dad loaned me his 24’ Explorer Class A with a 413. When you nailed it there was a roar, followed by the front end lifting, and surprising acceleration. The 318 equipped rigs were shorter, always struggled on hills- and I got better mileage. Those were the days.
Minor point: these are built on M series chassis. (Motorhome) Brakes, springs, etc. are unique to the series.
SWELL deai ,I trust the seller, and I have room on my ranch HMMMMM!
Folks of a certain age group…ahem… who had any kind of interest in the motorized world, will remember how these Winnie’s, especially the Brave (lesser-so the Chieftain) were ubiquitous, and I mean everywhere. They were such a huge hit and landmark introduction of motorized RV’ing to the general public that the name motorhome almost didn’t exist for many years. If you owned a competitive make, you were resigned to the fact that it was going to be called a “Winnebago” by most people. Kinda like how Kleenex, Coke or Kool-Aid names are still used to identify a product segment.
As far as a used motorhome of any age though, the mileage on the odometer means very little. What is important is how it was used and how well was it maintained. Many didn’t stray far from home but were rode hard at the campground or lake, and some lived-in for extended periods. Too many sat stationary for long periods, started up and driven a few hundred miles under sometimes relatively strenuous terrain in hot weather, only to be parked at home again with no attention paid to the detrimental effects of time on oil, coolant, fluids, gaskets, seals, etc.. It is often better if you find one with more miles with indications of good care.
However, if you have the time and patience, this could be a decent project to fix up for weekend getaways.
When you do the Cummins swap make sure you do the frame axles tranny ect.
Mine wax a rebuilt 413, I pulled it and put it back in, on the first ride with bias ply tires, it was something out of a horror movie, the faster I went ( yea I was scared) the cabinets started to open, stuff fell out, I thought the windshield was going to shatter, everything in the bus like rear view was blurry ( think Edmund Fitzgerald),After the bias ply tires warmed up I made a decision to sell it to get my cash back, but never the labor.
Someone who had dreams of football tailgating Bocght it.
Did someone say memories?? We had a 74 Winnebago Indian, a step up from this brave. It had a 440 that got 7mpg on the road but with duel gas tanks with 60 gallon fuel capacity it had plenty of driving range. I put radial tires on it and dual three inch exhaust to the rear and I could easily keep up with interstate traffic. My wife and our two boys took a three week trip in it in the eighties from Georgia to Maine, then to Niagra falls, then back home using back roads as much as possible. Gas wasn’t an issue then. I usually bought 50 gallons when I stopped for about $20.
Guys on the beach buggy surfcasting club I used to belong to would convert these to 4WD and Striper fish for weeks out of them.
Wow what a ruff life it’s had – just look at that motor on top and underneath. If they drove that from Kansas to Mass. they were lucky I’d say.
I own one as well with the little 318 that still runs well and although mine’s a littlte ruff inside my motor with more miles looks a lot better.
Sold for just under 10grand….
Ended with “Reserve not met”