You are all Barth savvy, this may seem funny to you. Honestly, how can I tell which is a Breakaway, Monarch, Regency, or Regal. We own a 1977 29' Barth.

If you send photos to Dave Bowers, he can tell you instantly what you'd like to know. In short, if it's a gaso puller, it's a Regal. It couldn't be a Breakaway, Regency, or Monarch, because they didn't emerge until much later, and all are diesels.

Thanks, Rusty. Yes, it's a gas 454. I appreciate your input.
As soon as I get pics, this cutie will be for sale. Tried to sell it here on Barthmobile last year, with no luck. Guess it was priced too high then. This time it will be around $6500.

It may not have been priced too high - what seems to work here is lotsa info. Photos, and details on mileage and a complete list of equipment. Since all the Barths seem to be nearly custom-made, there's no set standard for models.

Maintenance history is also quite important.

Was the Regal SE the precursor to the Breakaway? I've seen SE models here and I'm trying to get an idea of what their model line was in the 80s. I know the Regency was at the top - what's the difference?

quote:

Originally posted by devolo:
Was the Regal SE the precursor to the Breakaway? I've seen SE models here and I'm trying to get an idea of what their model line was in the 80s. I know the Regency was at the top - what's the difference?

I don't know for sure, but I doubt it. My impression (yielding to Hizzoner Dave Bowers) is that the Regals were a continuous line of front-engine gaso coaches. Diesel pushers arose from who-knows, but included the Regencies, Monarchs, Breakaways, and maybe some others. From what I can gather, the Regals stayed purely in the gaso-puller realm, while the diesel-pushers split among the ones mentioned above.

"....if it's a gaso puller, it's a Regal"......

Not exactly Rusty....If it's "vintage" Barth, from the pre-Regal, round-headlight era, it's just simply a Barth, with the length being the model, i.e.: a 24, 27, 30, etc. I think there's quite a few of us old timers out here enjoying machines that were the precursor to the hairy-chested, DP age

I have a Regal SE, front engine, gas. The only difference I can see (at least in photos) with the plain Regal is I've got Corian counter tops instead of Formica.

Attached is the brochure for the entire 1979 product line and you can see the only designation is the 34T which was for the tag axle. I have not seen a Regal advertized until late 1984, really 1985.

1979_Barth_Classic_Full_Brochure.pdf

Certainly a Barth is what Barth said it was. Until we see more brochures, we can use the NADA guides as guessing material.

I don't know how accurate NADA is, but my NADA jan-Apr 1985 book lists Regals starting 1984 and Regencies starting 1983. The 82 pusher was listed as a MCC by Barth. NADA is not the final authority, however, as they don't recognize the existence of a 30' tag. They list the Royale, an up market tag gasser, for 84 and 85 only.

I have been under the impression that the Regal SE was a tag chassis. In 87 NADA lists the SEs as being tags, but not for other years.

My may-aug 89 Kelley Blue Book shows Regencies starting in 84 and Regals starting in 86, with SEs starting in 86. They also show an 86 "RGL Se Det Dsl", as well as Regencies with both Det and Cat. For 87 they show 32 abd 34 RGL Det Dsl. At $40,000 more than a Regal SE. Anyone know what those engines were?

I will send scans of these on request. Perhaps we should pool our assets and Dave can put them on the latest iteration of the Barth CD.

But, the defining statement is Barth would, and did, build almost anything. Diesel pullers and pushers, gas pullers and pushers, small deisel coaches on an Iveco chassis, Pierce chassis pullers, who knows what else?

Any disadvantages with the tag axle, besides more tires, etc? Doesn't seem like tag axles are all that common, in any line for any manufacturer. I'm assuming it makes for a better ride??

quote:

Originally posted by devolo:
Any disadvantages with the tag axle, besides more tires, etc? Doesn't seem like tag axles are all that common, in any line for any manufacturer. I'm assuming it makes for a better ride??

They take up valuable space. They have a separate brake system to maintain. They require bearing repacking like the front. More tires to buy. Supposedly, a tag resists turning in snow and ice, but I am such a sissy I will never know.

Not a better ride, as such, but a much straighter ride. The P30 tends to wander and be blown off a straight course by trucks and high wind gusts. The tag makes it want to go straight.

An air bag tag allows adjustment for fuel load, hitch load, motorcycle rack load, etc.

quote:

Originally posted by devolo:
Any disadvantages with the tag axle, besides more tires, etc? Doesn't seem like tag axles are all that common, in any line for any manufacturer. I'm assuming it makes for a better ride??

1) My 33' 1986 was a Regal SE and I was told it was the "Silver Anniversary" year??? At that time, if memory serves, the "SE" meant "Special Edition"; it had "arrowhead" black/white/silver paint (red accents) on the sides and a tag axle as part of the SE package.
2) Urban legend has it the P30 chassis was prone to bend if extended in the rear and coaches over 30' were advised to have tags. The tag greatly increases the weight allowance; gives a real airbag suspension just like DPs, with a GREAT ride; and mine tracked wonderfully. Also, the tag is a really cool look with the "flat" tag Alcoa wheels behind the deep-dish Alcoa duals.
Finally: It had a big-block chevy which I never found underpowered, relatively speaking, even though the toad was 5,000lbs. And, to echo Bill H: overheating is exaggerated, at least in Barths -lots of free airflow around the engine and exhaust headers.

My may-aug 89 Kelley Blue Book shows Regencies starting in 84 and Regals starting in 86, with SEs starting in 86. They also show an 86 "RGL Se Det Dsl", as well as Regencies with both Det and Cat. For 87 they show 32 abd 34 RGL Det Dsl. At $40,000 more than a Regal SE.

Anyone know what those engines were?

I find it passing strange that Kelly has stuff different from NADA.

For reasons only known to GM, the 6.2/6.5L, and I believe, the 8.2L, were called "Detroit Diesel" engines, even though they shared nothing with the -53, -71, or -92s.....