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Old 07-09-2018, 07:21 AM   #1
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Join Date: Sep 2014
Location: Eustis FLORIDA
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Saoirse- The Freedom Unicorn

Well I bought an unlikely bus today. Thomas with a Cat. Probably surprised a bunch of you but I'm just frustrated with not having a bus to enjoy and I've been working so hard this year!

As most of you know I've been looking for a good deal on a rusty but mechanically sound donor bus to replace a bunch of mechanical stuff on my 04 IC shorty. Well even rust buckets are going for a lot it seems. In my search and continual bidding on donor buses I came across some decent looking shorties in GA.

I was happy no one posted links to this in the buses for sale thread. Scored a 1999 Thomas shorty. Maybe a high headroom model. I think its a 6 window. Maybe 5. Hard to tell from the pics. THe prices stayed low due to the lack of pics and info but a vin decoder figured out most of what I needed to know.

https://www.publicsurplus.com/sms/au...ew?auc=2113681



Low miles and hours on a handi bus. I think I got a good deal. Will be my first Cat 3126. They had four, two of which had Cats and the other two were later model Mercedes. I've been wanting to try a Cat for a while now so I figured this was cheap and close enough to go for it.
If I don't like it I'll paint it and flip it on CL.



I'm a sucker for a clean, straight handi bus.

Atlanta isn't too far, so getting it here won't be too bad hopefully.
Wish me luck- The adventure continues!

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Old 07-09-2018, 07:24 AM   #2
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Join Date: Sep 2014
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Just got my buyer's notice via email and there's no buyer's premium! So I scored this sucker for $1625.

Can't wait to get up there and see it!
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Old 07-09-2018, 07:34 AM   #3
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Just got my buyer's notice via email and there's no buyer's premium! So I scored this sucker for $1625.

Can't wait to get up there and see it!
Congrats! That right in the same neighborhood of what I paid! Mine had some pretty poor pictures as well, and I had the same thought of that being why it stayed low.
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Old 07-09-2018, 07:36 AM   #4
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Congrats! That right in the same neighborhood of what I paid! Mine had some pretty poor pictures as well, and I had the same thought of that being why it stayed low.
Every bus I've gotten a great deal on has had very little in the way of pic and detailed info. But I can usually figure out enough to make a "wholesale" bid.
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Old 07-09-2018, 07:45 AM   #5
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Year: 1999
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Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
The mileage is reported to be correct, so I feel pretty comfortable with a Cat 3126 in it as long as they've done a decent job maintaining it. For the age and mileage I'd imagine it got maintained better than a high mileage route bus.
The transmission may be a 545. I'd imagine it is. If not I'll be delighted. If so it wouldn't be the first time. I won't let that get in the way of a really cheap bus. If I REALLY end up liking this thing then I can upgrade later if needed.
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Old 07-09-2018, 09:19 AM   #6
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Outstanding ECCB! Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Hope it has all you are looking for.
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Old 07-09-2018, 09:20 AM   #7
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The mileage is reported to be correct, so I feel pretty comfortable with a Cat 3126 in it as long as they've done a decent job maintaining it. For the age and mileage I'd imagine it got maintained better than a high mileage route bus.
The transmission may be a 545. I'd imagine it is. If not I'll be delighted. If so it wouldn't be the first time. I won't let that get in the way of a really cheap bus. If I REALLY end up liking this thing then I can upgrade later if needed.
Glad to see you rolling again, and good luck on the drive home. Looking forward to pics of your new beast.

Looks like a 6 window to me.
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Old 07-09-2018, 09:23 AM   #8
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Outstanding ECCB! Sounds like a pretty sweet deal. Hope it has all you are looking for.
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Glad to see you rolling again, and good luck on the drive home. Looking forward to pics of your new beast.
Thanks guys. I'll be happy as a clam if this works out well.
I've typically not looked at Thomas, Cat, or anything from GA. Thought I'd alter my strategy a bit and see how the cards play out.
At least getting it home will only be a mere 375 miles each way. Nothing compared to my previous purchases.

If I REALLY end up liking this bus, the Freightliner front end will look great with the big chrome duck on it!
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Old 07-09-2018, 09:47 AM   #9
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Good luck, when are you going to get it?
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Old 07-09-2018, 10:51 AM   #10
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Old 07-09-2018, 11:18 AM   #11
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I know alot of people don't like the cats, but aside from the ecm crap I like mine. The Thomas is great screws are awesome.
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Old 07-09-2018, 01:09 PM   #12
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I know alot of people don't like the cats, but aside from the ecm crap I like mine. The Thomas is great screws are awesome.
I prefer rivets, just because screws can back out and end up in tires. Been dealing with that since Shaun got a new roof!

I'll not be doing a full conversion. My shorties more or less stay buses. But yeah I still prefer the rivets. I've gotten pretty efficient at removing them.
If we do gut it for whatever reason yeah I'll probably save an hour or so on it with the screws.

We're hoping this thing runs and drives enough to go camp out in it in August.
If anyone wants to meet up and party there's a Ween show in St Augustine on Aug 14th.
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Old 07-09-2018, 01:27 PM   #13
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Congrats on the new bus!
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Old 07-09-2018, 01:44 PM   #14
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So I scored this sucker for $1625.

Seems like that you might have a little left for beer and bbq when you get home.
Congrats for sure!
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Old 07-09-2018, 02:21 PM   #15
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So I scored this sucker for $1625.

Seems like that you might have a little left for beer and bbq when you get home.
Congrats for sure!
Thanks!
I definitely wanna have a bus party one way or another this year.
My Colorado shorty was $1760. This one looks even nicer!

I've been secretly plotting Cat 3126 ownership ever since my Navistar nightmare began. Hopefully its a "screamin Cat that won't hold back". lol
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Old 07-09-2018, 02:58 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
Just got my buyer's notice via email and there's no buyer's premium! So I scored this sucker for $1625.
How the hell did that happen? I thought it was a Public Surplus fee.



Quote:
Originally Posted by Whatthefak View Post
The Thomas is great screws are awesome.
YOU SUCK!!!! says the Blue Bird owner.



Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
The transmission may be a 545. I'd imagine it is.
What??? Does Thomas.com or whatever suck? With my VIN I had the serial number of my tranny much less model.


Quote:
Originally Posted by EastCoastCB View Post
I've been secretly plotting Cat 3126 ownership ever since my Navistar nightmare began. Hopefully its a "screamin Cat that won't hold back". lol
You should throw in a Merc and one of those mid-engine Gillig's since you like pain so much.
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Old 07-09-2018, 03:33 PM   #17
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Year: 1999
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Rated Cap: 15
According to the VIN decoders I've found its got 224hp. Not bad!!!!
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Old 07-09-2018, 03:37 PM   #18
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That's a heck of a score! I've been toying around with the idea of leaving my 11 window on my friends land ill be going to once I'm done and getting a shorty to use as my roadtrip bus. That would be a ways down the road though, but still thinking about it
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Old 07-09-2018, 04:10 PM   #19
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Join Date: Sep 2014
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Year: 1999
Coachwork: Thomas
Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
If its got any 3126 other than the lowest rated one (175hp) it will almost surely have a 3060. This could be awesome.
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Old 07-09-2018, 05:49 PM   #20
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Year: 1999
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Chassis: Freighliner FS65
Engine: Cat 3126
Rated Cap: 15
Well its paid for.
Got about two weeks to go up to Douglasville and retrieve it.

I hope the vin decoders and pics of the gauges are right and that its a high powered low mile, low hour unit!
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