Thread: Need help on bus origins.

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I thought that perhaps, the mention of Canada might have referred to the Blue Bird Corp. which made many similar school buses, but when I checked they did not open a Canadian plant until 1958 (in Brantford Ont.) Since the bus is a 1953, that would not apply.
Just so everyone knows what Johnboy is referring to, I have taken the liberty of copying the photos from the link he referred to.
It sounds like a great project and I would imagine the "kids" will be thrilled to hear about it.

Maybe all y'all (Texan Too) can hook up on Face Book. Look out!! I bet there are stories just waiting to be revealed.

Thanks for that RestoRod, yep; that's the wee beast!
As you can see the damage and rust is really quite superficial...and not a lot of it involves compound curves; so the restoration of the body is going to be pretty straightforward.
And even when you get 'down and dirty' crawling over/under/through it it's in surprisingly good condition.
There are no body mounts forward of the windscreen; it's bolted straight to the chassis so there are a few cracks in the panels in that area...but hey!...this steel's thick enough to arc weld!
The body is built by 'Superior', who, I am told, built a lot of bus bodies during this era.

It's gonna be a lot of fun...something different...and yet practical too!

(I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...
I hope Shirley Holt Self contacts me back soon...)

Originally Posted by sfort

Maybe all y'all (Texan Too) can hook up on Face Book. Look out!! I bet there are stories just waiting to be revealed.

That would be about the ultimate...I'm just hoping to make contact at this stage...any sort of contact...

Ah, the Inspector Clouseau of Rahotu or would that beTaranake... Good job on the hunt!

Interesting that it was documented as a '53, though it's got '52 front sheetmetal. I would imagine those custom body manufacturers had the ability to do the MSO documents based on year of delivery rather than chassis manufacturers year of production.

Keep us dialed in on the refurbishment, and don't annoy Ms Rosey too much.

Actually Bob the trim on the nose is 51. In 52 the trim piece was not chrome and the V8 emblem was located on the hood (there is a picture of a 52 in my album). Of course over the years who knows what parts have been replaced

I can't rememeber what I had for breakfast (or EVEN if I had breakfast) but I can remember this )

a little bit of effort will get you here

I drew this in '65, but thought you might find it amusing.

Since then, a modeler who had seen it built a scale replica about 10 years ago, and sent me pictures. :-)

Originally Posted by Mike P

Actually Bob the trim on the nose is 51. In 52 the trim piece was not chrome and the V8 emblem was located on the hood (there is a picture of a 52 in my album). Of course over the years who knows what parts have been replaced

I can't rememeber what I had for breakfast (or EVEN if I had breakfast) but I can remember this )

You're quite right.
As soon as I read what you had posted the wheels went round...ummm...yeah...right.
Could it have been registered in Oklahoma in '53?
Could the year between '51 and '53 explain the 'Canada' painted on the side?

Originally Posted by Bob Parmenter

Ah, the Inspector Clouseau of Rahotu or would that beTaranake... Good job on the hunt!

Interesting that it was documented as a '53, though it's got '52 front sheetmetal. I would imagine those custom body manufacturers had the ability to do the MSO documents based on year of delivery rather than chassis manufacturers year of production.

Keep us dialed in on the refurbishment, and don't annoy Ms Rosey too much.

Inspector Clouseau of Rahotu?...I like it...it has a nice ring to it!

And as for annoying Rosie...I tell ya mate; in the new house I've got to use GPS to find her!
Reckon I might have to put in some 'speed humps' in order to slow her down enough for me to catch her too!


(And besides...you-all think I'm in jest when I call her 'She Who Must Be Obeyed'...If I was to annoy her I'd be the one to suffer!)

Originally Posted by HOSS429

a little bit of effort will get you here

Ummmm...
Somehow,
I
don't
think
so.
A little bit too radical for my taste.
I can admire it, but wouldn't want it parked in my shed.
(But please don't show it to the missus!)

I wonder if you could start a face book page with questions and updates and lure these people in to make comments. If they are internet savvy I bet they would take a look and be drawn in especially if you post pictures with sentimental value i.e. hand writing and any drawings in the buss (I bet the grandkids would help and get a kick out of it). Also see if anyone knows who the driver was and if he or any relatives are still around.

Howdy Mate,
I just wanted to let you know that I "AM" getting your emails but I don't think that you are getting my email replies and information Therefore, I am forced to PM you anything that I find out or need.
Be sure and check your PM's daily and hopefully I can help you with this.
Mello

bus with the wrong sheetmetal isn't anything out of the normal I wouldn't think.. the school I went to ( 400 students K-12.. very small ) had a couple parts busses to keep the 2 oldest busses alive until they would no longer pass safety.. as I recall, they were all the same type and international/ Carpenter bodied.. so it's the safe to say, a 1950's/ '60's school district would do the same

Originally Posted by Matt167

bus with the wrong sheetmetal isn't anything out of the normal I wouldn't think.. the school I went to ( 400 students K-12.. very small ) had a couple parts busses to keep the 2 oldest busses alive until they would no longer pass safety.. as I recall, they were all the same type and international/ Carpenter bodied.. so it's the safe to say, a 1950's/ '60's school district would do the same

That makes sense too...there were no body mounts forward of the windscreen; so it's quite possible that it was a case of 'rip it off that one and bung it on this one'.