What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

If it's not Safari technical material, and it doesn't fit anywhere else, drop it here!
User avatar
BeaverOwner
Posts: 26
Joined: Fri Nov 08, 2019 6:50 am

What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by BeaverOwner »

I was looking for a listing of Safari coaches by lineup (most expensive to lowest price) and could not find anything. I tried to put together what I found - but I could not find an official SMC product lineup publication.

Does this look right (for Class A coaches)?
It's tough as these models did not all exist at the same time (from what I can gather).

SAFARI lineup
--Continental (40 ft.) *** sometimes advertised as a "Continental Panther". UPDATED to put Continental at the top. The "Continental-Panther was the flagship Continental with the larger 425HP engine "Panther option")
--Panther -----(40 to 42 ft.) Tag Axle, full air brakes, CAT C12, Roadmaster S-series chassis (after 2000)
--Zanzibar ---- (35 to 39 ft) full air brakes, Cummins ISL, Roadmaster M4R chassis (2003)
--Serengeti --- (37 to 40 ft)
--Sahara ------- (30 to 35 ft) Roadmaster M4R chassis after 2000
--Gazelle -------(Roadmaster RR8S chassis after 2000)
--Cheetah ------(Roadmaster RR4R chassis or RR8R after 2000)
--Simba RD ----(Roadmaster RR4R chassis after 2000)
Last edited by BeaverOwner on Tue Dec 03, 2019 1:20 pm, edited 4 times in total.
- Mike
2005 Beaver Patriot Thunder 525HP C13
( SMC Magnum D-series chassis)
stuplich@ymail.com
Posts: 1146
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:51 am

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by stuplich@ymail.com »

BeaverOwner wrote: Wed Nov 20, 2019 9:52 am Does this look right (for Class A coaches)?
It's tough as these models did not all exist at the same time (from what I can gather).
SAFARI lineup
--Panther -----(40 to 42 ft.) Tag Axle, full air brakes, CAT C12, Roadmaster S-series chassis (after 2000)
--Continental (40 ft.) *** sometimes advertised as a "Continental Panther".
--Zanzibar ---- (35 to 39 ft) full air brakes, Cummins ISL, Roadmaster M4R chassis (2003)
--Serengeti --- (37 to 40 ft)
--Sahara ------- (30 to 35 ft) Roadmaster M4R chassis after 2000
--Gazelle -------(Roadmaster RR8S chassis after 2000)
--Cheetah ------(Roadmaster RR4R chassis or RR8R after 2000)
--Simba RD ----(Roadmaster RR4R chassis after 2000)
BeaverOwner..(Mike)
I believe in the early years of SMC, (1995 - 1997?) the 30 foot Sahara was the "entry level" Class A Safari ..followed by the 35 foot Sahara, the 37 foot Serengeti and finally the 40 foot Continental.
Those Saharas where built on the Magnum Blue Streak chassis with "EliptiRide", (elliptical spring), suspension... while the Serengetis and Continentals had the Magnum Blue Max chassis with the BF Goodrich “Torsilastic Suspension": https://www.coachspecialists.com/wp-con ... _Ride2.gif ....
(Magnum Manufacturing was a wholly owned division of SMC, Safari Motorcoach Corporation).
Mel
'96 Sahara 3530, mine since '01
250 hp 3126 Cat, MD3060 Allison
TDJohn
Posts: 552
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by TDJohn »

BeaverOwner wrote: Wed Nov 20, 2019 9:52 am I was looking for a listing of Safari coaches by lineup (most expensive to lowest price) and could not find anything. I tried to put together what I found - but I could not find an official SMC product lineup publication.

Does this look right (for Class A coaches)?
It's tough as these models did not all exist at the same time (from what I can gather).

