This 1938 Gar Wood Bus falls under the category of a vehicle that I would love to have and love to have restored but I have no idea what I would use it for. I wonder if Jay Leno ever has that problem? Probably not. This super cool, super unique bus is listed on eBay in Aberdeen, South Dakota and there is currently a bid price of just over $4,500 – but the reserve isn’t met. Thanks to Darrun for sending in this tip!
This is one of the most interesting vehicles that I have seen in a long time. I know, that coming from the guy who brought you this, and this. Ha, and this. Gar Wood Industries was one of several businesses created by Commodore Garfield A. Wood who invented a hydraulic ram for dump trucks which funded his ventures. He was also “America’s most popular and successful power boat racer” – most of you have probably heard of Gar Wood boats.
Isn’t this thing cool? I shouldn’t like a bus as much as I like this one but man. Despite being a bus, albeit a 20-24 passenger bus, they were relatively light. There are probably SUVs that weigh 6,500 pounds or close to it. And, size-wise, here’s a photo showing the scale of this bus on a trailer being pulled by a Ford pickup. I can see this being a custom tv-reality-show restoration but I hope that it gets restored back to what it might have looked like when it was new.
Now that’s a stick shift, good grief. Oddly enough, the interior doesn’t look as bad as I thought it would despite the fact that this bus doesn’t have any windows and hasn’t had any for who knows how long. Even though I don’t smoke I’d want to sit in the back of this thing. The seller says that this bus “has been in storage for many years. It needs total restoration. It has a wood floor in it. Overall solid bus. No glass in it.”
Here’s the power, a rear-engine Ford flathead which I believe would be a replacement. The seller refers to it as a “58AB V8” which if I’m even close to being correct is a 1945 (the 5 would be 1945), and would this be a 239 cubic-inch flathead? I can’t find much info on this engine on the internet even on the Ford truck enthusiasts forum. One of you will know. Obviously this bus needs a full nut-and-bolt restoration. Could you see enough of a use for this bus to justify the restoration cost?
What a crazy looking bus it looks like a bug eye very much like the MG’s. I’d carefully remove the body and clean and strip the frame down. I’d refit with a cumins diesel, overdrive auto and 1.5 ton axles with disc brakes, I’d also move the engine to the front. While the body is off I’d gut out all window frames and old seats. I’d restore the aluminum outer body and camperize the interior. This bug bus would be the talk of the camp ground and it would be very functional.
Before you get too carried away with your idea to “carefully remove the body and clean and strip the frame down,” be aware that these were actually monocoque structures. From a 1936 newswire article, “Instead of the customary method of construction where a body is mounted on a heavy chassis that carries the motor, axles, transmission, wheels and other mechanical parts, in the new bus the various parts were mounted directly to the body and chassis frame.”
“‘You see,’ said Stanley proudly, ‘it’s like a bridge. Each, part supports another and each stress and strain has been figure mathematically. The same principle is being used in the manufacture of Lincoln Zephyrs. Other automobile manufacturers are experimenting with the idea.’”
Agreed, it would be a puzzle to restore/reconstruct. But being it is likely one of only a very few ever built and possibly one of the last remaining, I’d be inclined to restore it to original condition. Regrettably, my pockets aren’t nearly deep enough to indulge in such a project.
April 13 2020 I’m in Ontario Canada recently acquired 200 acres found one off these buses in the woods
Why would you ruin it ? it’s only stock once. And this bus will go back to being totally stock.
Where it was put it has been since 1940s. It won’t ever be able to come out. Sooner of the wildest most remote terrains Canada has.
When you got 70% done doing all that stuff to it , You’d probably run out of money and time and patience stick it in your backyard and it would rot for the next 50 years Just like the other thousand guys that have done that over the years
Man do I want this.
Really. That is one cool looking, art-deco-ish vehicle.
Henry Ford Museum needs this one. Restore it, use it for special events at Greenfield village. Keep ’em runnin’.
Man, that thing is so ugly it’s beautiful! I sure hope someone gets that thing and gets it back on the road. Even as Dick J says, get it to a museum and use it for special occasions.
I’ll bet it’s a fun job changing a flat.
In my world, we pay folks to do that stuff..
This is definitely like the dog who catches the car it’s chasing: What do you do with it? But what a trip it would be!
The engine designation ’59AB,’ does stand for the primary year of manufacture: ‘1945,’ and was used until 1948. Interesting enough, the designation never changed (I have seen 69A cast on some engines) until it morphed into the 8BA/8CM in ’49. The engine itself isn’t much different from the Mercury engine (99A) that was introduced in ’39. This engine would definitely move the bus better. The original could well have been a 21 stud (’38 was a running change to 24 stud engines) V8-85 which would fall short of the 59AB by 15 hp. I see that this engine is sporting the original ’38 distributor which worked fine although the later one worked a lot better. Note the blower-type fan; much better to work with the natural air flow than against it.
It’s beautiful in its own way. It would be a cool camper, local tour bus, film or television prop. Install a later model drivetrain, update the seating, by all means keep its 1930’s charm. It’s great.
