On our walk the other night, we walked by this old Chevy school-bus van and I never broke my gait. Stephanie asked “Don’t you want to shoot it?” “Who would want to see this?” “I think it’s cool; you should shoot it”. Ok…So who’s right; me or her? Never mind; I should know better than to ask that question. So here it is, in its full glory.
It does make a nice budget camper, what with all those opening windows and that high roof. Although this one doesn’t seem to have too much done to it, yet, except for the paint job. I suspect that’s what really caught her eye.
In fact, it seems to have at least some of its seats still intact. These vans had seating that squeezed two kids on seat on either side of a single aisle, with a front door opened by the driver just like in a real bus.
So there you have it? So was it worth stopping for? Better say yes, as you-know-who will be reading this.
I think it needs more paint as the two tone job doesn’t seem to be working. It would be rather useful for a large family and less cramped than a minivan for long trips. It’s definitely interesting as there must be a story behind it.
Long trips? My comfort level traveling in that vehicle is measured in my willingness to walk, so we’re talking single digit blocks for that one. It’s going to break, and you’ll be walking a lot.
Weird paint job. It looks like they took a break in the middle of painting it brown, but both sides are symmetrical.
Oh yeah, she’s a beaut. (!!!!)
I like the rocket nozzles mounted above the taillights, just in case you are late for school.
Wow. You’ve made some really amazing finds along the CC highway, but this one takes the cake. Move over, Maserati 3500 GT!
Looks like it might be a Wayne Busette. More at http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/w/wayne/wayne2.htm
Overall, kind of an interesting summary of the collapse of an industry…
Interesting that Carpenter had moved into Wayne’s old factory. Carpenter was notorious for buses with bad or missing welds that could cause the bus to collapse in the event of a rollover. The resulting lawsuits and the defection of their biggest and most loyal customers (most notably Houston ISD) did them in.
Thanks for the link. Wayne buses were certainly unmistakable!
A Wayne Busette – Eugene Oregon is a long ways from its birthplace in Richmond, Indiana!
I’ve never seen a more suspicious vehicle on this website.
Get ready (some locals have a rather black sense of humour :).
I’m trying to convince the wife that we should have one of these, specifically one with the wheelchair ramp. As our daughter will be graduating to her first powered wheelchair in the next year or two, the number of affordable wheelchair-hauling vehicles I’ve seen is small.
The short buses use cheap mechanical bits, and when you’re not putting too many miles in per year, fuel costs won’t kill you. It’s just the refurbishment process… Do you want a microwave to warm up snacks? How about refrigeration? A bed for naps?
Someone talk me out of this!
I was a developmental disabilities caseworker, you might talk to your local Kiwanis or Knights of Columbus. They might be able to help with the funds to modify a vehicle if you purchase it as they’re always on the lookout for projects like that. If not, then there’s some sort of service organization near you that works with people with disabilities that should be able to help out.
I once served as manager for a fleet–we had 17 of these–1986 models with the infamous 6.2 diesel.
Generally stout, weak ball joints. Noisy, choppy ride. Lots of windnoise from roof extension, large rear view mirrors, and remote door opening set-up. Same basic design for about, well, an eon.
Hold out for one with a cheap gas 350. Engines good for 300k, transmissions about 100k. With gas, expect 9-10mpg, with diesel, maybe 14.
These usually auctioned for $2000 with 150k miles on average, though some districts like Los Angeles Unified might have put a half million miles on them.
She is right. But who would own one?
I confess, I would. Mine was a 26 passenger 58 model. When it saw 8 mpg it was a great day. That and the lack of available mechanics not intimidated by the 2 1/2 ton aspect are the reasons it’s gone.
I’ve always found old bus conversions interesting, and I am impressed by the rare one that actually looks “finished”. Usually the paint is a patchwork, like this one.
I think it goes back to when I was a kid. My dad took me to the dragstrip. Wandering the pits, I was fascinated by one of the race teams. They had cut the rear superstructure off an old school bus and turned it into a car carrier. They left the forward section intact and turned it into a small RV. Their race car and the rig were painted bright green. I thought it was fascinating.
