When you think of Japan what likely comes to mind are images of bustling metropolitan cities, tiny kei trucks, and bullet trains. However, the idea of a 30-foot American land yacht being parked in the middle of Tokyo is almost unfathomable. Recently, however, a member of the 7.3-liter Power Stroke Owners group on Facebook posted that they had spotted exactly that: a rare ‘90s Revcon Trailblazer All-Terrain off-road RV parked in a residential neighborhood near Tokyo’s famous Shibuya district.
What Exactly Is A Revcon Trailblazer All-Terrain?
We’ll forgive you if you are unfamiliar with anything Revcon. Revcon was founded in 1968 by John Hall, a former executive at Airstream. Hall desired to create a self-sufficient motorhome with the aerodynamic efficiency and aluminum monocoque construction of Airstream trailers. By the 1970s, Revcon had established a reputation for producing some of the most advanced and luxurious motorhomes available at the time.
The wildest among the company’s product line was the Trailblazer. The original Revcon Trailblazer was built on a modified General Motors truck chassis, which was extended and fitted with tandem rear axles to support the added weight of the camper body. Powering the Trailblazer was a 455 cubic-inch V8 engine sourced from an Oldsmobile Toronado. While GMC gave up on the recreational vehicle market in 1978, Revcon continued building Trailblazer vehicles through 1989.
In Comes The Diesel-Powered Revcon Trailblazer All-Terrain
Three years later, a company by the name of Off-Road Motorcoach, Inc. bought the Revcon name and launched a new product: the Revcon Trailblazer All-Terrain Motorcoach. Instead of building on a GM platform the new version would ride on a heavy-duty Ford pickup chassis. These 30-foot Class B motorhomes came fit with a choice of Ford’s gas 7.5-liter big-block V8 engine or after 1994 its 7.3-liter Power Stroke turbodiesel engine. And they had actual off-road capability a well.
The Trailblazer All-Terrain was an ambitious attempt to merge the versatility of a pickup with the comfort of a motorhome. Unlike conventional pickup campers, the Trailblazer featured an integrated, permanently attached camper unit. Sadly, the concept of an off-road RV proved to be ahead of its time. Production of the Revcon Trailblazer All-Terrain wrapped after just a few short years with the best estimates putting production at about 67 total units.
Photo: Ben Steiner
Anyway, Back To Japan
How exactly a Revcon Trailblazer All-Terrain arrived in Japan remains a mystery. However, it’s likely tied to the U.S. Military as servicemen stationed in Japan have been known to import some wild vehicle from the States. Since Japan taxes vehicle owners on not only a vehicle’s size but also its engine displacement, it’s highly unlikely a local brought this over just for fun. Sleuths within the 7.3-liter Owners Group used the truck’s known location to determine through Google Street View images that the Revcon has been in the country since at least 2009.
How Do I Get One?
Unsurprisingly, The Revcon Trailblazer All-Terrain is quite a rare vehicle and acquiring one can be difficult, though not impossible. Several have been found on Facebook Marketplace, ranging in price from $45,000 to about $65,000 for a running survivor. Refurbished units have been seen listed for upwards of $150,000 through specialized dealers.
