StudeDave's '50 Studebaker bus (a.k.a. 'Nelly')

StudeDave · 03-16-2012, 11:19 PM

'Nelly' is on her way to me as I type this. She is due here on Sunday.
For reference I'm the guy who bought the bus talked about here~
http://www.skoolie.net/forum/viewtopic.php?f=12&t=11684

Hopefully, sometime soon, I'll have pictures of her being loaded for her trip North.
And there is NO DOUBT I'll have pictures of her being un-loaded once she's here.
I have learned that posting pictures is easy as I saw in the above thread,
but doing so in the gallery is another story altogether~ HELP!!!

As mentioned in the thread above- I plan to keep her mostly as she sits.
I'll decide what changes to make once I get her here and learn about her.
She's been sitting for 15 years or more. I'll start with the mechanical stuff.

But anyway- enough of my random thoughts, I have bored you enough.
Once Nelly is here- expect the real questions to flow!!!

Tango · 03-17-2012, 12:16 AM

Congratulations! You just may have acquired a bus that's even harder to find parts for mine! If the chassis is a ton-and-a-half Stude...who is the body by...Graf Zepplin?! What a sweetheart, and she looks to be rock solid. Can't wait to see & hear more about this undoubtedly rare bird.

Stuff · 03-17-2012, 02:29 PM

sweet classic ride!

his ride btw

StudeDave · 03-18-2012, 06:55 PM

Thanks for all the well wishes, folks. She showed up today!!!

We hadn't had her off the trailer for long when someone was already ready to go for a ride~

I'll have many many more pictures posted later on...
right now I have to get started cleaning her up!!!

Tango · 03-18-2012, 10:05 PM

Still can't get over what great shape she appears to be in. And it looks like you have a trusty (if not a wee bit sleepy) roadmate as well!

bansil · 03-19-2012, 11:35 AM

cool

Stuff · 03-19-2012, 01:04 PM

WICKED shot of her coming home on the 18wheeler!!

chev49 · 03-19-2012, 01:46 PM

Transportation probably wasn't cheap...

jaredg · 03-19-2012, 06:17 PM

That bus is awesome! And super Rare! the body is by Superior Coach.

StudeDave · 03-20-2012, 12:22 PM

Thanks again for the comments!!! I still can't believe this bus is sitting in my Dad's driveway~

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tango

Still can't get over what great shape she appears to be in. And it looks like you have a trusty (if not a wee bit sleepy) roadmate as well!

Well, Jackson is like that- give him two minutes, and he's comfortable just about anywhere. What you're seeing in this picture is him about to high-tail it outta the bus because my older brother, his wife, and their two little dogs had just shown up for a tour.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuff

WICKED shot of her coming home on the 18wheeler!!

Thanks!!! I was able to time it just right due to it being a Sunday afternoon. That rig was about the only one I had seen for five minute of waiting. The driver called ahead from about ten miles down the road, so I knew when to look. My shop is right off the freeway- and I have a nice view, as you can see.

Quote:

Originally Posted by chev49

Transportation probably wasn't cheap...

It wasn't, but it wasn't nearly as expensive as I thought it would be, either. This was one of the key factors in being able to purchase the bus. Once the seller's price dropped to a good number I got worried about transportation and/or the other options I had. But after getting two quotes within $100 of each other- and $300 less then my magic number- I knew I was about to own a bus!!! The cost from Fremont, CA to here was only $1500.

It's been hard to stay away from my new toy, so finding time to download pictures has been hard.
Once I do- I'm sure you're gonna dig what you see.

chev49 · 03-20-2012, 07:59 PM

transportation costs were good, considering that the trucker was not hauling 2 vehicles... and the fuel cost..
We normally pay around half of that much for each piece of equipment when we get 2 backhoes or excavators shipped that far, so 750 x 2 equals the same amount...

StudeDave · 03-20-2012, 08:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chev49

transportation costs were good, considering that the trucker was not hauling 2 vehicles... and the fuel cost..
We normally pay around half of that much for each piece of equipment when we get 2 backhoes or excavators shipped that far, so 750 x 2 equals the same amount...

Well...
he had already dropped the '65 Mustang (that leaked oil all over my bus!!!) and the food truck by the time he got here. I do not know where they were picked up, but my understanding is that they both went to locations somewhere near Shelton, WA. I think he was happy to honor the quote he give me back in November because by the time I bought the bus he was already going to be making the trip (most of the way) up here. Icing on his cake so to speak, I suppose. Not to mention- a buyer of my Family's rides had dealt with him in the past, as did one of the prior owners of my bus.
It was a really, really odd twist to the story which I will one day explain in detail, somehow.

