65 chevy school bus

[travz500]

has anyone seen a old 65 school bus around anymore? I had a gentleman call me today and offer me one I got a craigslist add looking for 60-66 trucks for parts and he said he has a title and is willing to sell it to me he said it is missing the 283 and the 4 speed tranny but the rest is there. Are these all metal bodies? Or are they aluminum back then? Is there any interest in one of these around anywhere? I am waiting on some pics but he said its not beat up and in decent condition

[markeb01]

I've seen a few dozen 60-66 school buses over the years, but nothing recently. My primary interest was in wanting the hood, because many were in excellent condition with no rust or dents. Unfortunately I never found one with an owner willing to sell the hood by itself.

Years later when we owned property I thought it might be novel to acquire one for visitors to stay in. But I never found one in the correct year range that ran well enough to get home under its own power.

I presume the bodies were aluminum even that far back, but it never occurred to me to ask or check. If you have a use for it, having a school bus could make an interesting and fun camper (depending on the wheelbase), but I think there would be limited interest if flipping it for a profit is the objective.

Also some state laws make it illegal for private owners of former school buses to operate on a roadway until the vehicle has been painted a color readily distinguishable from national school bus chrome yellow. There is a lot of surface area if anything needs to be repaired or a color change is required by your state.

[travz500]

the only use i have for it is the hood and possibly front fenders since the motor is gone and the tranny but I can get it cheap I think so just seeing what people think never seen one around here but I have seen some older ones just not this style

[rcbildr]

I think it would be cool to turn it in to a party wagon/RV.

[jonzcustomshop]

fenders are a little different than those off a c/50-c80, since the cowl extension is a unitized piece the top 2 fender bolts mount underneth the lip of the fender instead of over the lip/under the cowl panel.

[63burban4x4]

I'd frankly be surprised if you find that body to be aluminum.....I've seen lots of 'em, had one here for a few years, late 60's Ford with a Thomas body, really typical (for around here, anyway) Never seen one with an aluminum body.....pretty expensive, even back then. Helped someone cut up another mid 60's vintage International a while back, steel body (also a Thomas built) Not saying never, but..........

[travz500]

well gonna wait on pics of it I offered $400 for it surely it will weigh around 7500lbs. with all that metal gonna scrap it unless someone wants a project as long as I can get it for no more than $400

[63burban4x4]

at $400 you might make out OK....I had that Thomas bodied Ford (66 pass I think) picked up a couple of years ago, scrap dealer came with a flatbed, winched it on, and hauled it about 20 miles to his yard, It did have a motor & trans. I do think scrap was higher then, I did it at about the peak pricing. They deducted for the tires, as disposing them adds cost for them. if I recall correctly, they gave me about $800 net. I had already removed the seats, as I was using it for storage. They would have also deducted for all that upholstery, I think. I never shopped around much, not too many scrap dealers can trailer something that big, anyway. The steel alone is worth money, but there is considerable non-steel weight to dispose of, including all that glass. The window frames may be aluminum, (but might be galvanized steel, also) but you'd have to remove the glass to scrap that out.

[kieth]

Originally Posted by travz500

well gonna wait on pics of it I offered $400 for it surely it will weigh around 7500lbs. with all that metal gonna scrap it unless someone wants a project as long as I can get it for no more than $400

For $400 buy it, but we saw a old one last year at the Talequah, OK annual show and it had been lowered, shortened, and turned into a party wagon . It was really cool. Maybe sig shooter has pictures of it. Kieth

[travz500]

I got the equipment and trailer to haul it on that's no problem all even if it weighs 6000lbs at 200 a ton its worth $600
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[64fleetside]

Brings back some memories-first school bus I rode was a 65 Chevy.

[63burban4x4]

sounds like scrap is higher out west than here in the northeast....last price I heard was about 165-175. Haven't checked in a while, though.

I couldn't haul it myself. I have a Mack R-600 and a 9 ton deckover trailer, but it's too short for a bus. I don't know how much more I'd have gotten if I delivered it, but it seems like a lot of work (not to mention the fuel) to make a couple hundred.

About 20 years ago, had a friend with a 64 or 65 Chevy Thomas bodied, 66 pass, converted to an RV. He did a fantastic job converting it, the inside was awesome. Roof air, outside awning, etc. He even created a "slide out" section, and had a rear "deck" for his motorcycle, as well as a roof deck! He used it to travel around to Bluegrass festivals. It ran a 350 Olds engine and a Chevy 400TH. One thing for sure, much safer in a crash than the typical cheezy aluminum skin/ wood framed RV's running around today.....ever seen one of THEM after a crash? Pretty scary! Plus, the roof will NEVER leak, which is what finishes off most RV's.

When I was a teenager, I worked for a guy who used one for transporting his stock car. They made the whole back into a door, so they could drive the car right up in it. That bus was a REO "Gold Comet", seriously cool.

[1Bad62Pro/Street]