Anyone building or thought about building a school bus?

My wife drives a School bus for the local Distric. It would be cool to have a 40's or 50s short bus for her to drive to school.

 

quite a few on google images people have built. just google "hot rod school bus" in images

 

My sister used to ride one like this.... Does that count?

 

My wife also drives school bus. I always thought it would be cool if I could fix one up for her. She doesn't appreciate my hobby but maybe a restored or hot rod school would get her interested a little.

 

Old busses are great. Too bad there aren't many left on the right coast that havent been eaten by the salt.

 

When the price of s**** went up a lot of old buses were filled and smashed like station wagons and vans.

 

bttp

 

This is a freinds here on Vancouver Island

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CCg9oUM9O3I

 

This immediately think of the school bus built for John Force on Overhaulin.

 

Here is mine and my brothers latest project. 52 Wayne bodied GMC School Bus
It now is sitting on a 80s crewcab Chevy 1 ton frame with plans that call for a 6.0 liter vortec with a 4L80E come tax time.

 

Here are some pics we took the day we got it.

 

When I was in high school, my buddy and I always used to talk about using a bus as a camper to road trip across North America...

Never panned out, but I always thought it would still be cool. I'd either build a hotrod bus as a camper, or build a Bonneville bus... You know, something you can show up in, with a ramp in back to roll out your speedster...

 

Wife wants a "short bus" for football tailgating. Immediately thought '53-'56 Ford ch***is or Chevy AD (she grew up in a Bowtie family) - actually saw a real sharp AD-based short bus go past our place over the summer with polished aluminum wheels/chrome center cap. She's thinking surplus airport limo (I have a cousin in OR that did this). Then reality set in - where do I store it, none the less build it when I already have four project/hobby cars in the shop.

 

Coolest bus I ever saw was at Goodguys 2007 in Madison,Wi.

 

Here is a bit of info if you are wanting to build one. Try and find a shuttle bus, box van or a cab and ch***is with straight rails instead of using a pickup frame. It will be a whole lot easier to mount the body. But a good thing was the one ton that we used wheel base was only four inches longer than the original frame so all we had to do was have the local spring shop repunch the tie bolt hole in the main leaf four inches forward.

 

Friend of mine (not a Hamber) is building a 49 Ford school bus. It was imported from the US. It's now on a Chev dually frame with a 454. The steering and doors have been swapped over to right hand drive.

 

I think this link will take you to a you tube of a "monster truck" type
school bus. Kinda neat. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XAKr5NgybvY&feature=related

 

Anyone remember Tom Mcmullen's '48 Ford school bus that the build was shared in Street Rodder magazine? That got me to thinking about the '47 Ford 13 p***enger school bus that belonged to my grandfather and I rode to school the first day of first grade. My aunt now owns it and she gave it to me after my grandfather died. It would make a terrific clone of McMullen's but it doesn't look like I'm going to be able to get it to Michigan before the big dirt nap.

Frank

 

Best Bus Ever!



http://www.jalopyjournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=466469&highlight=coe+bus

 

That would be cool. But if I had one it would have a dancin pole, disco light's and a wet bar..the ultimate "Tailgater"

 

i have a school bus i restored to use for going to car shows.. it draws alot of attention..and with the slide-out has all the room i need for me and a few buddies

it dont really look much like a school bus anymore since i made a few changes





link to album.. http://s202.photobucket.com/albums/...c bus demolition/46 magic bus reconstruction/

 

Here is one on CL thats in Northern Cal right now best of luck - http://humboldt.craigslist.org/cto/2756163916.html

 

Latest story is the 454 is toast so get tossed out.
Not sure what the replacement is yet.

 

you could use a 6.5 turbo diesel (or even a c180 supercharged like i did) that is what i was going to put in the one i was going to build before i started my 47 white...now it just sits out back hoping for a new owner..

 

Yes we build a 1936 Chevrolet School Bus with a blown 427.
Its all about attention and picture taking sitting still or going down the highway. Its the coolest ride we ever had. Took 2 1/2 years to build the way we wanted it. Original fender skirts and stop sign.
Better known as 'Bondo High' ...

 

sadly, this is what happens to a great many HOT ROD school bus's.... just stupid.

 

wow watson...i really like that.... looks similar to mine... kinnda

 

To work maybe, but the School district would have a fit if a POV picked up kids!

That was a pretty good one. There was a nice bus on the Power Tour a couple years ago.

 

Randy's bus IS the coolest ever. Makes me want to go back to school.
Bob