1999 Bluebird Freightliner bus

[Blackwood]

For sale 1999 Bluebird Freightliner bus for $3500
5.9 Cummins engine, Allison automatic transmission, air brakes, 11R x 22.5 virgin tires, all glass in good condition, 28,000 miles. 12 windows down the side. Bus runs and drives out good and in very good condition with no apparent issues. Would make a great schoolie project, will remove seats if desired. Bus is located in Sumiton AL. Call Brian @ 2059153424 or post questions.

[Tango]

Hmmmm...only 28K in 20 years? That's 1400 miles per year.



Didn't happen. Replaced gauges. Guess again.

[Blackwood]

Originally Posted by Tango

Hmmmm...only 28K in 20 years? That's 1400 miles per year.



Didn't happen. Replaced gauges. Guess again.

That's what's on the odometer, I donno it came from the Shelby County school district but I don't have any info on it or maintenance records. I was told they have to replace buses when they reach a given age regardless of miles. I have driven it and it drives out good, no smoke, oil looks clean. I don't know what a school bus racks up in a year.

[o1marc]

Originally Posted by Blackwood

That's what's on the odometer, I donno it came from the Shelby County school district but I don't have any info on it or maintenance records. I was told they have to replace buses when they reach a given age regardless of miles. I have driven it and it drives out good, no smoke, oil looks clean. I don't know what a school bus racks up in a year.

School buses average around 10K miles a year in school service. It is EXTREMELY common for the speedometers to have issues early in life and are replaced.

[Tango]

What Marc said. Skoolies often go through a set or two of gauges during their service life. One of the most common issues...with all makes.

[Blackwood]

Originally Posted by o1marc

School buses average around 10K miles a year in school service. It is EXTREMELY common for the speedometers to have issues early in life and are replaced.

Thanks for the info

[Blackwood]

Originally Posted by Tango

What Marc said. Skoolies often go through a set or two of gauges during their service life. One of the most common issues...with all makes.

All I can say is it appears to be in good mechanical shape and as a former Cummins engine mechanic I know the 5.9 Cummins and a Allison transmission go for as much and sometimes more than the asking price, but I do appreciate the info. I own and drive a 1987 Peterbilt 359 that has 2.5 million miles on it......

[EastCoastCB]

Originally Posted by Blackwood

All I can say is it appears to be in good mechanical shape and as a former Cummins engine mechanic I know the 5.9 Cummins and a Allison transmission go for as much and sometimes more than the asking price, but I do appreciate the info. I own and drive a 1987 Peterbilt 359 that has 2.5 million miles on it......

359 is a real nice rig! Classic!

I've been working my way up to buying a semi to convert. A local dude has one "for towing his boat".

[PNW_Steve]

Originally Posted by EastCoastCB

359 is a real nice rig! Classic!

I've been working my way up to buying a semi to convert. A local dude has one "for towing his boat".

Did you ever see any of the Kingsley coaches?

https://www.busesandmore.com/invento...377-peterbilt/

A gent with one stayed at the Casino I worked at brought one in and was quite proud of it. It was a really nice rig. Beautifully finished and had a Series 60 with an 18 speed Eaton Autoshift.

[Blackwood]

Originally Posted by PNW_Steve

Did you ever see any of the Kingsley coaches?

https://www.busesandmore.com/invento...377-peterbilt/

A gent with one stayed at the Casino I worked at brought one in and was quite proud of it. It was a really nice rig. Beautifully finished and had a Series 60 with an 18 speed Eaton Autoshift.

Yeah that's really sweet setup.....

[ThePimentals]

Originally Posted by Tango

Hmmmm...only 28K in 20 years? That's 1400 miles per year.



Didn't happen. Replaced gauges. Guess again.

Highly possibly guys. Come on. School have spare busses they only run once a month maybe. Get an imagination.

[Brdfrd]

Okay, specially, what model Allison?

[Roger_U-2]

Which Allison transmission is in the bus? What type of brakes and what is their condition? Thanks for the information, I am only a bit over two hour away & am in the market for a bus at the right price and condition but not in a hurry to buy if I find anything wrong.

[geminusprime]

Originally Posted by ThePimentals

Highly possibly guys. Come on. School have spare busses they only run once a month maybe. Get an imagination.

That's why I chose a vista over a transit style - the vista was a spare bus on the lot. Verified 108,XXX miles since 1998 (unless they are cheating the maintenance records & mileage logs, which I doubt they would care enough to do).


A few other buses I looked at in upstate NC school districts were also spare buses with low milage. Nearly every school district is going to have multiple spares, and unless they rotate their inventory regularly the spares seem to have low miles and are in better condition (usually).


As for price, I can only speak of NC schools, but they don't get to choose the prices. There's a big list of which buses cost what regardless of condition (as long as they are running). All other engine and transmission choices made by the district aside, it makes for a good system to find some unicorns IF YOU'RE PATIENT.

[Blackwood]

Sorry guys I had 2 buses one posted here and another one I had, they both sold this weekend. Trying to aquire some more and will post here if that happens. Thanks

[ahibbert]

If the engine is late enough to have an ECM Then there's a way to read the hours of the engine on it if that has not been replaced. If it's a mechanical engine no way to tell.