Henry Rifle Forums

Another pic.

]Been going to Antique and classic truck shows for the last five yrs. Seen every kind of rig, that runs the highway.
Hundreds of dump trucks, tow trucks, tractors, straight jobs, etc., Now I must say, I have a class A CDL. License, drove tractor trailer's over the road, and I like trucks!.
But I also have driven Buses. And currently drive a few days a week for a retirement community, take the residences on trips.
So back to the truck shows, last yr I made up my mind, to find a retired school bus, and bring it to these shows.
Last yr at the one show, I asked a dozen questions, about how old the truck has to be etc.
To make a long story short, I joined the national club, and two local chapter's, as well.
And I didn't even own a vehicle. At the time.
But that all changed about 3 weeks ago.
I drove my 1995 Thomas Vista 60 passenger International
Mod 3600 chassis, T444E V8
And it needs a lot of tlc, she's 22 yr old.Been collecting stuff for the shows, old bus pictures, things to display, as well.
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Looks good.

I remember them brand new.

Doesn't seem that long ago.

Time sure does fly.

Should turn her into one of those "Hippie" vans.

I have never seen one before, with that short pug nose.
That's why ,I had to have it, it's so ugly.
They weren't made all that long, they came out in 1989
But on Chevy & GMC chassis, then international chassis
Around 91. Then in 95 they changed to the 4 piece windshield, they call the wraparound windshield, and offered the v8 diesel , when freightliner bought out Thomas bus's they dropped the Vista body.in 1998.
I guess they were popular in different areas, of the country. I know the mechanics hated them, most of the eng. Is inside the bus next to the driver, summer time the drivers didn't like them because of the heat coming off the eng.

Last yr. At the two day show around 3,000 people came tru the gate. To see the 350+ trucks .
If my bus doesn't turn out to be a popular attraction, as I think it will be, then next yr there will be another another dump truck at the show.

A good friend bought a bus a couple of years back and turned it into a Skoolie. An amazing home built motorhome.

Are you leaving it as a bus or converting it into something else ? Cool

I want it to be a bus, just as it is.
Only detailed and cleaned up as best I can.
I want it to represent all the bus drivers out there in the transportation field.
A bus driver goes to a truck show, to see all the old rigs
Doesn't just want to look at dump trucks and cement mixers, and tractor trailer's.
Now. They will have something to relate too, at the show.
There's just as much to talk about, when it comes to buses, as it does to talk about a Mack tractor, or a Peterbuilt, etc.
International chassis, or freighters, or Cummings or Cat.
What has more power, or rides better.
What buses pull the hills better ,when they are fully loaded. Etc.

When I was in high school in FL back in the early 70s, a freshman, we had a favorite bus driver. She couldn't have been over five feet tall, and driving that bus full of teens. It was her bus, the mechanics had attached hard rubber blocks to all three pedals so she could reach them, the seat couldn't go any lower and her still see out of the bus. I never, in two years on her bus, heard her grind a gear or miss a shift.

Most busses (all busses?) these days are automatics.

What? Well of course, if her bus was in the shop she took a day off, if it was going to be a major repair, they moved her pedal blocks, or she took vacation time and visited her mom in Miami. Lol.

I am also a fan of buses and regular transportation buses as well. My favorite is the "Old Look" (Jackie Gleason type) made roughly from the 40's to the '60's. There are some pretty nice restored ones out there.

Glad to see that you will be keeping your School Bus all original. It will be well appreciated at the shows. Along with bringing back some good 'ol memories.

Thanks for the bus story, I enjoyed it.
Can't wait for the weather to turn in favour,so I can get to work on it.
I just seen a add for a truck driver class A.
The add said must be able to drive a standard.shift.
What kind of a trucker, can't drive a standard shift?

biglever wrote:What kind of a trucker, can't drive a standard shift?

The way things are going that may be a reality some day.

I'm from the days of 2-Sticks, lol.

I'm still an old hold-out. Except for what my wife drives, everything I have has a Clutch. Even my Lawn Tractors, lol.

There is just no way I would ever buy a brand new Pick-up today as my brand quit making them that way !!

Amen, cowboy.
I learned on an old Mack B mod. With the duplex trans,
Even got to drive a triplex once.

My first show is next Sat, Jun 10th., will get some pic and post.

Not a lot of trucks, but a nice show, it's mostly a old hit and miss gas engine club, and old farm tractor show.
But I had quiet a few people, thank me for bringing my bus.

Some more pic. 1948 Ford rat rod, he likes to fish.

I kinda like this

I like the bus .... have seen them customized but never one restored to original configuration

Hey, Biglever. I completely "missed the bus" on seeing your thread! First time reading it this morning. Your bus looks all but new, ready for the rounds of kids waiting to get to school.

I was bussed when in high school. A little different thinking during my h.s. years, as I approached the age when I got my license, and FINALLY got my first car. I didn't hesitate one second in quitting the bus and cruising to school in my 1963 Chevy Impala SS (which by the way was a 3-speed on the column). But there were a lot of interesting to-and-from bus trips back then. On your bus, what a cool idea -- I especially like the "Retired" signage you have on the front!

Your show photos also brought back a very pleasant memory of a summertime Saturday I spent with my Dad and wife at a tractor pull and farm implement show. As I recall, there were no buses, but plenty of tractors and the implements that went with them. A most interesting and entertaining day. I wish we would have gone to those yearly events more often.

Thanks for the post. I'll try to keep an eye open and not "miss the bus" again!

biglever wrote:Not a lot of trucks, but a nice show, it's mostly a old hit and miss gas engine club, and old farm tractor show.
But I had quiet a few people, thank me for bringing my bus.