Ski Hawk; 1966 Highway Post Office

[jasonfarrington]

New member in western Colorado, joining to find/share information on mid-engine bus conversions.

1966 Highway Post Office Converted in 1982 at Long Beach yacht outfitter.

Highway Products Inc. - Twin Coach/Fageol heritage. Similar to Crown; Tube steel 'whale-skeleton' frame with riveted aluminum skin and roof.

Cummins NHH 220 Turbo (262hp) - oh yeah, she growls and whistles
Eaton Road Ranger 10-speed
Jacobs 3-speed; sounds like a train dropping down high-altitude passes
48,000 miles on drivetrain
Perkins 4.108 12KW generator w/ 500hrs

Lots of original and new components:
2x house battery banks, each 4x golf cart batteries
2x propane furnaces
2x roof AC units
10-gallon water heater
40-gallon propane tank
4-corner hydraulic levelers
125-gallon custom stainless steel fresh-water tank
12v Danfoss compressor refrigerator

[rossvtaylor]

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. I've seen the Crown HPOs...but never this one. It's got a windshield like a GM or Flxible "fishbowl"...which carried over into the Twin Coach heritage. Very cool. I like learning new things.

[Tejon7]

That thing is fantastic! Did you get it recently, or has it been with you for a while?

Welcome and thanks for sharing!

[Rwnielsen]

That thing is awesome! It certainly doesn't look it's age other than some vintage electrical.

[jimmythomas]

I love that original picture -- it looks like a city bus driving out of a shed!

[jasonfarrington]

Thanks. I've had the Ski Hawk about 4-years & 10k miles.

[jasonfarrington]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

Wow! Thanks for sharing this. I've seen the Crown HPOs...but never this one. It's got a windshield like a GM or Flxible "fishbowl"...which carried over into the Twin Coach heritage. Very cool. I like learning new things.

Thanks Ross, I was convinced it was a Flxible when I saw it, the Title stated "Highw". I have not found much of anything on the Highway Products company:

Highway Products Co., Joseph T. Myers, Kent Ohio, Highway Cruiser, Davey Tree Experts, Twin Coach, Compac-Van, Cortez - CoachBuilt.com

I never found a VIN of any kind & ended up making one to match the CA title to register it in CO...

[jasonfarrington]

Probably belongs in 'skoolie life'.. but I only have 1x thread going at the moment.

It took me 12-18 months and a clutch plate to be confident to take it out of town... Every direction from my house goes up 9-11k mountain passes with 6-8% grades. Many upgrades/repairs, and off we went in 2020-2021; Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, California, Utah, and off to Monument Valley Arizona Jan 10.

[Booyah45828]

Sweet Rig!

[Oldyeller]

Very cool. Good find. Keep going down the road.

[cadillackid]

Totally love twin coach!! Well made busses!!!

Ross was this line twins answer to GM and flxible new look? I’ve only ever been on a twin “old look”

[jasonfarrington]

Originally Posted by Booyah45828

Sweet Rig!

Thanks. Looks like you've done a ton of work.

[jasonfarrington]

Originally Posted by cadillackid

Totally love twin coach!! Well made busses!!!

Ross was this line twins answer to GM and flxible new look? I’ve only ever been on a twin “old look”

I've never found much information - I was convinced it was a Flxible when purchased, but the CA title said "HIGHW" & the windshield was slightly different the Flxibles...

Flxible-Fageol-Twin Coach-Highway Products seem to be the same company sold/merged.

I found this when searching & the HPO image has identical lines, even the rear door - maybe the Ski Hawk was the only one:

https://www.curbsideclassic.com/bus-...in-coach-name/