What did it cost me to buy an Old Look GM Bus?

Sit back while I share the story of me purchasing Unit 2345, a 1956 Old Look bus in 2003. Results will very and I'm confident the market has changed since I bought this bus. But if you are in anyway interested in buying a bus like this perhaps there is something that can be learned from my experience.

[@reyesdiaz60]

Hola. Considero tu compra un sueño hecho realidad. Los que usamos por años estos buses y pudimos disfrutarlos y apreciarlos no me dejarán exagerar. A mi siempre me gustaron. Los encontraba prácticos y elegantes. Creo que no debes seguir evaluando la adquisición. Hiciste muy bien. Luego, en este tipo de proyectos no cabe aplicar la regla del costo beneficio, pues la finalidad es muy subjetiva. Si yo tuviese en donde guardar uno de estos y usarlo, por tan solo darme el gusto, no lo pensaría dos veces. Solo los que amámos y apreciamos algo así podemos entenderlo. Felicidades.

[@cliff3963]

Incredible! I had no idea these buses were still around at all. Good for you on your purchases. I drove 2345 a few times while a student & Campus Bus Service West Main Plaza route and 2345 stayed close to campus especially when the 40 foot 35-36-37 buses arrived and were assigned to the West Main Plaza route. #2345 was a runner even back then in 1969-73. Congrats on saving a part of KSU history.

[@monchito1999]

C'est un véritable coup de cœur pour moi cette jolie bus. Félicitations pour son achat.

[@sailawaybob]

1960 i was 4 years old my mom and i rode it's cousin to downtown grand rapids mi. many times that is a awesome find i suspect most were scapped.

[@leeanderson827]

In the movie 'THE GRADUATE ' there was a very obvious to us Santa Barbaraites, is one scene when the two kids were on the bus supposedly going south, the bus was shown entering the Gaviota tunnel which is actually on the north bound 101 freeway.

[@bill8582]

I love it, I have been looking for such a deal myself, and the running driving ones are far and few between, but to convert one, I would definitely upgrade the drivetrain including brakes, I would imagine that to be quite costly, but just knowing that you saved a piece of Americana is awsome. Glad yours runs and drives. Cool too that you were a campus driver, it adds to the history, very fitting, nice job.

[@charlesseaton6199]

Good luck with your project I have had two myself. Great fun and a lot of memories. The prices, depending on time were all over the place in 1970, companies were selling running buses for $300.00 a piece without tires. I bought the first of my two in 1990 for $1,000.00 fully seated, running but needing paint.

[@Unit2345]

What buses do you have? Do you have any videos of them? I'd love to see what other folks are keeping safe.

[@macelius]

Only five years older than my 4106, and what a difference between it and the later fishbowls. Also the type of bus Rosa Parks rode on i believe.

[@thyslop1737]

Sweet, sweet deal

[@gentlestormtoo]

Shoot, I never knew how much I wanted or need a bus until I saw this video. Now I absolutely want to buy a bus! I want a bus!!!

[@j0seomarrodriguezarroyo75]

Como no recordar ese buses de GM que subía de chico en lima Perú los 696768 hasta 1985 inolvidable gracias por compartir

[@Unit2345]

Gracias por visualizar mi video

[@techguy9023]

Does the badge w front say “GMC Truck and Coach, Pontiac Michigan” ? My mother painted buses there, my uncle and brother ran presses in sheet metal for 30+ years.

[@chrishultgren777]

there used to be a whole yard full of these L.A. city busses just rotting away outside of Los Angeles around Y2K. Probably 25 or more. Probably all gone now. Havent been back there since because CA is a nightmare

[@dozer1642]

Making it an RV conversion wouldn’t be a terrible fate for this bus.

[@rosstaylor9969]

That's fantastic...and I'm glad your video popped up in my feed. We have a '49 TDH4509. Enjoy that great bus!

[@bigsteve777able]

same with me in Scotland many miles away but still enjoyed seeing that old bus and think its a bargain, part of a history that's long gone..

[@dwaynejones9690]

This is a wonderful video I love it so many great memories it touch my heart thank you so much for this great video

[@jimtomassetti8928]

You bought the very best of a GMC Ever built! Next was the New Look! Was a Transit Driver for many years. And very much so enjoyed driving both buses. When the RTS Buses were starting to come out the company were taking the old look off the Rd.

[@beepbeep3000]

Not many GM Old-Look buses around these days.

[@eldoradony]

You made a wise purchase at the time and you live somewhere where you could build a garage to store it. Enjoy it and please keep posting. I would love to see a complete restoration.

[@Unit2345]

Stay tuned!

[@ciaranburke3243]

Well done for saving it, such a cool thing 😎

[@victorvictor8587]

I would be after the Frame the rest of the bus would have to be replaced.

[@leeanderson827]

I remember when they were shooting 'THE GRADUATE' in Santa Barbara. This bus was owned and operated by Santa Barbara Transit, owned by Gaylord Sprietz who had the transit contract for Santa Barbara. In the late 60's I believe the city took over public transportation by forming the Metropolitan Transit District then replacing all of the old transits with the 'new looks GMC's. They were nicknamed 'fishbowls' . I drove for the MTD for a few years. The TDH by the way, stands for; TRANSIT DIESEL HYDROMATIC.

