wny_pat
Western NYS
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Joined: 08/11/2007
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That tag axle could be a pandora's box. Don't touch until you get somebody to inspect it - Somebody qualified!
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UltraKen
Ohio
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Joined: 06/05/2007
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There is an active market for vintage motor-homes. I had a 1968 Corvair Powered coach for 16 years from 1991 and traveled over 3/4 of the country. The key to reliability is very good preventive maintenance. You'll have a much better chance at on-the-road repairs with a standard V8 than I would have had with a Corvair engine.
The price might be high for that model, but the vintage market attracts people willing to spend for something unique. I offered mine on the Internet for $10,000 and had two calls the first day from people who wanted to buy it at my price. I priced it too low. 
I would pay to have the mechanicals checked by a good and trusted mechanic. I can provide a multi-page Used Motor-Home checklist that you could use to assess the house functions.
BTW, no deposit until it's been thoroughly checked out.
Good luck,
UltraKen
Ex -1968 Ultra Van
NOW - 1996 Safari Sahara 35' - Cat 300 - Model 3530
Pictures of my Coach
Used MH Checklist
Toad: Dodge Grand Caravan on Tow Dolly or 1981 Vespa on utility trailer
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3708
modesto
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Joined: 11/28/2007
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I would say 8,000 max and a good deal would be 6,500 to 7.500 and a real good deal would be 4,500 to 5,500. I had a 85 HR and it is carburated but don't let that scare you because you can still work on it. Mine went 97,500 before i put a new engine in it. Here is some things i woulod look for, maintenience records, oil consumption( 1 qt. between oil changes is ok), brakes(when and if?)Front end (how tight is it? steering, wheel bearings,ball cranks etc... And one of the most important in my opinion is the torque converter, this can take a engine out, a silent killer only felt at first by a small vibration only to be questioned in your mind, was that the road or maybe the tires. I will finish this by saying if i wasn't traveling far and i liked to fix things and the price was right I'd buy it.
3708
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Gale Hawkins
Murray, KY
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Joined: 07/22/2007
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Remember one 10+ years old can suck another $3K-$4K out of your pocket pretty fast. 
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Wade LeClair
Ontario
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Joined: 06/13/2009
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Thank You everyone for your remarks. There is nothing like experience!
So I guess it is a mixed bag of responses. I think it is a little overpriced for the year even considering the great condition.
I will pass this on to my father and let him think about it more.
Regards, Wade
1996 Newmar Mountain Aire
Ford 460
Banks System
Roadmaster Tow Bar
Saturn SL2 Toad
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dieharder
Ottawa, ON
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Joined: 09/10/2009
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Wade LeClair wrote:hram wrote:Sounds good for his purposes. Just completed 4000 mile trip with my 89 HR Imperial 35 footer with P30 chassis. Quality built, and the tag axle allows much greater load weights. Supply and demand dictates that you should be able to buy at very reasonable price as well.
They are asking 12,000 as is, seems a little high but the condition is great.
I bought my 85 Triple-E Empress for $7500, and now I realize I overpayed for it. If I would have realized at the time that the market in the US was so far down the toilet, I would have waited and bought a newer unit for just a little bit more. With $12,000 Canadian, you can still get a much better unit in the US than this one. Hell... I'll even sell them mine for the same $7500 I paid for it, even though a put in another $1500 for a custom built trailer hitch and another $900 ensuring all the appliances work, new sensors and water heater board, plus spent all summer eternabonding all the roof seals. 
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UltraKen
Ohio
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Gale Hawkins wrote:Remember one 10+ years old can suck another $3K-$4K out of your pocket pretty fast.
That would make it a bargain compared to a dp.
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geezer34nh
New Hampshire
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Joined: 10/22/2007
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I am a bit odd I guess in the fact that I like old. Our coach is a 1990 Foretravel and the fact that it is 20 years old does not limit the distances and pleasure that we get from the old beast. And no, I did not buy it new, only three years and 40,000 miles ago. Yes there is tinkering to do on it a lot of the time, but we only have about 11% of the new purchase price and yet drive a luxury coach. I paid more than most commenting on this forum would advise for an old coach but the condition warranted the price. I am a retired Auto Shop Instructor so I like to tinker. When considering price use the scale of what is it's value to me rather than what someone else says that it should be worth. Remember it is not an investment, it is something to use. In the three years that I have owned it we have installed solar with a big battery pack and a ginourmus inverter/converter/charger. Then redo the interior lighting with a combination of LED and compact florecsent, and upgrade the engines alternator. Still keeping in the 11% of the price of the coach when new. Ols is not for everyone but not to be avoided either. Oh, we live in it 6 months out of the year chasing warm weather and then return to the stick house in rural New Hampshire for the spring and summer.
Brad, Lucy, and Earl and Max the kitty kats.
Brad & Lucy aka the Geezer & The Hedgehog
1990 Foretravel 38' DP
Kitty Kats: Earl and Max
Subie the Subaru riding the car trailer
Navigation: CoPilot 9 on a lap top
ASE Master Technician
SAE
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stevelv
Living on the island
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Joined: 05/24/2006
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When considering condition, remember that it's a lot of the stuff that you cannot see that causes the most problems. He needs to crawl underneath and check out wiring looms, plumbing connections, levelling system as well as all of the more obvious things such as engine, transmission and steering/suspension.
When I finish mine, I'm going to give a breakdown of all expenses - it will shock you (and me and I hope DW doesn't read it LOL) and I'm doing it all on a budget!
RV Park Finder
Ex Fulltimers
Repairing/Restoring 1984 Monaco Regent 36' Gas to restart RVing
DH,DW,Jake and Indie
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melvonnar
clearwater florida
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Joined: 06/26/2009
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Wade LeClair wrote:hram wrote:Sounds good for his purposes. Just completed 4000 mile trip with my 89 HR Imperial 35 footer with P30 chassis. Quality built, and the tag axle allows much greater load weights. Supply and demand dictates that you should be able to buy at very reasonable price as well.
They are asking 12,000 as is, seems a little high but the condition is great.
they are asking about $8000 to much; for $12000 I wouldn;t even consider it.
A 1985, no matter how good it looks will require lot of work; when things arn;t used, they just die of old age.
I just sold an 1988 34 foot southwind motorhome, even though I gave it maticulas maintance; it was a money pit, never went anywhere that something didn;t brake. I sold it for $5000
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