Brand · Class A
Monaco
2009 Monaco Signature Fortress IV Class A motorhome · Cassone's RV · All rights reserved · Source ↗
Monaco was an American builder of diesel motorhomes that began in Junction City, Oregon, in 1968. Its top coaches rode on Monaco's own Roadmaster chassis. Monaco Coach Corporation went bankrupt in 2009, and the brand passed to Navistar and then to the company now called REV Group. REV says Monaco motorhomes are no longer being built.
Fact-checked. An independent reviewer checked this page against its cited sources.
All the models
Models, top of the line first
| Model | Type | Years made | Price when new | Years on file |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Signature Series · no longer built | Class A | 2000 – 2010 on file | Not documented | 46 |
| Executive · no longer built | Class A | 2000 – 2008 on file | Not documented | 34 |
| Dynasty · no longer built | Class A | 2000 – 2014 on file | Not documented | 44 |
| Windsor · no longer built | Class A | 2000 – 2006 on file | Not documented | 11 |
| Camelot · no longer built | Class A | 2003 – 2011 on file | Not documented | 36 |
Choose a model to see every model year on file. Prices are the documented price when new for the year shown, not a used value.
The full story
Monaco history
Monaco began in 1968 as Caribou Manufacturing Company in Junction City, Oregon. Ray Mehaffey started it with his family and some friends after moving from California. In 1971 the company designed a small motorhome called the Monaco, and that name later became the name of the whole business.
Brian Obie bought the company in 1974 and renamed it Monaco Motor Home, Inc. in 1977. In 1984 it bought the Roadmaster chassis division from Chrysler, so Monaco could build its own chassis. In 1987 the company was sold to Bill Warrick and a group of investors that included Kay Toolson. A redesigned Crown Royale on the first rear-engine Roadmaster chassis followed in 1988, and the 1991 Dynasty was shown in the fall of 1990.
The modern company dates from March 1993, when Kay Toolson and other managers bought the business. It announced its first public stock offering that fall. In March 1996 it bought Holiday Rambler from Harley-Davidson. By the late 1990s it built motorhomes in Coburg, Oregon, and Wakarusa, Indiana.
Monaco's annual reports show how the diesel line was stacked. The report for fiscal 1996 lists the Signature Series, Executive, Dynasty and Windsor, with a bus-conversion line called Royale Coach priced above them. The lower-priced Diplomat arrived in December 1997 and the Knight in December 1999. The Camelot first appears in the report for fiscal 2001, and the low-priced Cayman was added late that year.
The company kept growing by buying other builders. It bought SMC Corporation, the maker of Safari and Beaver coaches, on August 2, 2001, and R-Vision in November 2005. In 2005 it also announced the closing of Royale Coach, which turned bus shells into motorhomes in Elkhart, Indiana. In fiscal 2007 the company reported sales of about $1.27 billion and 5,348 full-time employees.
Monaco Coach Corporation filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on March 5, 2009. On June 4, 2009, a Navistar affiliate bought its main motorhome business. Navistar gave the price as about $47 million, while Monaco's own filing listed $52 million in cash before adjustments. The new company was called Monaco RV LLC and kept its headquarters in Coburg.
In July 2011 Navistar decided to cut back the Coburg plant and move all motor coach production to Wakarusa, Indiana. In May 2013 it sold the RV business, with the Monaco, Holiday Rambler and R-Vision brands, to Allied Specialty Vehicles. Wikipedia says that company took the name REV Group in 2015.
REV's brochure archive lists Monaco motorhomes through the 2019 model year, ending with the Signature and the Marquis. The Monaco website now says the coaches are no longer being manufactured and points owners to service and parts support.
