For Sale! Turn Key Bus Conversion! Fullsize, RE Vintage Bluebird Ready to go!

[IanT720]

My 1972 Bluebird, Rear Engine Bus..

Everyone, it's with a heavy heart I decided to sell my bus. I lived in it for 4 years building, I met my wife and we lived in it for 2. And spent almost a whole year traveling, and living in the bus on the road for around 3,000 miles! We have a daughter now, are moving States, and need a house. "Birdy" Cannot come with us.

I'm a Master Mechanic, and Mechanical Engineer.. I did everything on this bus top to bottom, I did it well. Ask any questions you have! I will try to list everything the bus has done to it, and its features.. But I want to be very clear, this is a vintage vehicle, and is custom built. If you do not have some mechanical understanding, I would not recommend owning this. It has been extremely reliable for me, extremely. But there's no Youtube videos to show you how to fix things, diagrams or manuals.. If you get my drift.. (I might make some up to help the new owner)

Without further ado....

Ps. It took us about 30mins to go from camping mode, to on the road.. Or vice versa. EVERYTHING is mounted securely and does not require much time to get ready for travel

Features:
-Rear Engine, VERY EASY to work on, extremely quiet and smooth ride
-Spray foam insulated Bus body
-Air Brakes, NO CDL Required
-Atwood roof heatpump style Air Conditioning and heater/de-humidifer
-100gal Fresh Water, Aluminum 120gal Gasoline (Engine), Aluminum 45gal Diesel (Heaters), and Aluminum 80gal Grey Water Tank.
-Onboard-Mounted 3500w Inverter generator
-A 22'x8' Roof deck! All aluminum construction, with a Trex-like material for the planks. It's ROCK SOLID, has held 25 People Dancing.. Has folding railings, lights, Umbrella mounts, and an Aluminum table.
-Sliding RV Style windows
-30Amp electrical service with standard cord, and plug
-1500w Inverter for fridge, lights, TV while on the road, has 3 Big 12v Batteries with an Isolator
-40" LG LED TV, Yamaha Soundbar and Sub, Smart Lights
-Cell booster, 5G hotspot, Plenty of Outlets
-On board storage for 4x 20lb Propane Tanks (Included)
-Beefy Motorcycle carrier, Non-articulated, Reversing is EASY

Drivetrain:
-Professionally Rebuilt engine (With Receipt) it's a 366ci Chevy (Gas) it rips, sounds awesome, is very cheap/easy to maintain, returns a solid 6.5mpg, runs 70mph on flat road. (I cruise at 65)
-Allison AT540 Auto trans, new Torque Converter, Filter, Fluid
-New Alternator, Radiator Re-built, New Cooling fan and drive, New Trans Cooler setup, New Distributor/Coil, all new Engine wiring.
-Holley Sniper EFI (Fuel Injection)
-New Airlines, Remote Air Dumps/Drains
-New Brake shoes, and wheel bearings/Seals Front and Rear
-Both Fuel tanks were custom-made out of Aluminum, all new brackets, pads, fuel pumps etc..
-Re-built Power steering gearbox and lines

Electrical/Appliances/Etc.:
-2x Genuine 'Planar' Brand Diesel heaters (Only needed one at a time)
-Heated Drain piping under the bus
-All the 12V wiring in the bus has been replaced, all fuse boxes have been replaced with modern types.
-All new Gauges, Switches etc..
-New Breaker box
-Has a Power Converter (Smart Charger for batteries, and 12v power to accessories without draining batteries)
-2 MAXXAIR Roof Fans with Tinted Rain shields
-Tankless propane-style water Heater with Re-circulating system
-Variable Water pump for constant pressure, All incoming water is charcoal filtered.
-Propane Range with Oven and Hood
-Good size fridge and freezer

Additional Features:
-closet, dressor, Full length upper cabinets, LOT'S of Storage. Pass thru storage under bus too!
-Large sectional table tops, hinged and folds in 3 panels for parties, or makes 2 desks, dining table, or workbench
-Full Queen Bedroom with Moisture Guard
-American Made Composting Toilet with Urine Diversion (No Pee bottles to empty)
-Large lighted mirror with medicine cabinet, Full shower
-Inner Walls and ceiling are skinned with FRP Plastic for a very easy to clean and bright finish
-Custom larger kitchen countertop
-Bus exterior is painted with Primer (Never finished paintjob)
-Trailer hookups, included a Air brake system for towing a car
-Weber Q Propane Grill mounts to side of bus, plugs into external propane quick connects.. Have External Hot and cold water too
-Large 22foot awning

Long story short, I spent YEARS building this bus and LOVING her, we had a fantastic time on the road. Some things like exterior paint, trim work were never finished, but this is A LOT of bus for the money!!!!
We need it sold by April 2025, You can come view it before then but it is Winter up here in Grayling, MI. I cannot deliver easily...

Asking $30,000

[IanT720]

Bus chassis has only 160,000 miles, everything else has about 3,000. Original engine was a 478 GMC V6 gas, but had blown sometime ago. Hence the big block. Which does not overheat, even when going up major grades like we did in our travels like Jellico for instance. Bonus since it’s gas, you can downshift and engine brake. Held 55mph going down without touching brakes!! Will continue to add pics and information. If you have any questions please message me or share if you know anyone interested. It’s an awesome rig and ready to go.