Steve R
I think this needs to go to a national park similar to the big red busses used for Glacier National Park.
This thing reminds me of a caterpillar 🐛
That would be the perfect place for it.
It would be nice to use for special venues but I would shy away from a place like Glacier or Yellowstone. Those old White 706s were fairly solid and were quite nimble on those mountain roads. There’s no a lot of substance to this unit. I think I’d keep to the wide, flat roads….
Hate to see it resto modded- do a search, and all you will find is photos of this one and old advertisements. Obviously if you need a part outside of the drive train you will be fabricating it.
By Gar, wood make a cool project ( couldn’t resist) Some theme park shuttle with a big smile on the front ( it almost has one now) Could be a foot full to stop, it may have mechanical brakes.
my dad went to school in a plywood bus (20s/30s).
I’d keep the straight 8 if possible, not use it for much but a lill putt, no cummins/allison here. Restore al la DJ’n others above – right down to the cloth covered wiring. May B fewer seats for folks to get up in & walk around in.
A major bus line for this geo. area has a fleet (10?) of antique busses he hauls out now’n then. Some (again art-deco) R really amazing looking!
That’s a LOT of aluminum to straighten and polish, but would absolutely be worth the effort.
Certainly a big project but it’s encouraging to see it’s mostly complete. I can imagine the interior finishes from the curvature of the seat backs. Or for that Gar Wood speedboat owner looking for the ultimate tow vehicle, custom period style personal interior and drivetrain mods for dependability and it’s new use. Easily the coolest thing on BF is a long while, let’s hope someone does right by it.
The letters on front look like an old phone number?
TONE KD’S J-980KC
Radio station ad – “Tune KDSJ 980 KC” (980 kilocycles on the AM dial). That station, based in Rapid City and licensed in Deadwood, SD, first went on the air in 1947. Maybe this bus was used after its regular service in Lead as a crew vehicle for remote broadcasts?
Wow, this thing just screams motorhome at me. This would blow everyone away at the campground. Paint it don’t polish it, or you are never done. If this was just a shell I would be for dropping it on another chassis but this one is too nice and should be restored in spite of my burning desire to RV it.
Too bad The Grateful Dead are… dead, it would definitely draw attention for a pancake and grilled cheese stand.
Already up over Ten Grand….. Looks like ebay was the place to put it for the seller!
I could see that being restored/converted into a pretty cool motor home. Pull into the ol’ KOA in that pup and be the queen of the ball!
Hate the frog-ish front end, but that back end looks awesomely deco.
reminds me of those old british tour busses
6500 lbs. ?? My 16 Silverado 3500 single wheel crew cab W/8′ box says 11,0000lbs.on the registration.
11.000 lbs is the GVW, not the weight of just the truck. It is the combined weight of the vehicle plus the load.
Obviously waiting on warp drive to be reinstalled,so it can get back to where it belongs.
No motor home, needs to be in a bus museum.
Looks like a cross between VW and a Ansair Flxible Clipper.
Is there any modern engine that would allow it to stay rear-engine? This intrigues me
People have been swapping SBC’s in for Ford flatheads since 1955, I don’t see why this would be any different.
Yes it’s called a flathead that’s been completely rebuilt— Plenty of power and works just fine
If it had a clear plexiglass roof it would look like a giant Kabenninrolller,,,
It would be a nice people mover at the Ex,in Toronto.
WOW That is one original looking bus, I collect and restore American and German Military vehicles primarily trucks, but you want to get a bunch of military truck guys going, show them something like THIS!!! Everybody wants something really neat and different, this has the different already, lets hope its new owner doesnt go to wacked out and destroy it??? Very COOL!!!!
$10,800 currently, Reserve not met…
I could just imagine this all prettied up with a polished bare aluminum finish like an Airstream.
Maybe throw a front wheel drive V8 in there(or in the rear backwards)
I can’t stop looking at this thing.
WOW grab some weed and go on a road trip
PlecostoBus?
Jab17c7gs I believe that’s the weight limit that your brake system will allow not the actual weight of the vehicle
That is the actual weight of the vehicle body is completely aluminum
Wow! What a cool bus! This would look really nice as a motorhome conversion or returned to stock condition.
The bus is being put back to day one condition.
It is too rare to do anything else with.
Me thinks it would make one cool RV to tour the country in
I would have EASILY bid above 10K for this! It OBVIOUSLY SCREAMS RARITY,UNIQUENESS & NOT in bad shape for a restore.Today,running this would easily fetch above $75K,perhaps $125K or more???Money is NO object for those who have it!Prestige for THINGS of rare quality,value to them.Although I am NOT a ‘FLIPPER’,I would have restored & kept it for ALL it is.An investment in American ingenuity! Anyone know what it sold for?Not that it matters now,just curious how well SOMEONE made out!
Anyone know what this bid for?
Little over 50 by the time I got back to California
Sean my name is Michael Reynolds if you’re interested in selling that bus as is ,I’m interested in buying it. 8052765304
Email me at shakftf@gmail.com
I dont think it will ever be able to come out of where it sits. But parts maybe salvageable