Let's just say- I was meant to get this bus- one way or the other.
It's like the Planets were in perfect alignment or something...
I should'a bought a lottery ticket while I was at it!!!

Accordion · 03-21-2012, 06:59 AM

Is that a 1965 Studebaker Commander car next to your bus? I had a 1963 Studebaker Lark that had a Ford 289 motor. It was a three on the tree standard transmission with a manual overdrive that was controlled by a cable which looked like a choke cable. You could put any gear in overdrive, even reverse.

To this day, I still think that The Studebaker Avanti is the coolest looking car ever made.

Studebakers are prized by many.

StudeDave · 03-21-2012, 10:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Accordion

Is that a 1965 Studebaker Commander car next to your bus? I had a 1963 Studebaker Lark that had a Ford 289 motor. It was a three on the tree standard transmission with a manual overdrive that was controlled by a cable which looked like a choke cable. You could put any gear in overdrive, even reverse.
To this day, I still think that The Studebaker Avanti is the coolest looking car ever made.
Studebakers are prized by many.

Sorta, no, and yes!!!
The car in the picture is my '65 Cruiser. She's the top of the line for Studebaker in 1965. We do have a '65 Commander out back, though!!! I also own a '54 and a '57 Commander, a '57 Champion, a '57 Parkview (wagon), and a '58 Packard.
While your car may have had a 289- I doubt it was a Ford. Studebaker had an engine that also displaced 289 cubes. It was their own engine. The only Studebakers that did not have Studebaker power were the '56 Golden Hawks, '65 and '66 Studes, and diesel trucks.
Well, those and the various carts, buggies and wagons from 1852 and up.

The Avantis were indeed pretty cool rides. One of these days we'll get Dad's back on the road and see just how cool...

Stuff · 03-21-2012, 12:28 PM

lol i now know that the bus is in very competent hands that knows everything about Studebakers!!

StudeDave · 03-21-2012, 12:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Stuff

lol i now know that the bus is in very competent hands that knows everything about Studebakers!!

I wouldn't say I know everything, but I do know enough to be dangerous!!!
If there's something I don't know- I have my StudeFamily to fall back on...
they're the ones who know (nearly) everything 'bout Studebakers.

chev49 · 03-21-2012, 02:13 PM

Just give me one with a supercharger....

StudeDave · 03-29-2012, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by chev49

Just give me one with a supercharger....

I hear ya there!!!
As odd as it sounds~ the thought has actually crossed my mind to install a blower on the bus!!!

YIKES!!!

I'm not too sure why I didn't post this link before, but some other pictures can be found here~

http://s175.photobucket.com/albums/w...50%20StudeBus/

Sorry 'bout that!!! Look for more (better) pics to be added at a later date...

sdwarf36 · 03-30-2012, 08:29 PM

<-- closet Stude fan here.

The small town I grew up in had more Studes per capita than even South bend. $ brothers used to own dealership until Stude went under. But they all had collections they kept. One was the mayor of the town for like 25 years-had 8 or so. 2 brothers opened a toyota dealership-they had 2 perfect Avantis-a black one and a white one- probably under 10k miles on them. You only saw them in it was 68 degrees-no clouds-perfect humidity. One of them had a Lark that was one of the quickest cars in town. A paxtoned 289-quite built for the day. Straight axle + on the old 7" cheater slicks. This thing ran 11's in the 1/4 way back in the early 70's. That was very fast for the day. Another brother ran a junk yard-had at least 100 saved.
I've always wanted a certian car I've only seen in magazines. A sliding roof wagon. Then i saw the holy grail. Tell me you don't go "wooo' when you open this : http://bringatrailer.com/2011/11/07/pax ... aytona-r2/

Accordion · 03-30-2012, 08:55 PM

WELL, I must tell you of the 1961 Rambler station wagon that I once had. It was black in color with a small straight six and three on the tree. It was cool. It looked like an upturned bathtub. I also had a 1963 Rambler wagon. It had a straight six. If I am not mistaken, it was an engine that had the spark plugs on the top of the engine.

I also had a 1964 and a 1965 Rambler 2 door coupe.

However, some of my favorites were the 1963, 1968, and 1969 Dodge Darts that all had the 225 slant six motor that ran forever. They all had the push button transmission shifters.

BUT most likely my favorite car was the 1972 Checker Marathon with a Chevy 350 motor and automatic transmission. You could sit in the back seat and not be able to touch the back of the front seat with your feet.

I sure am dating myself with these memories.

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