Through the years, it’s clear that our travel options have gone from decent to great to pretty bad. These days, the elites are flying private and contracting services offering a quick trip on a chartered jet is quickly becoming worth the scratch compared to flying one of the domestic airlines. It didn’t use to be this way, with the air experience being quite luxurious even for mere mortals, and buses – yes, coach buses – could offer similar levels of finesse if you preferred to keep your feet on the ground. The Greyhound Scenicruiser was one example of how a coach bus could offer passengers a memorable road trip experience, and this rolling project is one of just a few left on the road.
It’s interesting to see some parallels between air travel and road travel in the 60s and 70s, as a multi-level experience was clearly seen as a way to give passengers a more enjoyable trip. Airplanes offered a two-story model around the same time, with lounge areas and viewing decks, a lovely feature that has sadly disappeared from most airliners. The Scenicruiser design was obviously most notable for a similar feature, with the upper level “observation deck” that featured the bulk of the seating, with the lower level incorporating the driver compartment, a bathroom, and some additional seating. It’s also worth noting that the design had extra generous luggage capacity.
The bus was built by GM in partnership with Greyhound, but the end result was not exactly an instant home run. Numerous issues came to light once the buses hit the road, with transmission and engine issues not only impacting quality but also souring relations between Greyhound and both its drivers and mechanics. In addition, the bus suffered from a variety of structural issues that led to repeated efforts to address bodywork concerns, which seemingly plagued the model for years. Overall, Greyhound and GM ultimately worked out the bulk of the kinks, but some of the damage was already done. Like so many other aspects of the domestic travel landscape, buses went out of style and there was far less appetite to give travelers a memorable experience.
As mentioned, this Scenicruiser is a rolling project, with the seller noting that he would prefer to work out a deal with someone who is in the transportation space and that has the space necessary to provide long-term shelter for this large-scale renovation. The Scenicruiser is listed here on craigslist for $50,000 near Nampa, ID, and appears to be in decent shape overall. The seats have been removed and it looks like some updates have already taken place; I noted this control panel for what looks like new switchgear. The seller has a YouTube channel that you can check out here, which will provide some additional insights into the work he has performed.
I know, I thought so too, but the one a couple weeks back was a 1954. You can look back on the great comments, many of which I doubt will be repeated, but priceless nonetheless, a bigger slice of Americana pie, I doubt you’ll find.
Since we covered most experiences, here’s some mechanical stats. I read, Greyhound had power problems right from the start. They tried a slew of options, including gas jobs. A Detroit 6-71 wasn’t enough, they tried two 6-71s, as the 8V-71 was a few years away, with poor results. They went with two 4-71s as a stopgap measure, with a V coupling. Apparently, there was a kerfuffle between GM and Greyhound, and cost Greyhound, now part of MCI in Canada, hey, a lot of money to use GM motors. 1959 was the 1st 318, and many older ones were retrofitted with them. The Scenicruiser featured air ride suspension, and never had a “twin screw”( 2 drive axles) and the “front backaxle” was the drive, and rear was just a tag. The twin engine motor coaches had a 3 speed, with 2nd & 3rd synchro, and a 2 speed auxiliary, making for 6 forward speeds( and 3 reverse), but when the 318 came out, they went with a conventional 4 speed, non-synchro that the drivers didn’t like.
Sadly, our society has moved on to this “instant gratification” mode, and bus travel, or any road travel for that matter, has become horribly obsolete. With how our society is run today, 30+ hours on a bus is simply unacceptable and bus travel today remains the chariot of the poor, but when the going gets rough at airports, by golly, guess what still shines through, the Greyhound bus. Like the last one, the sky is the limit.
Oh, here’s a little tidbit maybe someone can shed some light on. Years ago, when I was trucking, it was kind of obscure fact as told by the CB radio, so it had to right( cough), but I heard, if you ever see a transit bus or motor coach with the little clearance lights blinking, there was trouble aboard and authorities should be notified.
As always, thank you, Howard-book knowledge is a good tool, life experience is the anvil.
And too FWIW-you’re right about the flashing clearance lights, at least in the instance where a Nevada Highway Patrolman was behind a Trailways bus on a lonely stretch of highway one afternoon when he noticed the erratic flashing clearance lights. He hit the gumballs; when the bus stopped the bus door opened, a naked girl came flying out and ran out into the desert full tilt!
Driving a bus must have been an interesting job at times.
