| Author |
Message |
Randy Terry (205.188.200.57)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Monday, April 09, 2001 - 11:45 pm: | |
You are happily motoring along from one town to another on a little business trip, when you happen to notice a bus sitting on top of a small hill off to the right about 100 yards. If you are a true, bonafide busnut like I am, you make a hairy, wild-eyed U-turn and go back for another look.
This happened to me. I got out of the car, stood back and marveled at this big wonderful thing on wheels. Where in the world did this bus come from? No, this bus did not look like any bus that had ever graced my eyes before, at least in one whole piece. Parts of it looked familiar, like the "silverside" paneling running the length of the bus on each side and the front bumper and headlights of a PD 3751. Likewise for the sloping, rounded rearend of a Flxible Clipper. Actually, it looked like a cross between a Clipper and a Mexican band bus. Right there on the nose of that gorgeous gizmo was that distinguished emblem that says, "GM Coach". Hey, it was the real item! Hot damn!
Obviously, it was a very old bus, a relic from another era, and it had plenty of rust and missing parts to prove it. But it also had some unique features not found on other more commonly seen buses, such as a scrolling destination sign BELOW the windshield between the turn signal lights, weird air scoops in the roof on each forward corner, and a large wiremesh grill in the tailend with a radiator above the engine. What a sight!
Although this model was new to me, it instantly became my favorite bus. What made it my favorite bus was the "For Sale" sign in the window! Almost any bus with a "For Sale" sign on it becomes my favorite bus, for awhile anyway. I snapped a bunch of pictures, got in the car and continued on my way, marveling at how seeing that deliciously old bus had made my day.
Apparently my car marveled at it too, because on the return trip back to Phoenix, I lost complete control of the steering wheel, the car made an unexpected sharp left turn and came to a stop right next to that old bus. Really! Just like that. Good car!
There's no telling what made me think I needed another bus. Mental illness, maybe. I already own two drivable buses and one parts bus. I don't need another bus. But that's no excuse, as I found out. When there's a bus about to enter your life, there may be nothing you can do about it. And so it was. A 1950 GMC PDA 3704. The first bus I ever test drove that let me walk the last mile back to my car. No problem, I'll take it.
More about the 3704 to come.
Happy busing, and try to keep the thing running.
RT |
madbrit (216.67.202.176)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 6:28 am: | |
Congratulations RT,
does it drive? It's good job you haven't toured the realms of Kingman Az, or you would be dragging many an old bus home...... LOL.
Actually, I have found 2 old Brills new homes in sunny California recently. There are a couple of older GM conversions here and a '47 Flex (bought at auction for $450 and then resold for $2500, I knew I should have gone to that auction!!!), but I haven't come across anymore new 'discoveries' as yet.
Peter. |
J.L.Vickers (209.34.2.152)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, April 10, 2001 - 10:02 am: | |
Yes I have the same problem,and my car does to for some reason it will stop when it,s a GMC intercity coach and won,t start till I do a complete walk around of the old bus.But never worry it only gets worse as you grow older.
JLV |
dougthebonifiedbusnut (24.147.157.103)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, April 12, 2001 - 10:18 pm: | |
hey rt know the feeling had it for a year before my loving wife finally let me buy my georgous old crown only two real loves in my life my wife and kids and my bus when it comes to working on the house im usually awful tired but usually have plenty of energy when it comes to working on the bus put your project in the conversions on progress section would love to see her i got my digital camera so plan to have mine in there soon happy converting |
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