Leave The Driving To Us. It’s a slogan that most Baby Boomers are familiar with, and the Greyhound Scenicruiser Bus has become iconic with long-distance traveling in the good old days of yore. General Motors Truck And Coach Division worked with Greyhound for seven years designing the ideal bus to meet their people-moving needs, and in 1954 the Scenicruiser made its debut. Over the next two years, 1,001 examples were produced which Greyhound used up until the mid-seventies, with about 200 of them still in service when Greyhound decided to withdraw them from the fleet around 1975. If you’ve been longing to own a really large bus, this 1956 Greyhound Scenicruiser GM Bus might just fit the bill. Located in Montgomery, Texas, it can be seen here on eBay with a current bid of $800 and the reserve not yet met.
The Scenicruiser, or model PD-4501 as GM called it, had a seating capacity of 45 passengers, but unfortunately, it’s been a long time since this particular parlor bus has moved anybody. The current owner says he has owned it for 10 years, and upon his acquisition, he drove it from South Dakota to Texas where it’s currently sitting. Although he made the drive successfully, the expedition was not without issues, as he says there were some serious air leaks and the air compressor was on its way out. The bus was started from time to time between 2012 and 2014, but not since.
The seller is very upfront in making it clear that the bus needs a total restoration, and that it will take a lot of time and money to make something good out of it. Some specifics he mentions are that the factory wiring is a mess and that the air system needs a lot of attention, and the point is made clear that these things would have to be addressed before the bus could move under its own power, and that the next owner shouldn’t expect to drive this bus away.
The bus has been “gutted out” and was used as a storage area for a time by the current owner, kind of a sad scenario for a vehicle that once traveled the open roads to fall into, but if you’re a fan of the parlor bus and have deep pockets maybe you can be the one to get it back on the pavement. The seller also points out that this is the second time it has been listed on eBay, due to a non-paying buyer on February 22 who bid $4,050. There’s now a time constraint that the bus must be moved by March 15, as the owner is getting ready to move out of state. What are your thoughts on this 1956 GM Scenicruiser Greyhound Bus?
The equivalent of a split level ranch, to be parked under a bridge down by the river.
I see some kind of air intake/exhaust by the upper window, I think it may have been dragged up from the river bank LOL.
I have to admit, though, the odd shape appeals to me, I’d love to get it usable, leave the scars & faded paint visible, and sidle in alongside the million-dollar buses in the parking lot campgrounds.
It seems the most realistic option for this would be the bus equivalent of a restomod. Are there specialist shops out there which convert buses into RVs? I just don’t see Joe Hotrod being able to undertake a project like this on his driveway. It needs too much huge and heavy shop equipment. Modify it to take a new-ish bus drivetrain or even complete chassis, gut it to a shell and start from the ground up with new everything. In the end it will cost more than a new high-end RV, but that’s how custom vehicles roll, isn’t it?
If you are thinking “chassis” like a car or truck, you are totally misguided in your thoughts. GM Parlor or Transits do not have a conventional chassis. They are what they call “Monolithic” which means the flooring, sides and roof give the coach its strength and solidity. It must have worked. There are buses from the 30’s on up that are stilling running the roads. There are a few that have been restored to their service days of passenger riding, but most have been converted to RV’s and are stilling going strong.
People make motor homes out of them. For a 50s icon, designed by Raymond Lowey, these were complicated for the time. Originally, they were built with two Detroit Diesels. I recall as a kid in the 60s my dad getting on one of these to travel to New York. Always loved these coaches. But, yes, these are a major undertaking to restore. All that aluminum to polish. Been there done that in the late 70s when I helped a friend restore one. He still has it.
It would cost a fortune to get it roadworthy again BUT it would make for a nice vacation home. Outfit the “downstairs as the living room / parlor. Go “upstairs and find the kitchen and dining area with farther back the bathroom w/ shower, laundry area and finally two bedrooms. IF one got it roadworthy and use the same / similar floorplan it would be even better
I own a company that has done a few bus conversions, the last one was for a very well known Country Western singer. No question after you spend a few hundred thousand to get the coach road worthy again and ready for a complete interior you can plan on the interiors cost to be about another
hundred thousand dollars!
I remember traveling back and forth from Denver to Michigan in these things in the fifties and early sixties. The low drone of the motor, the low drone of conversation among the passengers, and not much else through the night.
This definitely has potential. Home on the lower level, meth lab on the top!
You could even name it the “Heisenberg”
NO TIME OR MONEY. I rode in a few of these when I was in the Navy. Use to ride the dog between Pa. and Va. many of weekends.
Weekend cottage material. Build an adjacent structure that looks like a bus stop terminal platform (patio, outdoor kitchen, bathroom). Finish the bus with a couple bedrooms and lounge space…repaint the greyhound colors and polish.
Excellent idea!
Put it in the crusher…oh wait, it won’t fit in a crusher.
PD4501-693
Northland Greyhound Lines Y-719
Western Greyhound Lines P-2449
Western Greyhound Lines 8249
Tibor Bros. Band bus – Hebron, ND. 2006
Listed for sale on Ebay 2006
Brian Knittle (Brian’s Towing)- Freeman, SD (for sale)
Unknown owner – Montgomery, TX. (bought from ebay 2006) For sale ebay 2/16/2022.
