My grandmother-in-law's neighbor is going to scrap the late 30s Ford bus that's been sitting in her back 40 for probably 40 years. I looked at it probably 6 or 7 years ago, and my memory tells me it's a '38 or '39. It still has a Flathead in it, but it looked pretty rough. Anything off one of these old buses that's worth anything? It's an hour drive for me and I really have no way of hauling it home and absolutely no room to store anything more, but if buses have anything that people are crazy over, I can probably spot the neighbor a case of beer to get it out for me. Thanks for any replies...
Check to see if it has the guide headlights, Id save the motor people are always looking for flatheads, and I would think that there may be a few dash bits and marker lights that are worth taking off.
There are guys that dig busses. But the thing with a bus is... you can store stuff IN it. Thus solving part of your problem of no room to store stuff. Those things are so scarce, truck collectors tend to pay pretty good money for things you'd think are worthless crap.
Thanks for the replies...there is no room on my lot for a bus, so that's out. Plus, this thing has been in the woods used as a storage shed for over 40 years. It'll never see the road again. (These are not empty words--we Michigan guys have a totally different meaning of "roadworthy") Finally, my grandma in law promised her neighbor the bus to scrap...and these up north guys aren't the kind of people to take money from . I may run up this week and see if there aren't any trim parts or the grille shell left, but I'm sure the engine is toast because it's been sitting out without an air cleaner for 40 years. Plus, I don't even know how I'd get it out of the woods (it's several hundred yards back in there)...If I find anything good I'll let everyone know!
Well, it ended up being a '35 or '6...looks like a 1 1/2 ton. I took a bunch of pictures that I'll post later. I ended up getting the grille shell and the intake manifold and the last plate that was on it ('53--rusted almost beyond recognition). The engine was sitting out without a carburetor, but I took a pic of the valley...I'll post some within a few days...As far as the trans crossmember is concerned, we'll see. I really have no idea how that neighbor is going to get the bus out from where it sits.
When he hooks it up to the tractor & it breaks in 2, then the trans & X-member ought to be easy to get! (lol) Larry
The trans may be worthless...I couldn't move the gearshift at all. Then again, maybe the gearshift was frozen!
Probably with a sawsall and some time. My first choice would be to save the whole thing but if that's not going to happen then I say snag the grille, headlights, steering wheel and column, gauges, I'd even go as far as to take out the front suspension but leave the commercial drums behind.
It's unfortunately not mine to sell...I didn't even tell old grandma in law that I swiped the grille and intake...
you might wanna propose to grammy to try and sell it before sending it to the crusher. someone could make a sweet hotrod motorhome outta that. im sure theres plenty of takers right here on the HAMB...ive seen much worse shape vehicles than that get back on the road
Man i didnt know that thing was this cool you have to buy it from her . Or steal it when shes not looking there cant be meny of those around if any . Put the grill and intake back on the bus that thing is worth more as a bus then scrap id say 1000 in scrap 1500 to 2500 as a bus it has to be hard to find one ,ive never seen one why woudnt she sell it to you for scrap price offer her 700 .
You Michigan guys keep saying your standards are so low from rust but man everything I see is over exagerated. if that bus was around here it would be in my backyard within acouple days. Id still take the motor too, who knows man when there gonna start making them again
Bus like that can't weigh more than three tons. $600 scrap, tops, before the time to haul it out of there. Makes more sense to me to cut the brush down around it, post it for sale somewhere, and have someone come in and buy it. Even if they pay you the scrap value, you save a day and who knows how much gas dragging it out of there.
It is in better shape than I remembered. Remember--cars usually look much better in pictures than they do in real life. If anyone's seriously interested in buying it, send an offer and I'll give it to Grams...It would need to be a quick transaction and pickup though, for some reason she's anxious to get her property cleaned up.
Save that thing !!! I understand that your not in a position to bring it home. But man, there seems to be quite a bit left (by Vermont standards) With all the posts lately about the junkyards crushing and ole tin literally disappearing, it seems like a no brainer. (no offense or insult meant, honest). Really, thats gotta be one rare vehicle, wouldn't be a tuff decision if it was a 32 or 40 coupe, right? Shes got style, parts, a history maybe even a soul...... Save, sell, part out, donate it, just don't turn it into third world soup cans. Be really really nice to yer wife, AND mother in law at least for a while. Then point out to gram in law that it's a piece of American history AND that fathers day is coming up..... If you ain't got kids get to it, man..... Just my 34 cents, good luck Aaron65. Howard
That bus has not been on salted roads for 40 years... Unless you can poke holes through the sheet metal, it may be worth more than $600 to somebody.
Hey! Before we all cut it up, has anyone talked to the HAMBer who was looking for something to make a hot rod for his disabled son? He might be VERY interested in the WHOLE thing ... just a thought. If memory serves, he needed something with at least 60" of headroom inside and wanted something with some cool lines .... this would fit the bill in my estimation.
DAMN Gigantor, you beat me to it, I was going to suggest the same thing. Also it is definitly worth saving. There are not alot of busses that are still around, rodded or otherwise. It might take some time to pull it out of the weeds but save the bus.
I sent a PM to TexasDeuce with a link to this thread, I don't know if he and his sone ever settled on anything in particular ... but this thing would be TIGHT all fixed up and rodded out.
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