Great Machines: Recreational Vehicles: Batting A Thousand
June 1, 2006
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Since its inception in 1983, Marathon Coach’s interior designers and
engineers have worked to accommodate virtually any bespoke request, from layout to technology to design details. “We can do anything a customer
wants,” says Marathon president Steve Schoellhorn. “We’ve had clients bring us floor plans on a cocktail napkin, and we have built it.” The
company completes only 70 to 80 vehicles annually, and Marathon’s employees spend
an average of 100,000 man-hours converting each utilitarian Prevost bus shell into a luxe rolling residence. And therein lies the one drawback to
this extreme level of personalization: delivery times of up to a year. (Click image to enlarge)
With other special editions currently underway for upcoming shows in Charlotte, N.C., and Tampa, Fla., turnaround time for these exclusive coaches will be a few months. But you don’t have to wait if you opt for the lavishly specified No. 1001. Built to celebrate the completion of Marathon’s milestone 1,000th vehicle, the $2 million No. 1001 is a 45-foot-long coach weighing in at 50,000 pounds and containing 500 square feet of living space. Its interiors are awash in walnut trim and bright red hues with black accents.
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“Our interior designer, Jennifer Clausen, wanted the coach to be striking and
yet fun,” explains Schoellhorn, “and we think she hit the mark.” High-grade materials fitted for this flashy decor include Spinneybeck leather
for the sofa, recliners and bar stools, red pinwheel-patterned marble for the floor, and a mix of ultrasuede and mirrors for the ceiling. In
the bathroom, the shower boasts a temperature-sensing valve and glass tile, while the vanities are enhanced with glass oval drop-in sinks.
Other homelike amenities in the double-slide-out cabin are a pair of walk-in closets, a stacked washer/dryer and a Dreamscape adjustable bed.
Fiber-optic lighting, running the length of the cabin, provides a finishing touch. (Click image to enlarge)There is no shortage of technology either. There are no less than five
televisions—three of which are big-screen plasmas—placed throughout the cabin. Exclusive to Marathon, No. 1001 is also equipped with the TechLink
Intelligence system, which allows passengers to easily control their Crestron surround sound, oversee their water and waste tank levels, and check
temperatures inside and outside with the touch of a monitor.; function voidFunc() { } voidFunc();)
The flashy interior of Marathon’s No. 1001 features marble,
Spinneybeck leather, walk-in closets, and five televisions. (Click image to enlarge)
With 1,600 miles between fuel-ups, the 14-liter diesel engine produces 515
hp, gets 8 mpg and is guaranteed—appropriately enough, considering the coach’s price—to 2 million miles. The Marathon construction comes with a
two-year warranty. And because the Prevost shell uses the same underpinnings as its commercial cousins, servicing is easily available
wherever you might be. Marathon also has its own service centers placed strategically around the country and a 24-hour phone line for directions to
the nearest certified mechanic.
Marathon Coach
800.234.9991
www.marathoncoach.com
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