| Author | Message | ||
| Charlie Sizemore (Goldenhawk)
Registered Member Username: Goldenhawk Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 32.179.48.48 Rating: N/A |
Memories fade and I'm not doubting anyone's word, but here is the bus according to Tom T. This is the first bus he owned; prior to this time he traveled in a car and pulled a U-Haul. (How things have changed.) Whether or not this was Vern's first bus is a mystery to me and this could very well be so. But T.'s recollection is that he bought the bus from Mooney Lynn - Loretta was using the bus at the time. He didn't know whether or not Mooney bought the bus new. He also said that Vern - who according to T. was a first-rate mechanic - replaced the automatic transmission with a standard shift. T. said he owned only two buses in his career: the Buffalo and an Eagle that he did buy new. He also said he paid over $80,000. just for the conversion. Who knows, but this is how it went down according to Tom T.'s recollection. I may take a trip down to take a look just for the heck of it. Charlie | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 61 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 68.155.150.83  Rating: N/A |
Charlie, You wrote: "replaced the automatic transmission with a standard shift" Must be the other way around. This bus has an automatic in it now. It would have most likely come from the factory with the standard shift. This bus is pretty interesting. I think it'd be worth taking a look. I'm afraid they're going to have to lower the price a bunch more to sell it. Bob | ||
| J.L.Vickers (Roadrunnertex)
Registered Member Username: Roadrunnertex Post Number: 65 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 74.5.97.188 Rating: N/A |
Per the GMC Truck and Coach Parlor Car Delivery list P8M4905A-990 was sold new to Tom T Hall (Nashville,TN) 01/1975. jlv | ||
| J.L.Vickers (Roadrunnertex)
Registered Member Username: Roadrunnertex Post Number: 66 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 74.5.97.188 Rating: N/A |
P8M4905A-565 Johnny Rodriquez Nashville,TN 10/74 P8M4905A-662 Dolly Parton Enterprises Nashville,TN 06/74 P8M4905A-1157 Statler Brothers 05/75. This is from the GMC Truck and Coach Parlor car Delivery list also. jlv | ||
| Charlie Sizemore (Goldenhawk)
Registered Member Username: Goldenhawk Post Number: 8 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 166.204.171.27 Rating: N/A |
As I said, memories fade. I think I have solved part of this mystery. T. mentioned in passing another bus. This belonged to his wife, Miss Dixie, and she used it to transport showdogs. What T. said wasn't making sense to me because his biggest year was 1974 and he sure wasn't traveling in a car. He mentioned the other bus in passing because the fellow Dixie sold it to failed to have it registered and T. got a call about it - all indicia at that time being that it was still his bus. But if this is so, then T. didn't sell the bus to Vern although the paper trail may lead one to this conclusion. Now I'm gonna call Dixie. This almost has to be the bus we're talking about. T. did seem unsure about the entire issue, except for the fact that (apart from Dixie's bus) he had owned only two buses, the first he bought from Mooney Lynn and the second, the Eagle he bought new. I'll hush about this if you like - it's rather off any subject of any significance. I'm just curious. And you're right the bus is an automatic. I take it the previous post is just an interesting aside. If it means something further let me know. I'm ignorant about all this. Impossible question to answer but I wonder what the bus is worth. Didn't mean to lead all astray. Thanks. Charlie | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 62 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 68.155.150.83 Rating: N/A |
Charlie, I don't think anyone feels like they've been lead astray. As you said, memories fade. Since you have contact with Tom T. and Miss Dixie, I think you should pursue the history and keep us informed of what you discover. As to the value, it is hard to say without seeing and driving it. I'm believe, in today's depressed bus market, they'll have to go well below $10k in order to sell it. If your going to take a look at it, let me know. I'll see if I can free up, meet you over there and give my unvarnished opinion. I'm in Atlanta, so it's a little bit of a hike, but it'd be fun to see this bus and meet a fellow picker and new potential Busnut. Bob | ||
| Charlie Sizemore (Goldenhawk)
