Crown bus parts (rarity?)

[badassbus]

Considering purchasing a crown school bus, but am curious as to availability of parts and maintenance for these buses. Any info appreciated!
Also was wondering peoples opinion on best available school bus with parts for cheap? Thomas, bluebird, ford, etc. ... Lower cost-most available???

 

[EastCoastCB]

Hello and welcome.
Depends on the purpose, what bus is best...
To me the best one is the one thats the least rusty and runs the best- that I can afford.
Where are you located?
Since you're Crown shopping possibly, I take it you're on the west side?

 

[badassbus]

Actually I'm in Florida at the moment, but live in NH. Only want a Crown bus because I love the shape of the old Crowns, and mid engine sounds cool too. But most likely will end up buying what's close and cheap enough for me. You know of any similar shaped buses produced on the east coast? Have been traveling and camping in a van and popup camper for a while now, and love the lifestyle ... Wanted a bus for years and have had many VWs buses ....think this is the year I finally go for it and get on the bus!

 

[EastCoastCB]

Not many Crowns over on this side, but I've seen some classics for sale here in Fl in the last year.
What part of Fl?
I'm near Sorrento/Apopka area.

I started out on VW's too.
Got a Thomas bus years ago but it didn't work out.

 

[badassbus]

Crowns n VWs

Were a little south of you, in Bowling Green at the moment, great park out here...Hardee Lakes Park. Pretty nice if you like the Florida woods, four lakes! Headed to Orlando in a few days. As far as the bus purchase, I'm thinking I'll have maybe 4 or 5k to invest late this summer, and was considering flying wherever best deal is and driving her back to wherever(NH eventually) ...may go with a classic, probably best in the long run. I plan on living, using it full time ....wood stove or pellet in it too. Family is growing and we can't fit in a VW anymore ...but a nicely painted crown pulling a splitty would be my dream!

 

[EastCoastCB]

Crown pulling a split?
Sounds VERY expensive but cool
I had a 67 westy once. SO42. Scored that one for 800 dollars running! For what a VW sells for today, I just couldn't ever justify the purchase to own another. I never paid even a thousand bucks for one. I do still have my first car though, my 66 beetle. I probably have sunk 20k in it since buying it in the early 90's.
I plan on pulling it behind my bus a bit but not full time.
I've noticed there are a good number of folks on here who have at one time or another owned air cooled VW's. Good people!
Yes a Crown pulling a VW bus would be awesome!

 

[sky nighthawk]

Hi this is a little off the subject but I have a 59 Chevy bus and a 77 vw bus, but I just pull my bug because every thing Ive been told is pulling a bus is suicide, has anyone pulled theirs for any distance?
Sky

 

[badassbus]

True, probably would wreck the axles...especially if they still have reduction gears on ends. Trailer would be way to go.

 

[bansil]

bus parts are typically bus (hvy duty truck parts)

I look at it like this
Body=crown body is just plan pimp
engine=I didn't buy a OTR coach because I could not take the chance of my engine (2 stroke diesel) dying somewhere and having to spend 25k+ and a months time to get it running again, altho it would probably run for a million miles
other diesel coaches(buses) cost too much for me to own realistically

so this is the reason for a school bus


basically brakes, steering and such will be the same across the board

it would be harder to find a pancaked diesel if you ever needed one

now...if there would of been one availible when I was looking...yes I would have bought a lates 70's crown in a heatbeat

I have a Crown-at heart