Lets figure out the 19' Starcraft Mystery

[Krazymaan]

RV'ers Please add your information here.

So being I just bought a 19' Starcraft Starcruiser I am curious to the rumors about these non existing machines.
Things I read and you probably did too.
Rumor or Truth? Hmmm
Starcraft was going to make 19 19 footers but only made 12 or 13 for some reason.
Only about 3 are left of the bakers dozen.
Starcraft doesn't recognize a 19' RV built in 1970, yet they exist.
And they are made from a 1 piece mold

This might be my 2nd post but its not my 2nd day on earth. So some simple facts based on my digging around. Feel free to correct or add or agree or disagree. Thats why I am here.

My 19' Starcraft is 19' from bumper to bumper give or take a few inches, the actual fiberglass body is only 17' give or take a few inches. That right there makes me question the hoopla about the fact that the public has created this mystical myth being the body is really 17' and not 19'. Might be some confusion there. But on the technically side. As far as mine goes, the actual chassis frame is truly 19' one piece frame. It isn't an add on frame back there for the hidden generator or compartment so even though the body is shorter it really is a 19'er if you go by the frame. Maybe Starcraft doesn't recognize a 19' body being made in 1970 because there really wasn't one, it was really 17' long with a 2' rear compartment.

So with that being said. How many were there and how many are left? I've seen a couple online saying they have 19'ers but they don't have the extended back like mine does. So once again being you can't measure through the computer. How long are they really? I guess you can compare side features and high lights to try to access the length of ones that aren't yours.

By the way, that rear extension is made of real steel, has dividers in it and made of hand bent formed steel.

The bumpers are the true color of this RV, the fiberglass has been sanded with 1000 grit for buffing prep. Its gonna look great again buffed out and with the stripes put back on.

About the 1 piece mold theory, NOT. Not possible. It was and must have been a 2 piece mold. Left side and Right side. Bolted together then gel coated and then unbolted. How do I know this. Because you can clearly see the seam right down the middle of the front and the rear. Then it was sanded and buffed to get it smooth. The gel coat is at least 1/16" thick to 1/8" thick in other areas.

[Scarab0088]

Photos were posted in his new rig show-off thread here:
http://www.irv2.com/forums/f58/19-st...er-357732.html

Amazing survivor

Best luck

[fasteddy]

Very nice motor home indeed. Your a lucky person to find it.

Yes, it would have been a two piece mold since removing the body would have been impossible with the mold forming the indentations in the body. That would have held the body in the mold. Also it would have been a monumental job to remove the body from the mold in one piece unless they had a crane to either lift the mold off the body or the body out of the mold and not twist and crack either one.

[Krazymaan]

Sure seems like there are more than the quoted only 3 left. Unless they keep getting passed around. Seems like maybe at least 6 or 7 of them. Thats if everyone is talking about the same RV.

[70Starcraft]

This rv is in fact a one piece mold. It's the only rv on the planet made with a unibody.

The seam you are talking about is because the mold itself was 2 pieces.

I spoke with the VP of Starcraft who headed this project in the 70's and he confirmed this.

[77Travco]

Nice old coach. Starcraft was a single mold.

[Krazymaan]

Thats what I said. Its a two piece mold bolted together down the middle. But its a one piece body. Thats why you see the seam. As said before, its not possible to be a one piece mold. One piece body, yes.
I think people are messing up when they say mold and body and confusing one for the other.

[77Travco]

Travco's were also built that way... 2 giant fiberglass halves that were put together to make a complete body. There is no leaking at what looks like the seam because it became one piece.
Also - A Travco 270 has a 26' length body but measures 27' bumper to bumper.