The Shortcut High bus was completed in 1999/2000 as a fun way to keep kids interested in staying in school. Builder Jerry Bowers spent five years constructing this super cool hot rod as a way to connect with kids and keep things fun. Since a chopped and lowered school bus was a fairly novel idea, Bowers decided to do it! Almost anyone who was even peripherally part of the “car scene” in the early 2000s will instantly recognize this bus, either from shows or magazines. It was even a feature car at SEMA, not once, but twice! Now in his 70s, after touring, showing, and just generally enjoying the creator has put the bus up for sale. It is being sold by AutoBarn Classic Cars in Concord, NC and can be found here on eBay with an asking price of $199,995 and the option to make an offer. Daily Mail has a great feature video on Jerry Bowers and the bus that can be found here.
The front seats in this custom bus are from a Toyota Supra, and the creator reports that they are very comfortable! Even with all of the modifications and the chop, this bus looks very spacious inside and looks like it could be a lot of fun with a total of seven passengers. This is a show vehicle that is built for entertainment and promotional purposes only, but is certainly capable of weekend fun! The creator intentionally built a driver’s side door for this bus to make driver entry easy, as we all know buses do not have a driver’s door.
The rear end of this bus is where the chopped roof is most noticeable! Another cool touch is the blue dots in the center of school bus taillights, which signals the combination of a bus and a hot rod. You’ll notice it has fat slicks on the rear, and while these give it a really mean stance unfortunately they are for show only. This bus is sitting on a front-wheel-drive Cadillac ElDorado chassis and according to the ad “is powered by 1977 Oldsmobile 403 big-block and FWD Hydramatic transaxle.” Yep, this thing is FWD!
The blower that sticks out of the hood is also only for show. It spins, but does nothing for performance other than up the wow-factor! The big spoiler on the roof was custom built by the creator to suit this bus and stick with the theme. This cool bus would be a fantastic promotional vehicle for a business or charity, but part of me can’t help but want it to continue on as the Shortcut High bus!
This was what started my craze for cars. When I was little (4-5), my family went to the car show in Ocean City. This was the main car for me. I loved this car. Got the Monster Garage book that had this in it throughout the build up. Now I need $200k
Hot Wheels Heavyweights series 1971-Tom Daniel(Monogram)/Larry Wood(HW)
This looks bigger from the outside, then it does inside, the opposite of the Tardis!
Sounds like it’s all show, no go. I don’t see this being a $200,000 vehicle.
Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaahahaha!!! this add is hilarious…
Oh wait, they are serious? those guys are so full of themselves. $200.000?
That price is even more ridiculous than that bus is
I believe John Force has one of these
That yellow turd would not pass NYS DOT for transporting Children. Like the ugly seville remodel. This is a bus from hell….
Been there done that. This is my version,done in 2004. Mid-engine 383 stroker, turbo 400 with Gear Vendors, triangulated 4 bar and air ride. the dash is made from a copper nickel hotwater tank. Its been across Canada and the U.S. a few times. More Fun Per Ton!!
The bus is not chopped
kinnda sharp looking even if all is just for looks……i have a retired school bus also.. 1941 model white….. but i added 14″ to the roof.. makes it easier to stand inside.. my engine is big and supercharged, but not for racing.. just for pulling around the bus and still get 16 mpg
This doesn’t belong on barn finds. I don’t care how much they paid to have it posted here.
It was actually a submission to the site deemed cool enough to be posted, but thanks for your input!
Those narrow side and rear windows just don’t work. I think they’d look better being the same height as the front window, or at least 4 inches taller. Seems more like a jail cell, as it is. But sure a cool idea.
So FWD a blower that does nothing 200k i call BULLS$$T.
Hey Jerry ,
I wish I had the money , so it would come back to Delaware were it was born .
This was a favorite as a 14 year old. Then out of boredom we covered it with glue, set it on fire and shot it up with bb guns. I like this one but am concerned that I have bigger guns now.
77 403 Olds was a small block