AKA “the short bus”
Ah, the memories. I’ve ridden in one of these a time or two for small scale school functions.
Stephanie is a wise woman with a sharp eye for detail. I’m speculating there are a fair number of these floating around Eugene, but how many are quad-tone? Green, white, brown, and black is quite the combination and that lovely highway yellow door panel only accentuates the style. Whoever did this has bested any Chrysler or GM stylist as they capped themselves at three colors and I suspect Stephanie knew all this.
Of course, Stephanie was right!
And it reminds me that I was lucky enough to walk to school!
I’m not against two tone colours on a school bus, but this doesn’t look very attractive.
Okay if you don’t want it yellow, but don’t paint it brown! Brown is for Broughams!
Yeah cool very different to our Education board Bedfords.
Cool bus and I look forward to more Types being photographed. Growing up in New York it is odd to see school buses with only a pair of flashing lights on each end and no roof hatch. Some states require that school buses cannot be more than 50% School Bus Yellow before being retired and sold. I think the lights above the factory ones are turn signals, maybe even an extra pair of lights. This bus was or is on the Portland and/or Eugene Craigslist after coming up from California and you can see the CADMV Transfer Permit with the number four taped to the rear window. Think the seller said it was not passing CARB’s test or DEQ’s test.
Personally I do not like this style of Type A bus and consider them half-assed even though I have never ridden or driven one. These buses only seat one more (maybe 2-4 more) than a regular Chevy G-Series, the high roof decreases stability as well as fuel economy (plus someone says it is noiser), and this bus still has a regular door just with a push/pull rod. I’d rather have a regular G-Series or a Blue Bird Micro Bird. Though if I was looking for a Wheelchair Van one of these buses could do if it were so equipped.
Its old and busted but still being made useful, and its a little interesting. Of course its worth stopping for.
Having just spent a week with a lot of time in a current Econoline hotel shuttle, I don’t understand the point of this conversion. Does it increase capacity or make it somehow better than the factory seating and window set up? I get that it has more headroom. but would be surprised if it really made any sense to cut up the factory version.
School bus specs are drawn up by the DOT, and some states, like CA, pile on yet more requirements.
Among them, there must by x number of exits, x number of windows per passenger, windows must open x inches, and roof must withstand the weight of the fully loaded vehicle,etc. Drive shaft must have safety loops, gasoline tank must be caged…etc, etc, etc…..padded seat backs….it goes on and one….
Those mods are far from random or accidental. The resulting vehicles have the best safety record of any vehicle on the road.
And yet . . . no seatbelts.
No belts, but yet some states require that the driver’s belt be neon orange or yellow.
Thanks for the explanation. My state isn’t as reg prone as most and OEM style vans and a surprising number of Suburbans are in use. It’s a bit hard to believe the set up in the picture was all that much safer, and JP’s comment on seat belts seems to be an issue of greater importance. I recall some pretty crude regular school buses when I was very young, and the newer ones got better in the ’70s. But this van conversion looks like regs and tax dollars run amuck.
I recall going on a field trip in one like this once, except it was a regular van painted yellow.
This looks like it would make an awesome camper.
Careful of what you imply regarding Stephanie’s taste. She did marry you, after all. 😉
30 comments validate Stephanie’s suggestion. 🙂
Personally, I would paint it light blue and white and sell ice cream out of it.
I think you were both right on this one….
Nice truck ! .
Kinda _FUGLY_ paint job but that’s an easy fix .
When I were a young ‘un in rural New Hampshire the School bought a well used & abused IHC ” Metro ” school bus , it had been owned by a Hockey Team and had ” HOCKEY BUS ” painted all over it .
Anemic OHV I6 engine and automatic tranny , we could and occasionally did get out and walk up the hills faster than it could wheeze….
This , like most ‘ short buses ‘ is a thing that looks really cool but you never actually pull the trigger on one .
In the late 1970’s I passed on a *pristine* 1937 Studebaker bus for $600 , prolly a big mistake but it remained unsold for decades .
-Nate