SAFARI lineup
--Panther -----(40 to 42 ft.) Tag Axle, full air brakes, CAT C12, Roadmaster S-series chassis (after 2000)
--Continental (40 ft.) *** sometimes advertised as a "Continental Panther".
--Zanzibar ---- (35 to 39 ft) full air brakes, Cummins ISL, Roadmaster M4R chassis (2003)
--Serengeti --- (37 to 40 ft)
--Sahara ------- (30 to 35 ft) Roadmaster M4R chassis after 2000
--Gazelle -------(Roadmaster RR8S chassis after 2000)
--Cheetah ------(Roadmaster RR4R chassis or RR8R after 2000)
--Simba RD ----(Roadmaster RR4R chassis after 2000)
Mike,

Skimming through the link that you provided, it appears that the S line chassis is a Magnum Chassis, made by SMC. It is possible that when Monaco bought out SMC in '02, that they renamed that chassis as Roadmaster. If that is the case, it is not a real Roadmaster chassis and they just used up what SMC had in their inventory. So, roughly, between '02 and '03 (maybe '04) some coaches were a blend of both companies or either company only. They also played with the name badges when they took over. So, these are murky waters. This group has most of its strength and knowledge on SMC made coaches, especially from '94 to '01/'02 time period. There are a few Safari coaches still in use that were from the first generation, as in, late 80s and early 90s. In those days there were more names, including Trek, Kenya, Kalahari, sitting on Chevy P series chasssis, John Deere/Oshkosh, or Spartan chassis. It is an interesting, but convoluted history.
As much as this stuff interests me, right now I don't have the time nor strength to dig deeper into the useful manuals/brochures you provided in that link, so I can't be of much more help on this topic.
John
'95 Serengeti, Cummins C8.3-300
Allison 6spd.
RSBILLEDWARDS
Posts: 39
Joined: Sun Nov 03, 2019 8:10 am

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by RSBILLEDWARDS »

The SMC corp used Continental Panther as their top of the line model. Basicly an engine upgrade. Monaco eliminated Continental I suspect when they built the wonderful tag axle coach, Gazelle, Simba and Cheetahs were Monaco designed and built and of lesser quality than the SMC units. Lots of complaints as I understand and a resultant back pedaling to better quality.
stuplich@ymail.com
Posts: 1146
Joined: Mon Oct 28, 2019 8:51 am

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by stuplich@ymail.com »

BeaverOwner wrote: Wed Nov 20, 2019 9:52 am I was looking for a listing of Safari coaches by lineup (most expensive to lowest price) and could not find anything. I tried to put together what I found - but I could not find an official SMC product lineup publication.
Mike
The accuracy of such a list would be dependent on 2 things.
1.) The model years the list covers.
2.) The company that owned the brand name "Safari" or "Safari Coach" during those years.

(See: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Safari_Mo ... orporation)
Mel
'96 Sahara 3530, mine since '01
250 hp 3126 Cat, MD3060 Allison
Jonesdnl
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 6:59 pm

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by Jonesdnl »

I know Safari was in a transitional period in 1993. Treks were the mainstream build up to that point. In 1993 Safari built the Kalahari model as a transitional coach. It was only built in 93 and 94. Not many were produced. The Kalahari came in a 30 ft and a 33 ft model. They were all pushers with the 6.5 Turbo Diesel. Most had the GM 4L80 transmission and most with the Spartan chasis. We have a 93 model 30 ft long. It has the rear bedroom. Some had the majic bed also offered as a option. In this transition period Safari started building the larger coaches with heavier more powerful drive trains. I believe the Kalahari should be added to the list. If any of the specs are needed I have them all.
Jonesdnl
Prior 92 Safari Trek 2600
Current: 93 Safari Kalahari
6.5 Turbo Diesel Pusher
TDJohn
Posts: 552
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by TDJohn »

Jonesdnl wrote: Fri Nov 22, 2019 7:36 am I know Safari was in a transitional period in 1993. Treks were the mainstream build up to that point. In 1993 Safari built the Kalahari model as a transitional coach. It was only built in 93 and 94. Not many were produced. The Kalahari came in a 30 ft and a 33 ft model. They were all pushers with the 6.5 Turbo Diesel. Most had the GM 4L80 transmission and most with the Spartan chasis. We have a 93 model 30 ft long. It has the rear bedroom. Some had the majic bed also offered as a option. In this transition period Safari started building the larger coaches with heavier more powerful drive trains. I believe the Kalahari should be added to the list. If any of the specs are needed I have them all.
Jones,
What transition are you referring to?
SMC continued to make Trek models long after the Kalahari came and went. Also, Serengeti model was one of the first made (1987), and was continuously made up until SMC got bought out. The large long Continental model could also be had in those early years, and came only with a diesel engine. These larger heavier coaches predated the Trek model. The early Serengeti models could be had with a gas engine or a diesel engine, mated to an Allison transmission. So from day one, they were making the large coaches, then the Trek's got introduced as a smaller more economical model, to cater to customers who didn't want the long large coaches and/or could not afford them.

