Greyhound was founded in Minnesota by Eric Wickman, a Huppmobile dealer who couldn’t sell even one Huppmobile. Partnering up with a couple of buddies, Wickman used his orphan car to ferry miners from town to mine starting in 1914. The company grew, and with it flourished a new kind of vehicle maker. The first buses were elongated sedans, but soon, purpose-built vehicles filled the streets. Greyhound gradually consumed over one hundred independent bus lines to become a near-monopoly. It hit its zenith in the 1930s, when the passenger count on bus lines exceeded railroads for the first time. Just as Greyhound was blooming, the Streamline Moderne architectural idiom was captivating America. Greyhound constructed hundreds of stations in the innovative style, and to complement these, it hired Raymond Loewy to design a new bus. Loewy’s bus was christened the Scenicruiser, and it was built by General Motors starting in 1954. The new bus was so long that Greyhound had to lobby several states to change rules restricting bus length to 35 feet. Here on facebook Marketplace is one of only 1001 Scenicruiser “Parlor Diesels” ever made, for sale at $50,000 – with consideration to a knowledgeable buyer. The bus is located in Melba, Idaho.
Early Scenicruisers were notably unreliable. GM, rather than developing a proper engine for its bus application, installed twin four-cylinder diesels, operating through a fluid coupling. The agony of constantly fixing this system – on top of a poorly designed clutch – caused a rift between GM and Greyhound. In 1961, all 979 Scenicruisers still existing were rebuilt by Marmon-Herrington to utilize an eight-cylinder motor. This seller’s engine is a V8 diesel from about the 1970s, generating a bit more than 300 hp. I managed to capture a “sort-of” engine photo out of a video showing the owner changing its oil. The PD-4501 has dual rear axles, air suspension, and Bendix air brakes.
The listing does not include interior shots but as best as I can interpret the ad, there are no seats. Originally, the bus seated at least 43 passengers, including ten on the lower deck. The “half deck” arrangement allowed for plenty of luggage space and helped reduce the overall height of the bus. Still, it is 11′ high, 8′ wide, 40′ long, and weighs over 29,000 lbs without passengers. The turning radius is 45′. Your local parking garage will greet you with a big fat “no” if you attempt to enter!
The next question is, what to do with a bus! Rock band? Sports team? Hotel roof-top bar? Or how about maximum RV? I don’t even know what to say about the price, except that restoration and running costs will be significant after the initial purchase empties your bank account. Money no object, how would you use this bus?
That’s it, I’m done here.
Not only did all our avatars go away, I’m getting “error 403”, or some BS, I spent a lot of time researching the Scenicruiser, and got a very different story on its origin, all for nothing. Good thing I have nothing better to do.
That you, Howard?
IMO the Scenicruiser and the Flixables were the best looking busses ever. At 17 I rode the former from Port Authority to Chicago to go to college as a new freshman at Lake Forest.
The new busses may have more glass, but the Scenicruiser had more class. Love art deco.
Art Deco was the 30s. This was 1955, and if anything was “in” then, it was mid-century modern.
Flxible not Flexible.
$50K? Nope. Not even $25K. My .2 cents worth (and it means diddly squat) but a reasonable price…perhaps….$15K range.
DIY renovation…still going to spend probably another $20K + in parts and material. Let’s say…all said and done…purchase price and materials….$60K spent. Do you have a vehicle worth $60K? Course not…but… it’s all up to the buyer….
I remember seeing these as a child. Greyhound operated a bus station in my hometown just 1/2 block away from the YMCA where I spent many a day. Times have changed and not for the better.
This would make a stonking RV project.
It probably would be a stonker.
Didn’t these burn Bunker-C at 3 metric tons to 27 nautical miles.
I could be wrong though.
In California, saw one of these on Hwy 101 with a Volkswagen body welded to the roof, for an observation tower.
I seen one that was used by a GREYHOUND rescue group…I wouldn’t THINK they spent 50K on it ????
They were incredibly cheap when Greyhound sold them off…about $1000 in 1970 or so. An investing newsletter my father subscribed to, Moneysworth, profiled one young Yuppie-ish couple who bought one to turn it into a camper.
Back then these were just old, obsolete buses; and a dollar was a dollar. Now…we know how times have changed.
I’d love to have one but I know my limits. The troubles on these were not limited to the mashed-up drive train; the chassis itself was given to fatigue cracking. Better have fabrication skills available – your own or someone you can rely on and afford.
I wonder if my neighbors would mind this parked in the street, cuz it’ll never make the turn into my driveway.