[@Unit2345]

Check out my other videos where I go into the history of this bus. At the time of the movie shoot the bus was owned by Santa Monica. Santa Barbara was a fictional company created for the movie.

[@terryallen9546]

I see them for about $30K with seats.

[@sillygoose2508]

Not a bad price for a historical piece and she's worth every penny

[@mondonproductions4088]

Is there a way to come out to see your buses?

[@terrywheelock9458]

It is worth 5K today! 👍 But, to you it is PRICELESS! 😁

[@awalker1829]

The museum I volunteer with has two TDHs and a TGH-all of which have local service histories. The bus that I have been managing the repairs of is our TGH-3102. She was delivered brand new to Old Pueblo Transit Company in Tucson, Arizona in October of 1960. She was removed from service in 1974 and has been preserved in her bus configuration since then. While we’ve given her a new, historically accurate livery, done heavy repairs on her motor, rewired some circuits and reconditioned her interior, this is not a restoration. She arrived at the museum intact in running condition.

[@Unit2345]

Very cool. Are there videos of the buses in action on KZbin?

[@awalker1829]

@@Unit2345 Not yet. I'll have to get around to fixing that soon. No. 135 will be done in a couple of months.

[@robertbeacham4314]

Great to see the old bus still running. I was wondering if you ever got the new look bus 6738 running?

[@Unit2345]

Not yet. I'll tackle that once Unit 23 is finished

[@robertbeacham4314]

@@Unit2345 I live in Md. We have a few folks here that own the old look buses. One of the buses was in the original movie Hairspray.

[@Unit2345]

Very cool! Convince them to share on KZbin. It would be great to see!!

[@keytothegate68]

You can give free rides

[@bengone3349]

Why don't you tell us about the mechanical details.

[@Unit2345]

I definitely will. Once warmer temperatures return I'll be able to spend some time digging to the bus.

[@rodneyhendrix1292]

How far gone is the one in the junkyard? Does it have a motor/tyranny left?

[@Unit2345]

Both the engine and transmission were already pulled.

[@mikecorleone6797]

We had one of those old style gm buses here in our yard and the boss got $30k for it. We also recently sold a scenecruiser for big money too

[@Unit2345]

Folks love those Scenicruisers

[@mikecorleone6797]

@@Unit2345 yea, personally I’m more into crowns but those were a west coast thing. My 82 crown has a detroit and a 10 speed manual transmission. As bulletproof a bus as it gets.

[@fortyfiveseventy]

I love the old look but that front bumper tho lol

[@Unit2345]

The water bumper is definitely unique. Kent State was the largest user of the water bumper outside of California.

[@kjchicago1]

Interesting Hobby-To own your very own 1956 GM Old-Look Bus-Gets Good Gas Mileage and goes from 0-60 and has that Detroit Diesel in it

[@Melidontcare]

So What career did you pursue and end up in?

[@Unit2345]

Aviation. Flew for the airlines, then an instructor now management.

[@jeromep3182]

I want one

[@Unit2345]

There's one currently on ebay in good condition. A few outfits are selling them online but they always seem overpriced which is probably why I see the same buses for sale for years.

[@chuckspeer2163]

Generous

[@heavydutyrepair64]

GMC truck and coach

[@waynep343]

GM forced the retirement of 4512's from commerical use by NOT filling backorders for steering gear components.. no more worm and sector gears to allow steering box rebuilding.

[@Unit2345]

Interesting. Thanks for sharing that piece of history.

[@waynep343]

@@Unit2345 i learned that by accident. got on one of those to go to trade school.. operator said this is the last trip for this bus and its the last bus of this model in service.. its going to scrap after this day. he could not run it more than 25 miles an our without horrendous death wobble. half a turn on the steering wheel to get rid of freeplay.. i have learned in my 42 years under the hood that one also needs to examine the Track bar that keeps the axle centered resisting steering input forces.. a quick test is to have somebody stand close to the side of the vehicle and observe the top of the steer tire and the fender over it while an operator rocks the steering wheel back and forth just past the limit of free play. if the fender moves left and right over the tire.. the track bar bushings.. ends. brackets are needing inspection. jeeps and straight axle ford superduty trucks both have death wobble issues. along with other straight axle front vehicles. when a steer tire hits a bump it deflects the steering linkage and that shoves the axle the other way.. when the axle gets to the limit the steering linkage yanks the knuckles back slightly forcing the tires in the other direction that drags the axle in the other direction when the axle hits the limits of the slop in the track bar.. the knuckles are yanked back .. this amplifies as it goes and becomes horrific death wobble.. HUGE HINT.. when you have a vehicle that has experienced serious death wobble.. for safety change the steering linkage for new if possible. you can shear or crack the tapered stud off some tie rod balls and it will break at a later point causing a loss of steering.. had it happen to me.. hit some washboard on a freeway where the pavement had migrated do to traffic.. tossed my van in the air.. 2 miles later i was off the freeway and parallel parking and the drag link ball sheared from the pitman arm.

[@davefroman4700]

A lot less than it costs to restore one....

[@Unit2345]

For sure!