Projects 1947 Flxible Clipper build

I've been Jonesing for a 47-49 Flexy for years. Color me green.

 

When Steve was building his Starliner, I suggested painting silhouettes of passengers heads in the blocked windows.

 

I like the idea of retaining the window opening contour and just replacing the glass with an opaque panel. I've seen several busses converted to RV use with skinned over windows. Some are done well, some not so much. It seems to me that retaining the original lines of the bus is desireable.

Whatever you decide, I applaud your effort and as stated in my earlier post, have a bit of envy too. Such a stylish vehicle!

 

I sure hope you don't.

 

GREAT project! When it's finished, fly over, do some Tin Can Tourist events, then have it shipped home. It'd be the trip of a lifetime.

Brian

 

Man, that thing is just awesome!

 

There is a Mack transit bus that comes to eastern truck shows that has windows painted up that way, pretty cool.

 

Due to the fact that to be a bus, I would have to pretty much build a new frame because of rust issues, all body panels from the widows down need to be replaces also due to rust, there is no drive train, both front and rear axles need to be replaced, this isn't ever going to be a restoration.

 

A local couple redid this one a few years ago.

My buddy has a 59 that is an older conversion that will end up being someone's barn find bus one of these days. He has it stashed in the oversize garage he built for it and it hasn't been out for several years.

 

If its the same one that was at Wintersun years ago this project has great prospects of being a knockout! White with flames and BBC

Try these http://flxibleowners.org, http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Flxible

 

Here is a listing of serial numbers and who took delivery when built. Mine is #7181
http://flxibleowners.org/serial-numbers/

 

How cool is that!

 

Although I didn't really want to, some of the windows have been skinned over where appliances and cupboards are behind them. If the glass get broken or there is a leak on the window seal, the interior may need to come out and I didn't want that!

Also the body shop has done a great job on repairing a ripple in the roof that needed the outside and inside skin taking off

 

Yeah........Lucy & Desi.

 

lucy, charlie brown, linus, and snoopy..

 

The interior is about 90% stripped now. The restorer has found some serious rust issues around two windows but should be replaced with new metal by the end of next week. The old black and grey tanks are shot so new ones will have to be fabricated as there isn't a lot of room under the bus.

 

Here is a pic of the Aussie flx badge on my clipper (one of six that were imported into New Zealand in 1953 by Newmans Coach Lines).



Doing a build like that is a massive undertaking , I wish you well with it.

 

Fantastic, the Ansair seems to be prized more by you guys, very few find their way to the crusher unlike Flxibles in the USA. Couldn't believe that the Clipper I bought would have ended up in pieces!! From what the restoration shop tell me, most of their business comes from NZ and Australia. They convert to right hand drive before shipping. I would presume then that a genuine Ansair is a very rare find and demand is high for the Flxible style.

 

Of the six originally imported here , only 2 are known to survive, and mine is so far gone with rust , that it is considered dead.
Another was imported a few years ago, needing major restoration , and has been sitting unchanged for ages (not far from me).
The Ansair club in Aussie have a good record of most of the original 131 made , with about 40+ being in club members ownership.

ps, there is one for sale now , big block chev , flame paint etc , $120K . good luck to them with that.

 

The Flxible is getting it's final sanding before paint. I'm glad someone else is doing the work, don't think I would have the will power!!

 

Wow! What an interesting project

It will be gorgeous when done. I wish you well

Bobby

 

Great job.
There are lot of followers in the RV world for these unique Flxible's...
I really wanted to redo one for myself for retirement, but got old too fast, and wound up buying an RV instead.
When I see posts like yours I still would love to do one..
Good luck..lookin' awesome !

 

Interior metal has been treated and primed. The walkway down the centre of the bus has been widened by removing a channel on one side of the raised floor that is no longer used.

 

Awesome project. I personally think that you should import it to the UK and keep it there. I Like seeing classic American vehicles go t other countries because they will at least be safe from scrappers, vandals, thief's, and the fact that the USA is headed down the proverbial drain and there is no way to save it. Please rescue more vintage American vehicles, they deserve to be saved.

 

Not sure that I agree about the USA going down the drain (But of course I don't live there so tend to look at it through rose tinted glasses).

I was amazed though that this bus was going to the crusher!!

In the UK we are probably too protective of the past. We even saved a bunch of rocks scattered in a circle in the middle of a field.

 

Hi bingo66.Now that is one hell of a first project.As to the paint prep.Just think of the guys that do repaints on a 747 or a C5A Galaxie.Hehehe.
Good luck.Have fun.Be safe.
Leo

 

That is SO COOL! I would love to go roaring around in it. Like Dexter the Dog, I also remember the big warm cloud of diesel exhaust wrapping around me when the bus let me off. Wonderful memories. Thanks.
Jim Sig

 

Work continues on the Clipper this week. Widening the walkway has proved to be a very expensive alteration (and probably why previous RV conversions on Clippers have left the walkway as a narrow channel). The sub floor and structure of the chassis have been altered to make a wide isle possible (image 1). This has loaded the bill quite considerably but makes our Clipper quite unique as it's probably the only one with this modification (I'm trying to see the positive here but I'm struggling!!)

The next problem has been the way the heater and A/C were fitted when the Flxible was first converted to an RV. The only thing that was holding the units in place was the outside and inside skin of the vehicle. The restoration shop has fabricated and welded in place supporting structures that tie everything to the actual structure of the vehicle (image 2,3. Not very clear in the images but it's everything in black).

Finally, the dashboard has been stripped and primed ready for final paint (last image)
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In the last picture, (of the dash) what is the small lever sticking up out of the floor in front of the left wheel tub? I don't recall seeing that on mine.
Also IIRC, the sidewalls of the center walkway are the tops of the main frame rails, I worry about modifying them, I certainly hope your builder knows what he is doing.