Hopefully you live in a non H O A neighborhood!
Now that would be a meeting worth attending! Meanwhile, this icon will provide plenty of shade and a great place to store your yard equipment.
Party bus! Might make back your costs in twenty years.
You could instal a hot tub underneath as well.
Maybe a patio on the back half of the roof as well.
If I win the lottery this nweekend – tickets in hand – I’d want to make it a super cool RV and toy* hauler with a no dollar limits. With a billion bucks to play with what’s $250K on a super renovation? I love the look of these old scenic cruiser buses as the bulk of the space is higher up and harder for others to look inside. I think the huge storage areas will hold a few standard or sporty motorcycles and maybe my GG Duetto high performance sidecar rig. I’ve only started dreaming about thne insides but the entire driveline and electrical system would need to be modernized – maybe a big EV/Hybrid is the way to go as there is ample space for batteries underneath too.
Buy an MCI. You’ll have a better bus, and cheaper. MCI-8s drive just fine.
I don’t know how a Scenicruiser drives, but since it’s 25 years older than the MCI-8 or MCI-7, you can expect a different experience behind the wheel.
I’d look at a Bloom Energy Server, a fuel cell system that uses Natural Gas or Propane as feedstock for a reformer, to crack the hydrogen off of the feedstock to feed a fuel cell array that outputs 480VAC, 60 Hz, three-phase power to drive multiple electric motors. Since most truck stops also feature propane filling stations, you’re all set. You could also use anhydrous ammonia as a feedstock, to eliminate carbon dioxide emissions completely, but ammonia is much harder to find than propane as a fuel.
Had one, oddly enough serial #666. It was a beasty, fun to drive but I never got the conversion done. It will drain your wallet fast. These did not have a chassis either, with monocoque construction, you need to make sure there are no structural problems. This body from the photos looks fairly good, but i can see degradation of the aluminum panels. A newer 4905 will give you a flat floor also, instead of a drop aisle.
A Friend of mine had a 1940’s Era Bus, we ripped out the interior , he put in a new Cummins Desiel, the interior was replaced with Mahogany from front to back , remodeled the Restroom area added a Shower had a Queen sized bed in the back. Unfortunately he died before finishing it ( and a 66 Vette ) his kids sold it to someone that later lost her house, and just moved leaving the Bus and other expensive toys and tools . The Bus went who knows where , I just hope not a scrap yard ( all that it needed was a paint job and New Tires all around )
Greyhound had a parcel service and could ship bulky items. They also carried blood and other medical stuff. Prices were good and the regular schedule was a bonus. A few years ago I shipped a ‘40 Hudson grill by bus at the request of the buyer…
They no longer ship packages, as of about 18 months ago.
Found a video of this exact bus…
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eow0FY-8U_I
One of the weirdest videos I’ve ever seen.
6 minutes of staring at a stairwell.
What did I just watch???
And she’s bi-i-ying the stairway to Hea-von.
1970 First time at 8 years old on any Greyhound. my father took me from NYC Port Authority Bus Terminal near Times SQ to Washington D.C. we sat toward the back. front seat was all taken both ways. I just remember A/C was cold on the windowsill / driver wore grey uniform if I’m correct – shifting w/ grinding first? gear. thought it was a cool bus because of the steps / scenic window.
Well, let’s think about it…. $500 is my best and only consideration. Park it and list on Airbnb! Has a basement playroom for the kids! LOLOL 🤔 Is everyone selling their junk now for ridiculous prices!
Found a video of this actual bus… shows a bit of the interior.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eow0FY-8U_I
Yeah, bro really got the stairs sorted!
I’ll never criticize a “driving video” again…
My knowledge of the Greyhound Senicruiser model is that it was manufactured by General Motors for Greyhound. The fram should have been stronger in the front. This caused the windshields to crack. GM would not compensate Greyhound and thus Greyhound started to manufacture for them selves in Gallop, New Mexico. Currently Greyhound buses are manufactured in Mexico I believe..
Greyhound, after their debacle with the Scenicruiser, moved their purchasing to Canadian company Motor Coach Industries, or MCI. They also purchased a majority share ownership, and opened a larger plant in North Dakota.
After Greyhound’s parent company spun off the bus line, they focused for a time on manufacturing, and purchased the GM RTS design That was when they opened up in Roswell, NM. The Roswell plant was a subsidiary called TCI, making only the former GM bus. It’s since been sold off, several times removed.
DINA of Mexico owned MCI for a time, and MCI used their designs. MCI has since been bankrupted and reorganized and now is owned by Nova Bus of Canada.
