Mystery bus

[mcduffieja]

Can anyone ID this bus?

[ABBus]

It's a Fordrolet Rustybus, probably 1968 (only model year with no door).

[musigenesis]

It's an easy restoration: just load up a waterbomber with Ospho.

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Body appears to be a Superior for a Ford chassis, I'd put the vintage early to mid 50s. Seems to be a dead ringer for pic #1... Pictures don't really give any serious clues other than the windshield and rear windows, though, at least to me.

Could also be a late 40s Studebaker chassis (and yes, some were built as buses).

[WIbluebird]

There were so many coachbuilders doing school buses back then that it would be hard to positvely identify it, imo.

That body is scrap at best, hope OP doesn't plan on restoring it

[peteg59]

Noting it's location, it's probably "cover" for an illegal liquor still site???

[rossvtaylor]

I second Cheese_Wagon's thoughts here...but it could also be on a Dodge chassis, too. Without the dognose, it would be really hard to tell. Here's a 1950 Dodge with the same teardrop rear fender as in CW's photo.



Yes...we brought this one home. I may have a bus problem...

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

I second Cheese_Wagon's thoughts here...but it could also be on a Dodge chassis, too. Without the dognose, it would be really hard to tell. Here's a 1950 Dodge with the same teardrop rear fender as in CW's photo.

Attachment 55179

Yes...we brought this one home. I may have a bus problem...

"Can I keep it, wifey?"

I think the teardrop fender was a DRW thing of the era. Apparently there were as many SRW as DRW built in that time period.

[rossvtaylor]

Originally Posted by CHEESE_WAGON

"Can I keep it, wifey?"

Actually...my wife is the one who wanted this bus! Bless her for being able to see beauty beneath the skin, which is why she puts up with me I guess...

Good insight on the DRW bit. Thanks!

[TrailsBy11]

7 Window Loch Ness?

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by rossvtaylor

Actually...my wife is the one who wanted this bus! Bless her for being able to see beauty beneath the skin, which is why she puts up with me I guess...

Good insight on the DRW bit. Thanks!

You might find it doable to set that body down on a modern P-series / WorkHorse / Ford F-53/ GM Forward cab / Isuzu NPR truck chassis. Factory dual rear wheel, modern gas or diesel power, auto trans, and maybe even ABS, disc brakes, A/C, P/S and cruise. Some newer ones had 6.0 Vortec power. Be aware, however, that the P-series / WorkHorse had forward-mounted steering gearboxes, likely the Forward/NPR and F-53 setups do as well. I believe a member on here in Alaska has a 6.0 Vortec-powered one with a damaged cargo box.

As to the teardrop fender, almost looks like the same fender from a pickup bed of the same make and year. Food for thought.

[mcduffieja]

So, the mystery bus is on a lake where I keep my pontoon boat. So the first mystery is what it was - I think Cheese or Ross's guesses are good. The second mystery is how it got there. There's no road to it, my hypothesis is that it was moved there, and the forest grew up around it - it's likely been there 30+ years if I had to guess. The third mystery is why it's there? Maybe someone was using it for a duck blind or a shelter at one point? Who knows? Anyways, it's a quirky thing to see.

[musigenesis]

Maybe it was washed downriver during a big flood?

[Oliveguam]

Old Tunt built "honeysuckle rose" as originally a ford front to a chevy front on an isuzu frame. He had a build thread on a different site, as the one on here got lost. The link he has upon request. Took me nearly a week to read start to finish. Wow he does great work. Also goes a bit into the history and trivia of the coach manufacturer.

[smdesch]

Based on the double ridged rub rails, and you being in SC, I'd guess that to be a mid-50s Thomas. Could you get closer to see what school district was painted over?

[CHEESE_WAGON]

Originally Posted by smdesch

Based on the double ridged rub rails, and you being in SC, I'd guess that to be a mid-50s Thomas. Could you get closer to see what school district was painted over?

Ah, yes, now that I think about it, the rub rails are slightly different. I did find a few photos to further muddy the waters... I'm just the fly in the ointment, Hans, the monkey in the wrench... the pain in the a*s...

1951 GMC Thomas



1953 Ford Thomas


1955 International



1955-1957 Chevrolet