So What? was the Problem? 🤣
I got a kick out of the TWO Detroit engines. I can just imagine , keeping in mind, these motors weren’t like a modern jet engine, they failed regularly. Fact is, I read they ran 2 motors as kind of a backup. On a lonely stretch of highway, east of Omaha, one motor quit, hampering progress considerably. More than once, I bet( sound of driver over PA, crackling) “Good evening folks, Due to a mechanical issue we won’t be making Chicago on time” as they plodded along on one motor,,,
Gives new context to the term “One turning and one burning”…
At its best, air travel is fast safe and efficient I recently flew halfway across the country, had a 3 hour business meeting, and flew back. All the same day, on United. It was super comfortable and went off perfectly. It couldn’t have gone any better and the lounge in Denver even had decent food while I waited for the flight home.
@Jay E- Thanks for the United shout-out. Our oldest son flies the 777-ER on the European routes for United out of Dulles. I am very biased towards United, but I agree with your comments. Safe travels!
Let’s not forget that 100+ years ago, the privileged few could use private railcars or cabins in coastal steamers to travel long (for then) distance. Unlike the auto train (fan here) they had vehicles awaiting them on arrival, so no need to use a flatcar for the Triple P’s…
I’ll always opt for rail over coach (or even intercity) when available and practical.
MCI is now part of a Canadian transportation conglomerate. Used to visit Winterpeg regularly to visit the plant, preferably during either of the two weeks of summer (bracketed by Mud or Winter seasons). Great folks there.
A few years ago I took a train from Boston to NYC and what a better experience it was compared to flying commercially where we’re transported like livestock.
Huh? The CL listing almost reads as though it’s free if you promise to take care of it as specified by the current owner, or $50k if you choose to neglect it.
Also, could this machine even be operated in California? I’m pretty sure that commercial trucks and busses must either be 2010 or newer or have been re-powered with a 2010 or newer engine to be legal. I’d be concerned that a few more years of Greta Thunburg influenced policy, and this vehicle could be banned from operating as is in the US entirely.
Seems like a very risky purchase.
Hi Melton, good question. Unsure, as with typical gubment regs, it’s all over the place. I think, you can’t sell an off road 2 stroke in Cal. but the regs on diesels is confusing. Since 2 cycle Detroits won’t pass emission tests, they can’t be used in a commercial setting, but unclear about hobby 2 stroke diesels. I think it’s okay for a limited miles per year.
Clint Eastwood approved but not bullet-proof, mechanically or literally.
I made a small fortune, and you squandered it all. And you shamed me ’til I feel about 1 inch tall.
But I thought that I loved you and I hoped that you’d change, so I gritted my teeth and didn’t complain.
Now, you come to me with a simple
goodbye. You tell me you’re leaving,
but you won’t tell me why.
Now we’re here at the station, and
you’re getting on. And all I can think
of is…
Thank God and Greyhound you’re gone. I didn’t know how much longer
I could go on. Watching you take the
respect out of me, watching you make a total wreck out of me.
That big diesel motor is a singin my
song. Thank God and Greyhound you’re gone
Thank God and Greyhound you’re gone. That load on my mond got lighter when you got on. That shiny
old bus is a beautiful sight, the black
smoke a rolling up around the taillights, it may sound kinda cruel, but I’ve been silent too long.
Thank God and Greyhound you’re gone. Thank God and Greyhound you’re gone.
Sorry folks! Just couldn’t resist. Saw
him at the Frontier Casino in Las Vegas back in ’71. He (Roy Clark) was doing a live album for Dot Records at the hotel that night and boy, did he put on a show! The band I
was with was playing in Vegas so we
thought we’d go check out the show.
I can tell you first hand he did NOT
disappoint! One of the greatest musicians I ever saw. Inspired by what I’d seen the night before, I did an
impersonation of Buck Owens– with
Buck in the building! Got my ass
chewed out by my bandleader, but it
Was all in good fun though. What did
I know. I was 17 back then and just
full of piss and vinegar. Also did Marty Robbins, Hank Snow, and Merle
Haggard just for fun. I recall doing a
Marty Robbins song called Pretty Words and I did the first verse and the
chorus. I was getting ready to sing the second verse when I heard Marty
sing it instead. I looked to my left, and there he was! I was, and still am
to this day, honored that he sang a duet with me. One of the high points
of my 70 years on this earth. And the
bus, were I still playing, it would be my band bus.