SMC did transition to making their own "in house" chassis, for their larger diesel models, starting in '94. Considering the various chassis that SMC dabbled with, it is possible that they were either searching for a more economical option, and/or they were studying the various chassis while getting ready to start build their own. Around that same time ('95), the Trek models also transitioned to the cheaper Chevy P series Chassis, so it appears that cost cutting was a big part of the equation.

Around the same time as the Kalahari was offered, they also made a Kenya model, on the Chevy P series chassis. The Kenya seemed like the gas engine version of the Kalahari, both of these models were likely replaced with the Sahara model, which became the low end model of their high end coaches. Even though the Sahara was considered their low end diesel coach. It was actually very well, built and equipped, a lot of bang for the buck.
John
'95 Serengeti, Cummins C8.3-300
Allison 6spd.
Jonesdnl
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 6:59 pm

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by Jonesdnl »

John
I should have been more clear. Safari was making Treks on the Isuzu chassis and transitioned in late 94 to the larger frame. The Isuzu 4cylinder was under powered but very efficient. They offered the 6.5 GM diesel and the GM 454 mainly. However belonging to the TrekTrax site there have been some others show up with Ford engines. So my reference to transition was for the Trek line. My assumption was we were trying to make a complete Safari list and having a 93 Kalahari thought it should be added to the list.
Jonesdnl
Prior 92 Safari Trek 2600
Current: 93 Safari Kalahari
6.5 Turbo Diesel Pusher
TDJohn
Posts: 552
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 11:34 pm

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by TDJohn »

Jonesdnl wrote: Sat Nov 23, 2019 12:06 pm John
I should have been more clear. Safari was making Treks on the Isuzu chassis and transitioned in late 94 to the larger frame. The Isuzu 4cylinder was under powered but very efficient. They offered the 6.5 GM diesel and the GM 454 mainly. However belonging to the TrekTrax site there have been some others show up with Ford engines. So my reference to transition was for the Trek line. My assumption was we were trying to make a complete Safari list and having a 93 Kalahari thought it should be added to the list.
Jones,

Yes, of course, the Kalahari and the Kenya models are part of the list, and are the unusual models.
I don't believe the either one of them were involved in the Trek transition, these models seem to have been an attempt to build a low cost medium sized coach, bigger than Treks, but smaller than the Serengeti and Continental models. The only exception to that is there have been references mentioned that for the '95 model year, there were a few odd ball Treks that were built on Spartan chassis, with a Cummins diesel engine and Allison transmission. And it was surmised that when Safari decided to no longer produce the Kalahari model, that they made these odd ball Treks, using up the Spartan chassis that they already had in stock. Besides those few odd ball Treks, the standard Trek model really did not get much bigger than the first generation, Isuzu based Trek coaches. They just had more powerful engines.
There was also reference in Trek brochures, that Treks could be ordered on either a Chevy or Ford Chassis, this would explain why there are some Ford powered Treks. Some of this info is enclosed in the link of documents that was posted my "beaver owner". Maybe you will find more info in this link, on your Kalahari model.
John
'95 Serengeti, Cummins C8.3-300
Allison 6spd.
Jonesdnl
Posts: 10
Joined: Sun Oct 27, 2019 6:59 pm

Re: What is the Safari model lineup or hierarchy?

Post by Jonesdnl »

John
I have the complete write up from Motor Home Magazine about the Kalahari. Testing results, options, capacities, and complete pricing. It was designed to lure customers wanting a diesel powered class A for a pretty economical price. The test vehicle with a few options was priced at 100K. If wanted I could post the article. It would be a good item to put in a History Section of this new site.
Jonesdnl
Prior 92 Safari Trek 2600
Current: 93 Safari Kalahari
6.5 Turbo Diesel Pusher
Post Reply