The
Big Dog
is off the porch
"Who let the dogs out-- o-o" is one of those songs that gets in your head and rolls around till you can't take it anymore but this "Big Dog" will never make you bored.
Not even a "one owner" this coach has never been sold!
It was the last GMC "dealer demo" bought by Robbins Auto Group of Humble Texas.
See they were GMC Motorhome dealers and had one GMC each year to use at the
dealership and at the beginning of the next year, they sold their demo and got a new
one. They never sold their last year 1978 Royale opting to keep it and use
it personally. Bill Robbins drove over the tired war horse for a total
makerover
It was rough but all there and that's all we needed. First Bill envisioned a
quality basic refinish, nothing fancy then it happened. Getting caught up
in the work we were doing and seeing all of the options that were possible-- he
pulled out all stops and we had a full blown monster machine on our hands!
The dash began original and badly damaged
We broke it down to it's "root mean"
and then the magic began of puting it back to a new level
State of the art in every way, the dash features the Pioneer Z-1 touch screen
GPS double din head unit with back up camera, DVD and video capability, XM, Ipod,
blue tooth-- the works. He has a K-40 blue tooth radar detector that talks
to you, a calibrated white faced instrument cluster, 18" custom burlwood and chrome
steering wheel--- like I said, the works.
All counters are true Corian
including the new bar counter complete with an electric bar tender (super
sidebar)
for dispensing your favorite poison safely and conveniently. He
has a wine shelf
backlighted of course. This cabinet started out as a table affair, kinda
usefull but not really so it all came out
and we started with a clean slate. We had relaminated the original cabinet
but in changing it's use found some modification needed.
Whatever it takes-- and sometimes ya just gotta get tough! With
Bill's help this area came together to be impressive
and finished off awesome
The bedroom was plush and left as a convertible wrap
around sofa
The seperate shower bathroom got a monotone bone color
treatment with accents of mahogany and brushed aluminum but it wasn't always
that way.
You have to break a few eggs to make an omelet and everything had to come out
before we could do anything
then rebuilt from "scratch" the bathroom took shape.
Corian counter tops, china toilet, twinkie lights, mahogany and brushed
aluminum went into the finished product.
Custom blinds and valences built again to order from
scratch
made the windows "pop"
and the indirect light from the twinkies bouncing off of the blinds gave a
unique reflection.
The floors are hardwood and carpet combination using hand
scraped Mahogany slat board laminate
.
The galley also came out completely
,
repaired and refinished. The floor was damaged
and needed repairs before the refinished cabinet was reinstalled
Corian counter top installed
and trimmed out
We have a microwave of course, a 3 burner gas stove top, a double sink with pull
out faucet and a trash compactor. Sounds out of place but just think of
all of those funky plastic trash bags and baskets you sit around in your way for
silly little throw aways. Bill was tired of that and the trash compactor I
think will be one of his more used options.
The finished interior was a sight to see
from the door all the way through.
The exterior was extremely refined working hard to match
to the color of Bill's 07 Razor Red Harley and accenting it's gold flames, our paint
Guru Walter had his work cut out. From a rough cob
,
working with Bill on the design and colors
the custom mix colors and spray sequence they layers were laid on
I gotta tell ya, there is no short cut to quality--- and none was taken here
This custom cut foil striping was a brainstorm of Walters . Check out his
handiwork
Then with the clearcoat on, the "Royale SS was born
.
You will never loose this coach in a parking lot.
Even on the road it stands out. As Bill passed me heading home to Texas
,
I was proud to say "I made that" and I truly appreciate the opportunity to make
this dream a reality. Oh, I forgot to tell ya what this machine will be
doing and why it was built. Bill runs a new car dealership in Humble
Texas, his father started the dealership and Bill is now heading it up.
With his dad being a GMC Motorhome dealer, this coach was the last "demo"
motohome and the family used it and enjoyed having it over the years. Bill
brought the coach to us and told his father that he had sold the coach in that
it was past it's useful life. The coach will be a huge stocking stuffer
for dad this Christmas. Good job Bill, boy you sure have a way of
surprising someone with a present!
Hey Santa, don't get upset when your sleigh is upstaged a bit when you pass through Humble Texas!