[KPilgrim]

If there is a shower or a good place to put one in there, I would love to see more interior photos. Thanks! FYI: I need to buy transportation and living quarters for a year-long trip by sometime in March.

[IanT720]

Yes full shower, in a drop tub so plenty of headroom. I will add more pictures when I’m back at my laptop tomorrow .

[tguy1241]

When is the last time your bus was driven for an hour or more? Has it been sitting without being started for any length of time? When is the last time the engine fluids were renewed?
When you bought the bus, had the previous owner removed the old insulation or did you? I see that you added spray foam—in what areas? Thanks.

[IanT720]

It's been a year since coming back from our 3,000 mile journey. Since then every month or so, I let the bus warm up to operating temp, and drive around the neighborhood, same with the generator. ALL hoses are new, have no reason to suspect they degraded from storage. ALL fluids were fresh prior to our trip, so 2 years (3,000 miles) old. Could use an oil change but that's all. The previous owner had gutted the entire bus, sprayfoamed everything, and put in the sheet metal and RV windows. He had a coach building company. It was finished, just dated. I renovated, and did all the mechanical/electircal, and modernised.

[Drewser]

This is a super cool looking bus. Love the look of the roof deck with umbrellas! Seems like reasonable price too. Good luck with your sale!

[IanT720]

Update added some pictures of Bathroom and Shower. Forgot to mention bus is currently located at our house in Grayling, MI

[randydupree]

the early Bluebird pusher chassis is rare,BB even built a few wanderlodges on this same chassis.
Pusher,air ride and air brakes.
I assume this one is air ride?
The wanderlodges are.
I have 2 of the wanderlodges and one has been repowered from a 534 ford gasser to an 8.3 cummins and 6 speed 3060 allison,diesel genny too.
Theres nothing weird about this chassis,i have a set of new air bags for one too,if someone wants to buy them.
I posted because i love this 35' pusher bus body/chassis.
I know nothing about this bus.
good luck with the sale.

[LoneStarGal87]

Hi Ian…I’m Debbie and have been looking for the right Skoolie and I think Birdie might just be the right gal for me. I’m in NC and would need to get up there to Ann Arbor, but seeing you live in Grayling brought back memories of my nursing contract when I lived in Grayling at the Lodge that’s off the main highway n/s. I’d like to come up for a visit to see her, but would appreciate some more pix & perhaps a short video of the interior. Would like to see the outside storage, the bedroom and bathroom better. Also can you please explain the pee diverter not needing to empty pee bottle. I do NOT want to empty BLACK WATER tanks.

[IanT720]

Hi Debbie, that is fun! Hospital is still here, I wonder if you knew my Mother In Law, she worked there for quite a long time! I will add more pics and video, Just been difficult with the holidays.
To clarify, ALL waste water (Including pee) goes into the 80Gal. Grey Water Tank, we've been allowed to drain this via a garden hose adapter in most places, otherwise we just empty it into a sewer hookup at a park.
(Turds are bagged and tossed in the trash)

[IanT720]

You are right, when they originally built this bus, they modeled it after the Wanderlodge, I found a lot of pamphlets about the Wanderlodge in the bus. Most people think it is one, but it's not. Just a cool Skoolie! My bus is sprung on leaf springs, but being rear engine, it rides extremely smooth, jealous of your 8.3 and 6 speed! Although my big block ripping through the Blue Ridge Mountains did sound awesome!

[LoneStarGal87]

Let’s chat more …

[IanT720]

Bump, photo dump..
-Drivers area, removable steering wheel, rotating drivers chair, large curved windshield, removed heater core and additional junk for lots of front storage under dash and stairwell, nice Stainless stair treads and lights
-Step down shower, Lots of headroom
-Composting Toilet, bathroom sink, and medicine cabinet
-Hanging closet and electrical (Breaker box, fuse box, Battery charge monitor, Water pump switch, and a beefy surge protector for all shore power
-Bedroom, full queen (Don't worry this mattress will get tossed)

[Rucker]

Very Nice Rig!

I recommend you do a video tour all the way down to how that hot water recirculating system works. That way potential buyers can get a real feel for what you've put into the rig.

Also, we can watch something that shows how one really goes about a quality conversion.

[IanT720]

That’s a good idea, will have to set some time aside for that.. wish it was spring!!!
The instant hot water is achieved with this device..
https://showermiser.com/rv/
Not only does it allow for instant hot water but it’s a huge water saver when doing dishes too.

[Drewser]

Originally Posted by IanT720

That’s a good idea, will have to set some time aside for that.. wish it was spring!!!
The instant hot water is achieved with this device..
https://showermiser.com/rv/
Not only does it allow for instant hot water but it’s a huge water saver when doing dishes too.

I'm bookmarking that page...we love our tankless water heater at home, but the military shower issue is what had me concerned in putting one in our build. That fixes it! Sounds like it works well?

[IanT720]

Works great for that issue! Truly instant hot water waiting for you. Easy install. Bonus is you can use it to circulate hot water into your fresh tank in case of freezing.