- 1968Caribou Manufacturing starts in Oregon
Ray Mehaffey, his family and friends start Caribou Manufacturing Company in Junction City, Oregon. It is the company that later becomes Monaco. Source ↗
- 1971First motorhome named Monaco
Caribou designs and builds a mini motorhome called the Monaco. Source ↗
- 1974–1977New owner and a new name
Brian Obie buys the company in 1974 and in 1977 renames it Monaco Motor Home, Inc. Source ↗
- 1984Roadmaster chassis bought from Chrysler
Monaco buys the Roadmaster Chassis Division of Chrysler and starts building its own chassis. Source ↗
- 1987Sold to the Warrick group
The company is sold to Bill Warrick and a group of investors that includes Kay Toolson, who later leads Monaco. Source ↗
- 1988First rear-engine Roadmaster chassis
The Crown Royale is fully redesigned on the first rear-engine Roadmaster chassis and shown in the fall. Source ↗
- 1993Management buyout and stock offering
Kay Toolson and other managers buy the business in March 1993. The company announces its first public stock offering that fall. Source ↗
- 1996Holiday Rambler joins Monaco
On March 4, 1996, Monaco buys certain Holiday Rambler assets from Harley-Davidson for $21.5 million in cash, preferred stock and the assumption of most of Holiday Rambler's liabilities. Source ↗
- 1997Diplomat introduced
In December 1997 Monaco introduces the Diplomat as a new lower-priced diesel motor coach. Source ↗
- 1999Knight introduced
In December 1999 Monaco introduces the Knight, a low-priced diesel motor coach. Source ↗
- 2001SMC Corporation acquired
On August 2, 2001, Monaco buys SMC Corporation, which adds the Safari and Beaver brands. The Cayman, a low-priced Monaco diesel, is introduced in the fourth quarter. Source ↗
- 2005Royale Coach closed, R-Vision bought
Monaco announces the closing of its Royale Coach bus-conversion operation in Elkhart, Indiana. On November 18, 2005, it buys R-Vision and related companies. Source ↗
- 2007Chassis joint venture with International
Monaco and International Truck and Engine Corporation form Custom Chassis Products LLC. Monaco holds 49 percent. Source ↗
- 2009Bankruptcy and sale to Navistar
Monaco Coach Corporation files for Chapter 11 on March 5, 2009. On June 4 a Navistar affiliate completes its purchase of the main RV manufacturing assets, and the old company is renamed MNC Corporation. Source ↗
- 2011Motor coach production moves to Indiana
On July 29, 2011, Navistar commits to scaling back the Coburg, Oregon, plant and putting all motor coach production in Wakarusa, Indiana. Source ↗
- 2013Sold to Allied Specialty Vehicles
On May 16, 2013, Navistar announces the sale of its RV business, including the Monaco, Holiday Rambler and R-Vision brands, to Allied Specialty Vehicles. Source ↗
- 2015Owner renamed REV Group
According to Wikipedia, Allied Specialty Vehicles took the name REV Group in 2015. Source ↗
- 2018–2019Last listed models: Signature and Marquis
REV's brochure archive for Monaco ends with the 2018 and 2019 Signature and Marquis. Source ↗
Brochures and sources
- Monaco Coach Corporation annual report (Form 10-K) for fiscal 2007 ↗
- Monaco brochure archive (REV Group) ↗ — Year and model picker for original Monaco brochures, 2000 through 2019. Many of the same PDFs open directly at monacocoach.com/library/<year>/<year>_<Model>.pdf.
- SEC EDGAR filings for Monaco Coach Corporation (later MNC Corp) ↗ — Annual reports for fiscal 1996 through 2007. Reports through fiscal 2004 list each model with a suggested retail price range.
- Monaco Coach Corporation Form 10-K for fiscal 2004 ↗ — Has a model-by-model table of suggested retail price ranges. The fiscal 2007 report gives price ranges only by type of coach.
- MNC Corp Form 8-K, June 10, 2009 ↗ — Reports the June 4, 2009 sale of the RV manufacturing assets to a Navistar affiliate and the change of name to MNC Corporation.
- Navistar news release: Navistar Affiliate Completes Purchase of Certain Monaco Coach Assets ↗ — June 4, 2009. Gives the price, the plants included and the new name Monaco RV LLC.
- Navistar news release: Navistar Sells Recreational Vehicle Business ↗ — May 16, 2013. Sale of Monaco, Holiday Rambler and R-Vision to Allied Specialty Vehicles.
- Navistar International Form 8-K, August 4, 2011 ↗ — Decision to consolidate Monaco motor coach production in Wakarusa, Indiana.
- FundingUniverse: Monaco Coach Corporation company history ↗ — Narrative history from 1968 to the late 1990s, including early owners and model introductions.
- Wikipedia: Monaco Coach Corporation ↗ — Overview with citations for the bankruptcy and later owners.
- MotorHome magazine archive: Monaco to Close Royale Coach Operations ↗ — Short report on the 2005 closing of the Elkhart, Indiana bus-conversion plant.
- Monaco owners page (REV Group) ↗ — States that Monaco motorhomes are no longer being manufactured and links to owner service.
Links open the original page. Facts are checked against these sources; tell us if you find one that is out of date.
Monaco coaches for sale
See Monaco listings in the Motorcoach.direct marketplace.