Model · Beaver
Beaver Marquis
SMC's annual reports called the Marquis the top of the Beaver product line. Archives hold Marquis brochures from a 1986 flyer through 2009. In 1997 SMC moved it to a Magnum-built chassis and slowed production to make it a prestige coach. A buyer's guide lists five 2007 floorplans from $523,000 to $608,593, all on a Roadmaster S-Series chassis with a 525-horsepower Caterpillar C13 engine.
Photo: The Motorcoach Store · All rights reserved (brand photo)
About this model
SMC's annual reports call the Marquis the top of the Beaver product line and the most visible Beaver model. Before 1997 the coach used a chassis from an outside supplier that the reports do not name. A long-time club member lists the 1993 Marquis and Grand Marquis at $337,000 to $360,000.
In 1997 SMC began building the Marquis on a chassis developed by its Magnum subsidiary. It also slowed production and set up a team of craftsmen to build each coach, using exotic veneers and richer lacquer finishes. In 1999 it added the Amethyst Marquis, a 42-foot tag-axle model with the most features and the highest price of any Marquis. SMC's reports put Marquis prices at over $300,000 for 1996, rising to over $436,000 for 2000.
Under Monaco, the price ranges in the company's annual reports climbed from $450,000 to $515,000 (filed March 2002) to $500,000 to $570,000 (filed March 2005). A buyer's guide lists five 2007 floorplans from $523,000 to $608,593, all on a Roadmaster S-Series chassis with a 525-horsepower Caterpillar C13 engine. The owners' club lists Marquis brochures through the 2009 model year and owner's manuals through 2008.