I believe DINA now makes the Greyhound coaches.
Provost is now what Greyhound has switched to.
50k??!?!!? Are these people out of their minds??
A Brazilian man is bringing from Canada (and running!) the 1950s GMC PD-4501 Scenicruiser bus that he bought in 2012.
See this link, in Portuguese: https://www.maxicar.com.br/2024/03/esse-brasileiro-esta-trazendo-do-canada-e-rodando-o-onibus-gmc-dos-anos-1950 -who-bought/
As in the poem “Wreck of the Hesperus”?
I’m not superstious. Not me….
It’s pretty cool but you can buy a lot of motorhome for 50K these days…
This brings back many fond memories. I’m 74. My dad drove for Greyhound from 1940 until retirement in 1973. Perfect safety record! When young, he took me with him on several overnight trips to Charleston W.Va., Richmond, VA. Which were his routes for years. Big deal for a 10 year old. The double Deckers were very popular with the public. As they became older in the 1970s, the upper seats were removed and they carried freight. They had to have 10 or 12 passenger seats so to not directly compete with short haul carriers. Greyhound made good profits on their freight side hustle. The owner should donate it to the bus museum somewhere in the Midwest and figure out a tax advantage. That’s the only practical home !
AACA – Hershey P.A. has an annual Bus Day coming up anyone interested on Fri May/31 & Sat Jun/01 = can visit Huge Auto Truck Museum after the bus theme. highly recommended if never been there, if you near Hershey.
To: Just Passin, You have a good knowledge about Greyhound. What I leaned is the very same as what you state. I know that General Motors has sold the Pontiac motor coach assembly plant to MCI. They did operate the plant in Pontiac, Mi. and produce the same GM style coaches. They did switch to 4 cylinder turbo Detroit Diesel engines from the V 6’s and the V8’s. I believe the Pontiac plant is now shut down..
I drove for Greyhound from 1963 thru. 1990 and I can say That I must have driven these busses for hundreds of thousands of miles and when I got assigned to drive one of these Scenicruisers and got a good one, it was a pleasure to drive it. They had adequate power and best of all…they were good in the snow. I miss those days.
Great band bus! Used to ride on one
playing the package show circuit in
the early ’70s after graduation from
high school. Started out warming up
the crowds for none other than Marty
Robbins. I’ve heard it said that buying
a ticket to one of these shows was the best value for your entertainment
dollar back then. For your $5-$7.50,
you got to see a wealth of talent that
included jugglers, magicians, comedians, fire eaters, and of course
the musicians. And if I close my eyes,
I can still see everyone getting ready
for that night’s show. It all was glorified chaos and my God, do I miss it even after retiring in 1990 after 23 years of performing. And after nearly 55 years, I can still tell you a few stories of how things used
to be. Thanks for the memories Michelle.
Considering that it’s located in Melba Iowa I’m glad it’s not TOAST!
There was one of these in the 1961 movie, “Breakfast at Tiffany’s”.
Judging by the color of the engine, this engine is a Detroit diesel , 8V92 , which is a 2-stroke diesel engine .
Yes thats correct, a 2-stroke diesel!
love to see the inside to note how the 2 decks work out. Borne in ’52 and spending some yrs in 3 metro areas back then I never saw 1 of these in person (used for interstate & “tourist” excursions?)
This and a train caboose in my side yard, hmmm. Is this one of those ‘it’s better to ask forgiveness than permission?’ Now I’ll be laughing to myself all day.
Band I traveled and performed with in the early 70z bought a 1957. 4104 with 6-71 inline Detroit engine and 4 speed. We could climb Tejon Pass between Bakersfield and LA at just under 35 mph in 2nd gear. I made it over in 3rd gear once . Great bus for a band and equipment. Used to come off that same mountain going north into Bakersfield and knock the gear lever into neutral (Georgia overdrive) and glide into town .
Do the same thing a retired couple I knew years ago did with a Trailways bus–turn it into a giant RV.
I was just 10 years old in 1965. I was already a mini Gearhead. I love everything about cars, trucks, busses. These Scenicrusers were still around in the 60s. I also love all types of RVs, except for slide in truck campers, they made no sense to me. They were big and tall on the exterior and small and cramped on the interior. They were the cheapest RVs around because the had no engine or drive train or axles. My family had travel trailers, they provided the most for the money. I grew up and bought a 33 foot Southwind motorhome that I loved more than life itself. If money was no object, one of these would make a great motorhome, although being a GM vehicle would be a huge drawback. I hope to have another motorhome soon, probably a class C.