Ha! Years ago Roy Clark (yes, the same Roy Clark) toured a restored super stock Plymouth around the country called the SUPERPICKER. I pitted next to him at an exhibition event in Oklahoma City. He was in and out of his motorhome all day, maybe 20 feet from my rig, but I didn’t bother him. I just remember he was slowwww. I was running a pure stock A12 Superbee and he was only running about a half second faster with his SS/A. In hindsight, I wish I’d have walked over and said Hi.
I made 2 round trips on Greyhounds from Chicago to College Station Texas in ’67-68 and 1 one way. I remember our senicruiser breaking down in SW Mo. and a newer one level job picking us up. The one-way running time was 28 hours, torture even for a 22-year-old Aggie. Did you mention that this bus was designed in the studio of the great and famous Raymond Lowey?
To Howard A’s comment on unreliable engines, GM used two 471’s mainly to gain more power to move the larger bus rather than as an on highway backup. Engines of a sufficient size to move this bus adequately and still fit the weight constraints were not available at the time the Scenicruiser was conceived. Moving this coach on one engine was problematic at best. Later on, when the V-8 Detroit Diesel 871 was developed, the Scenics were all refitted with this engine which was adequate and in fact went on to become the mainstay highway coach engine for all makes through the 1980s . I deeply respect Howard A as the classic vehicle Oracle of Delphi and look for his comments to provide valuable insight on the various vehicles that are posted, particularly the commercial ones.
The problems were more with the power transmission system with fluid couplings to connect the engines and quirky electric actuated clutches rather than the engines per se. GM Diesels were among the most supremely reliable power plants of the time, but couldn’t make up the shortcomings of clutch and transmission systems.
This bus was on here 6 months ago. At least the asking price hasn’t gone up. https://barnfinds.com/1955-gmc-pd-4501-scenicruiser/
Horrible write up. I look @ Barnfinds for information, not to be redirected to YouTube.
If a picture is worth a thousand words, then a YouTube video must be worth 10,000 words. Not lazy at all…efficient.
Horrible write up. I look @ Barnfinds for information, not to be redirected to YouTube. Total lazy
Good for you.
Hey Kenneth,
Nice response. I didn’t know you were in Vegas in ’71. I past through here in ’70 when I was 17. Lived here for the past 10 years, now 71.
Obviously the Frontier is no longer here. 😪
Old Vegas is gone and replaced with “Disneyland.” Corporate hell. Just like flying, the last time I drove the strip was over two months ago and you could walk faster than driving.
Flying may be faster but you are treated like cattle. As with everything else, enough time passes the price comes down to where everyone can afford it. Then you got rude, classless, entitled aholes and the affluent find better accommodations. Now it’s the private jet.
As for this bus, the way things are going, my interest in this is to convert it into a tiny home on wheels. A one bedroom, kitchen, dining, living room, it already has a bath but would need to be expanded. Lots of storage underneath plus put your clean, Grey & black water tubs there.
After what Howard A said I’d have to read up on the engine. But if I got stuck on the road, at least I wouldn’t be far from home.
Hi Angel! I was in Vegas with the Duke Babb Band that summer. He
needed a guitar player and a singer so I got the job. While other kids my age were working at McDonald’s for $1.65
an hour, I was seeing a good chunk of the country and getting paid really well to do it. After I sent money home
to my folks, I used the rest for expenses and saved some back to buy my school clothes, books, and the like. I’d leave when school got out
and came back in mid August. During
the school year, I played one nighters with guys I knew. So between keeping my grades up, (had a B average) playing music, and working on cars, I didn’t date at all back then.
This worried my Dad. He had to face the fact that
I was just too busy to date
Anyone back then. And it didn’t help
that “normal”girls didn’t date guys with a disability either. So, I just went on about my business. And when I sang a song, I meant it. Found out
You could say more with music than
you could any other way. And yeah, you have a really good idea about what to do with that bus too. I think I
saw one of these converted into a
camper. It was 50+ years ago so my
memory might be a bit fuzzy. What I
saw matched your idea to the letter.
The lower level had a kitchen and a
bathroom complete with a shower
while the upper level had a bedroom
and a living room. You could mount
solar panels on the roof to charge the
batteries and a portable Internet system that would keep you connected to the web regardless of
where you were. Best thing about it would be that you wouldn’t have a huge rent payment due each month
and you wouldn’t have to pay property taxes either. All you need is a good
Supply of diesel to keep it going and
access to potable water when you need it. And to the gentleman who said that Roy Clark was slow in the
pro stock class, what he lacked as a
drag racer, he more than made up for
as an entertainer. We can’t have everything now can we?
@ Kenneth
Would you relay a message to your wife for me? Tell her I envy her.