Registered Member Username: Goldenhawk Post Number: 9 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 166.204.171.27 Rating: N/A |
Sure thoughtful of you, Bob. Lord knows I need all the help I can get. We'll stay in touch and determine a time that would be convenient for you. I have to say this bus business is fascinating and mysterious. I've had people tell me this mechanical stuff isn't all that hard to understand. Well, neither is differential calculus if you know how to do it. | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 63 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 68.155.150.83 Rating: N/A |
Charlie, Like you say, the mechanical stuff isn't that hard, if you know how to do it. I've been turning wrenches since I was a boy in the early '60s, helping my dad maintain his British sportscars. Got the bug early and never stopped. When my brother and I bought our 1st bus (a GM 4106), we realized we were going to need some help. I hooked up with a local bus guru named Ray Cox and he took me on as an apprentice in July of 2007. I won't claim to be an expert, but I've learned a lot in the last 2.5 years and am a lot less intimidated by these beasts. In the meantime, we have bought and sold 4 buses (all GMs) to end up with the 4905 we have now. It's the keeper. The main thing is maintaining a healthy respect for the size and weight of these things. Working on and under them (especially under) safely can be a challenge, not to be taken lightly. Somebody else you might talk to is Little Roy. He performs all the maintenance on they're bus and can share his experience with you. I feel certain our paths have crossed before. The band I'm in was pretty active in the SE festival circuit during the '80s. We played all of Norman Adams' festivals back then and I'm pretty sure we shared a stage with you at some point. I checked out your web site and enjoyed it. Here's a link to ours: http://www.bradleylaird.com/cedarhill/home-temp.html You might enjoy it, although we're not very traditional. Bob | ||
| Charlie Sizemore (Goldenhawk)
Registered Member Username: Goldenhawk Post Number: 10 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 166.214.65.25 Rating: N/A |
No doubt we've crossed paths. I've been out of the loop for a while, got bored practicing law, made a CD in two days to sell on the few dates I intended to work, Rounder Records heard it and signed me and so it goes. I worked for Norman when I was in Ralph Stanley's band from '77 to '86 and later with my own until I got off the road in '98. I played his festival in Cherokee, NC last year and will be at his festivals in Mineral, VA, Myrtle Beach and FL next year. May be in your area on Apr. 3, I think. Now, to the Vern bus. Just got off with the phone with Dixie. She says T.'s first bus was Loretta Lynn's (still had her name on the side) and the only bus he bought new was the Eagle. She didn't remember when he bought it. She used it for a while after T. bought the Eagle and then it was sold to some fellow whose name I don't recall. So . . . I am flummoxed. She is going to give me T's bus driver's number but I have no doubt that he will confirm this. T drank a lot in those days but I can't imagine him not remembering not buying a bus or waiting until '75 to get his first one. I've got a call into one of Vern's old friends who wrote a few of his hits. He's a pretty big deal in town these days (produces Chesney among others) but he and Vern would have lived next door to each other in Kingston Springs during the applicable time period. He may remember something. I saw Little Roy a couple of times this year. He's got a separate act these days in addition to the Lewis Family. I've always been pretty close to them. I may give him a call. Thanks. Charlie | ||
| Bob MacIsaac (Wildbob24)
Registered Member Username: Wildbob24 Post Number: 65 Registered: 5-2007 Posted From: 68.155.150.83 Rating: N/A |
Charlie, That's interesting. The plot thickens. Yes, I understand that the Lewis family is no more, and he's now touring with Elizabeth Long as the "Little Roy and Lizzie" show. He has some bus stories to tell. He'll most likely tell you to stay away from the old ones. Bob | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 299 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.183.21.246  Rating: N/A |
Charlie when you say Fl next year are you talking about Palatka in Feb? If so we may run into you there. Show you our GM and pick a couple maybe! | ||
| David Evans (Dmd)
Registered Member Username: Dmd Post Number: 396 Registered: 10-2004 Posted From: 173.77.211.93  Rating: N/A |
