Cortez Motor Home
Encyclopedia
Cortez Motor Home, also commonly called a Clark Cortez, is a Class-A motor coach
made in the United States
between 1963 and 1979. Only 3211 of the units were built in this period. The Clark Forklift Company
began making these small motorhome
s in 1963 in Battle Creek, Michigan. The units were designed from the ground up, rather than using existing truck chassis.
A four speed manual front wheel drive transaxle
was used in order to eliminate a drive train that would necessarily have either increased height or diminished interior headroom..
Early units used a Chrysler
225ci industrial slant-6 engine
. In 1969 a V-8
engine was introduced, using a Ford 302ci engine but still using the 4-speed manual transaxle. In 1971, the Oldsmobile Toronado
front wheel transaxle with a 455ci engine in conjunction with a GM 3-speed automatic was used.
In 1970, Clark Forklift sold the Motorhome division to Alco-Standard. In 1975, the company was acquired by 26 owners of Cortez coaches and production continued through 1978 when the company folded. The last units were completed by a bank in 1979.
James Krantz purchased the tooling, spare parts, and a few unfinished units around 1980 and moved operations to Lafayette, La. There under the name Cortez Inc., he sold parts, performed service, and did robust drivetrain conversions to earlier model Clark Cortez's, converting them to the V8 automatic transaxle, similar to that found in 1970+ models. Operations ceased in Lafayette around 1990. James still sells parts for the coaches.
Clark management had envisioned a variety of uses for the Cortez. They were made as mobile offices, classrooms, and ambulances; and NASA used a Cortez to shuttle astronauts to the launch pad. The NASA Cortez still sits in a museum at Cape Canaveral.
Among the early owners in 1964 was film star Vincent Price, who was a devoted fan of this early motorhome. Cortez Motor Homes still enjoy a devoted following. Aficionados prefer its all-steel body despite rust issues, its smooth ride, and its moderate size.
Coach (vehicle)
A coach is a large motor vehicle, a type of bus, used for conveying passengers on excursions and on longer distance express coach scheduled transport between cities - or even between countries...
made in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
between 1963 and 1979. Only 3211 of the units were built in this period. The Clark Forklift Company
Clark Material Handling Company
Clark Material Handling Company is a manufacturer of forklift trucks based in Lexington, Kentucky. The company has a production plant in Changwon, South Korea. Clark currently offers some 20 different models. According to the company, there are some 350,000 Clark forklift trucks currently in...
began making these small motorhome
Motorhome
A motorhome is a type of self-propelled recreational vehicle or RV which offers living accommodation combined with a vehicle engine. The term motorhome is most commonly used in the UK, US, and Canada.-Features:...
s in 1963 in Battle Creek, Michigan. The units were designed from the ground up, rather than using existing truck chassis.
A four speed manual front wheel drive transaxle
Transaxle
In the automotive field, a transaxle is a major mechanical component that combines the functionality of the transmission, the differential, and associated components of the driven axle into one integrated assembly....
was used in order to eliminate a drive train that would necessarily have either increased height or diminished interior headroom..
Early units used a Chrysler
Chrysler
Chrysler Group LLC is a multinational automaker headquartered in Auburn Hills, Michigan, USA. Chrysler was first organized as the Chrysler Corporation in 1925....
225ci industrial slant-6 engine
Engine
An engine or motor is a machine designed to convert energy into useful mechanical motion. Heat engines, including internal combustion engines and external combustion engines burn a fuel to create heat which is then used to create motion...
. In 1969 a V-8
V8 engine
A V8 engine is a V engine with eight cylinders mounted on the crankcase in two banks of four cylinders, in most cases set at a right angle to each other but sometimes at a narrower angle, with all eight pistons driving a common crankshaft....
engine was introduced, using a Ford 302ci engine but still using the 4-speed manual transaxle. In 1971, the Oldsmobile Toronado
Oldsmobile Toronado
The original Toronado began as a design painting by Oldsmobile stylist David North in 1962. His design, dubbed the "Flame Red Car," was for a compact sports/personal car never intended for production...
front wheel transaxle with a 455ci engine in conjunction with a GM 3-speed automatic was used.
In 1970, Clark Forklift sold the Motorhome division to Alco-Standard. In 1975, the company was acquired by 26 owners of Cortez coaches and production continued through 1978 when the company folded. The last units were completed by a bank in 1979.
James Krantz purchased the tooling, spare parts, and a few unfinished units around 1980 and moved operations to Lafayette, La. There under the name Cortez Inc., he sold parts, performed service, and did robust drivetrain conversions to earlier model Clark Cortez's, converting them to the V8 automatic transaxle, similar to that found in 1970+ models. Operations ceased in Lafayette around 1990. James still sells parts for the coaches.
Clark management had envisioned a variety of uses for the Cortez. They were made as mobile offices, classrooms, and ambulances; and NASA used a Cortez to shuttle astronauts to the launch pad. The NASA Cortez still sits in a museum at Cape Canaveral.
Among the early owners in 1964 was film star Vincent Price, who was a devoted fan of this early motorhome. Cortez Motor Homes still enjoy a devoted following. Aficionados prefer its all-steel body despite rust issues, its smooth ride, and its moderate size.