1953 Coachette school bus Ford/Ward

[ewo1]

I found this really cool looking old school bus, a 1953 ford Coachette.
I never heard of or seen one of these before.
It was their handicap model.

6 cyl, 4 spd tranny, WARD body.

Kinda spacious inside for it's size!

According to google, only 330 COACHETTE busses were ever made so this is one of a kind in todays world.

It for sale here in central texas, it's also on facebook too.


I beleive they are asking $4,800 ??

Little valley auto ranch
Belton, tx
254-7607431

[nikitis]

Real cool, but you will never find parts for it, or likely part numbers from Ford.


If you are up for a completely custom retrofit of modern parts to get it running go for it.


Would be a good candidate to put a Ford Electric Crate Motor into it and make a fully EV Bus.

[Ronnie]

Prime restoration canidate. I bet a lot of parts interchange with the ford trucks.

[DeMac]

Originally Posted by Ronnie

Prime restoration canidate. I bet a lot of parts interchange with the ford trucks.

------------
Still has seats, glass, bus lights.... possibly whole?
Cool. Aluminum body?



The P-series was popular. Particularly the P500. Many Vanettes.

[ewo1]

Coachette was started by Carl Graham, formerly regional sales manager for Marmon- Herrington buses (earlier for Ford).
The original design was a 21-passenger city transit bus on a 172-inch wheelbase Ford truck chassis.
Most of the bodies were built by Ward Body Co., Austin, Texas, to Coachette's specifications. After 1958 the design was changed to a nearly flat front, and Chevrolet and GM chassis could be specified. Still later seating capacities up to 37 were offered, and options included air conditioning and sliding window sashes.
About 330 Coachettes were built.



If anyone is interested in buying/restoring this one of a kind bus, I can help with space to store it and work on it too. No charge!

This thing would be really cool with a F550 superduty chassis under it!


Facebook post, much better pics!

[nikitis]

You know those corner bends were all done by hand too in the top front and back with a pounding machine.

[ol trunt]

Wow! That sure is in nice shape. I'd be all over it if I were 15 years younger than my 80 years. Too much fun.
Jack

[somewhereinusa]

Originally Posted by ol trunt

Wow! That sure is in nice shape. I'd be all over it if I were 15 years younger than my 80 years. Too much fun.
Jack

I agree but I'd only have to be 11 years hounger

[Kentucky Dreaming]

Originally Posted by somewhereinusa

I agree but I'd only have to be 11 years hounger

I would have to be 5 years older.

[LargeMargeInBaja]

I could see pulling the body, transferring it to a modern frame with modern suspension and brakes.
4x4?

[cadillackid]

I just dont have the space for it.. if I had a nice big shop building to work on these things it would be a fun resto. well OK restomod because id give it A/C..