What would you pay for this?

[Booyah45828]

I found a mid 80's Bluebird Bookmobile for sale.

It has the 8.2 detroit with an mt643 trans, and a mounted diesel generator. It also has 2 roof top ac units. It's in good shape with minimal rust, but hasn't moved in 5+ years. He says everything is fully functional on it but I have no way to tell, and he seems kind of shady. No, I didn't take any pictures.

Guy is asking 4500.

I was thinking more like 3 for it, but wanted to get the opinions of others.

 

[karrlot]

Have a mechanic inspect it. Seats out, generator, two accounts units are all a bonus!

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Diesel generator is valuable for sure. 8.2 DD maybe less so. AC units on top are probably generator powered. If it has sat for 5 years the tires are garbage, so consider adding $2600 to whatever you pay for the bus to replace them.

 

[Booyah45828]

I'm a mechanic, so I inspected it as best I could. Seller forgot the keys though so I couldn't verify running/driving condition. That and there was a lot of crap parked in front of it. I forgot to try and start the generator and test the ac units.

Tires are 10 years old. Good tread on them so they'll get me home, but should probably be replaced eventually.

I just didn't know if anybody had experience with blood or book mobile values and if they were similar to school busses.

I'm thinking this thing outfitted as a bus would be worth 2000. Add all the additional stuff and it would bump it up another 1000-1500. Am I far off on that value?

 

[EastCoastCB]

I'm a mechanic, so I inspected it as best I could. Seller forgot the keys though so I couldn't verify running/driving condition. That and there was a lot of crap parked in front of it. I forgot to try and start the generator and test the ac units.

Tires are 10 years old. Good tread on them so they'll get me home, but should probably be replaced eventually.

I just didn't know if anybody had experience with blood or book mobile values and if they were similar to school busses.

I'm thinking this thing outfitted as a bus would be worth 2000. Add all the additional stuff and it would bump it up another 1000-1500. Am I far off on that value?

If its got the engine in front and its an 8.2 I wouldn't offer more than $2500.
Book/Blood-mobiles are worth more than a standard school bus, imo. But with an older, sorta obsolete engine like that I wouldn't want to pay a whole lot for it.
The generator does sweeten the deal, though. If it runs.
Just my 2 cents.

 

[brokedown-SKO]

Honestly I'd have a tough time with that one. The bookmobile buses were usually based on the All American which is the higher end chassis, but there's a bunch of negatives. You know you're gonna be another $3000-$3500 into it right away between tires and batteries and that's just the stuff you know you need without even having to look. On the flip side, that generator is super nice and they're expensive even on the used market.

If I was considering that bus, I would do two things. First, I'd start talking him down. Maybe $2500 is where it starts to make sense. Second, I'd start looking at $6000 buses for sale because that's the price range you're looking at if you get this for $2500 and do the tires and batteries.

 

[Booyah45828]

Thanks guys, all excellent points made.

I assumed being a book mobile would make it worth more, but I guess it is still just a bus in the end.

I think I'll shoot him an offer of 2000, with a final of 2500. That's after a test drive.

 

[o1marc]

Thanks guys, all excellent points made.

I assumed being a book mobile would make it worth more, but I guess it is still just a bus in the end.

I think I'll shoot him an offer of 2000, with a final of 2500. That's after a test drive.

Only worth more to someone wanting a book mobile, otherwise it a ton of work removing all the book mobile stuff.