Oowee, oowee baby won’t you let me take you on a….
My father was a gambler down in Georgia,
He wound up on the wrong end of a gun.
And I was born in the back seat of a Greyhound bus, Rollin’ down highway 41.
The auction shows a pic of the back end. It seems that it was used as a tour bus for the Tibor brothers from ND.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ijMt3lKtLYE
In action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LumiuJ1-lEo
That was cool!
Nice! Thanks for sharing!
I’ve lived in a school bus I converted on my 40 acres for the past 5 years. This would be a great addition to my compound!
Depending on where your 40 acres is located, the towing charges will be more than the purchase price… Otherwise, sounds like it would be.
I can just hear the whine of that 2 cycle detroit. Very cool but and endless amount amount of work and coin. Bobby has the right idea. Upstairs/ downstairs! Good luck and happy motoring.
Cheers
GPC
They are very expensive and difficult to convert because parts such as the upper windows are unobtanium, and the split level with a dropped walk way means an odd interior, or a complete restructuring to make it flat. And they were slow then and would be painful to drive today without a complete repower. To get this to a point where you could use it reliably but not have a show piece would still be six figures. I just repowered a much smaller bus doing every single thing myself and no interior work and I am up to $30,000.
It would be extremely expensive and time consuming, but turning this into an RV would be pretty cool.
I was going comment about the band and bus videos last night but the bourbon was going down good,bet there’s some good stories about touring in that bus.
some one bid 800 , take it and run…
Bidding is over $2000 and climbing
If they actually follow through
Industrial designer Raymond Loewy designed the early bus for Greyhound in the 1940s, and in the 1950s updated the design into the double decker profile. He also streamlined the dog logo for Greyhound.
http://www.loewy-raymond.de/eng/legendary-scenicruiser/
GREAT BUS to spend $200K making it NICE!
I think much less spent on this one….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JGHa8tVlIS4
The Bus Grease Monkey in Tennessee revives derelict buses like this on his Youtube channel and it makes for great viewing pleasure . Good people that have a passion for buses….
Nice.
https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=bus+grease+monkey
I’ve always loved these buses but the sheer size (and expense) would prevent me from getting this. And then you still need someplace to put it. I hope someone can save it.
I drove these busses for Greyhound for hundreds of thousand miles, nice comfortable bus for passengers and driver. However, towards the end of their lives they broke down frequently.
Hi-Just read your reply… My late father was Local 1202 out of NYC and his number was 59645. He was hired in 1963 for the Worlds Fair. I spent my life riding with him, working in ticket agencies while in school. I even drove PD-4905 Buffalos, MC-7s, MC-8s and 9s. Then I went to work for another company or two and was driving Prevosts, Eagles, and Neoplans. I have been looking at Class As and Cs with my wife and remembered that my Dad always told me that he wanted to get a retired Greyhound for an RV. But these 4501s (he drove them too) are about 70 years old and most leak air badly and I won’t even get into the hack jobs on the wiring. He retired towards the end of that last strike with 28 years. We never got that bus… too bad as he would’ve loved it
Tom Mc Nally you could use it for parts.
@Franz T Kulinna, Too far from Peoria, IL and I really don’t need anything I see. I’ve been collecting parts for 25 years! I hope it is saved and put back on the road.
Wow!! $2,025 now with 8 bids, looks like reserve met.
Perhaps there was a ‘bid retraction’..It shows just a tad over $1500. now..
It seems like a lot of people get as far as gutting these things and that’s about it.
If a guy had nothing else to do w/ $100K or so, this might be a fun project, from which one would never get a return on their investment, IMHO.
At least the owner seems pretty honest about the prospects here. I respect that.
Try to find a modern RV near this size for less than a half-million, and the cost to make this into a nice one makes sense. Even more sense to spend the towing charge to put on a piece of woodland for a get-a-way.
Someone has just passed the threshold of the easiest and cheapest thing they will do with this bus.
BUYING IT by meeting the cheap reserve!
Now the real fun and EXPENSE begins just trying to move it!
I’d like to see one of those quirky motel places buy this and convert it to an outdoor deluxe motel/hotel room or suite. Fix it up with new paint & polish on the outside and the interior re-worked to fine accommodations and would be attached to ground plumbing and electricity. No engine or running gear ….. just a choice for a nights stay or longer depending on ones needs. Take the raised floor (sides) out, make it level and add the bed/beds, chest of drawers, TV, side chair, table, full bathroom, etc. I’ve seen the 727 jet motel conversion, why not this classic Scenicruiser as well?
Whats the word about the engine l know its a Detroit but would love to that first lm interested in that bus
Not much more involved here than restoring Windsor Castle!
Brings back some good memorys. I remember riding on one from Rainell,W.Va to Fort Hood ,Texas back in 1969. It cost $24.00 for the ticket. Also remeber the ride from Rainell,W Va. to Norfolk,Va back in 1977. What a ride. The ladys and I had a nice time. We left the driving to Gray Hound. I miss those days.
Plop it in a vacant lot with a view and make it into a small quirky coffee shop or ice cream shop with seating up in the upper deck.
Sold $3,122. 4 bids.
Bidder is from Belgium.