Palatka! whats the date? i was a North Fla boy for awhile in the 80's. Wild bob your band reminds me of another of my favorites, the Austin Lounge Lizards. I am a comedy/bluegrass drummer myself (currently unemployed in the blugrass genre.)Charlie, come down to Arcadia for the Bussin 2009 (tenth aniversary) and you will see some coaches and get ALOT of info and advice. | ||
| John and Barb Tesser (Bigrigger)
Registered Member Username: Bigrigger Post Number: 300 Registered: 9-2007 Posted From: 24.183.21.246 Rating: N/A |
Dave, Palatka is the Feb 18th through the 20th. It's at Rhodeheavers Boys Ranch. Great venue, miles of sites. We had a wonderful time down there last year. http://www.aandabluegrass.com/Festivals/PalatkaBluegrassFestival.html check it out, John T | ||
| Charlie Sizemore (Goldenhawk)
Registered Member Username: Goldenhawk Post Number: 11 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 166.204.111.213 Rating: N/A |
Yes, that's the name of the place in FL. I never can remember the name. Does Norman have a fall festial there? If so, that's when we'll be there. If not we'll be there in 2011. Now to the inevitable Vern bus. Looks to me like it didn't sell. Mr. Vickers: Do you have a plausible, contrary explanation for records indicating that Tom T. bought the bus new? I'm not saying he didn't because I don't know. It just don't make sense to me that both Dixie and Tom T. would remember otherwise. Maybe T. bought the bus and didn't tell her - and ain't about to fess up now. He lived on the road in those days and Dixie probably would rarely if ever have seen it anyway. Just one possible scenario. Charlie | ||
| J.L.Vickers (Roadrunnertex)
Registered Member Username: Roadrunnertex Post Number: 67 Registered: 10-2006 Posted From: 74.5.97.188 Rating: N/A |
Mr Charlie, All that I have is the GMC Coach parlor car delivery list. This list has been correct when it list who bought the intercity coaches from GMC Truck & Coach. And it states that P8M4905A-990 went to Tom T Hall (Nashville,TN) 01/1975. The other document that is needed to make sure the coach was bought by Tom T Hall is called the Coach finial vehicle record that list when the exact date the coach was received by Tom T Hall and address where this coach went to. I do not have the final vehicle record for this coach sorry to say. But it's interesting about it's previous owners up to this date. If you find any more information please share it with us. jlv | ||
| RJ Long (Rjlong)
Registered Member Username: Rjlong Post Number: 1649 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 67.182.48.162  Rating: N/A |
Chalie - As JLV says, the only other "OFFICIAL" document is the Final Vehicle Record for the coach. The Ohio Museum of Transportation has the complete microfiche file from GM on their entire production run, and, for a $25 donation, will send you a hard copy of the FVR for any bus GMC built, including P8M4905A-990. Direct your inquiry to: Mike Ondecker The Ohio Museum of Transportation 2347 Karendale Drive Toledo, OH 43614-2106 And BTW, my delivery roster for this coach also shows it being sold to Tom T Hall, Nashville TN in January of 1975. It was GM Sales Order Number 204394. FWIW & HTH. . .  | ||
| Charlie Sizemore (Goldenhawk)
Registered Member Username: Goldenhawk Post Number: 12 Registered: 11-2009 Posted From: 74.239.96.212 Rating: N/A |
Well, Mr. R.J., I think I'll do this. Although until this moment I'd decided to quit with it. Mine and Vern's mutual friend the record producer directed me to Vern's guitar player who was with him during all this time. He said his understanding was that Vern had bought the bus from Tom T. who bought it new. In the interim Vern sold the bus, which cleared up another mystery because the last couple of times I saw him he was in an Eagle. Vern got the bus back and as mentioned was in the process of fixing it up. The guitar player said it didn't look like it needed a paint job but Vern thought otherwise. Thanks fellows. | ||
| Jack Conrad (Jackconrad)
Registered Member Username: Jackconrad Post Number: 1170 Registered: 12-2000 Posted From: 74.4.55.77  Rating: N/A |
Charlie, Come down to Bussin' 10 in Arcadia, Florida December 29 though Jan. 1 with early arrivals OK beginning on December 26. In addition to all the caoches, seminars, meals and entertainment, we will have a bluegrass jam tent. All musicians are welcome. I won't even ask you to sing "I want to play in Allison's band", But I sure would not stop you if you did LOL Jack |