Yellowstone National Park, established in 1872, covers parts of Wyoming, Montana, and Idaho. Much of its growth and success tracks with the advent of the automobile, which led to more visitors. Touring buses became popular in the early 20th Century, many of which were provided by White Motor Co., like this 1924 edition of the 15-45 Series. It’s documented and runs but will need a complete restoration. This rare vehicle, celebrating its 100th birthday, is in Newport Beach, California, and is available here on craigslist for $20,000. A great tip brought to us by Barn Finder Ryan!
Motorized vehicle traffic in the park began around 1917 and led to tour buses being one of the best ways to navigate Yellowstone National Park. The first 50 of these were ordered that year with the capacity to haul six passengers plus a driver and were used at first for dignitaries and the more affluent guests. In 1920, the park started taking on the 15-45 Series of White buses that could now haul 12 folks. 214 of them were ordered through 1925, including this one which was the 251st vehicle overall in the park fleet based on a 1940 accounting.
According to published specs, the 15-45 had 4-cylinder engines of 45 hp, a 4-speed manual transmission, and a ¾-ton weight capacity. After this copy of the bus was retired (we don’t know when), it eventually found itself in a barn in Southern California. We’re told it’s complete including a box for luggage in the rear. It also has a Leece-Neville electric starter which is said to be rare and was installed by the park as opposed to the manufacturer.
Though we’re told it starts, the seller hasn’t made any attempt to drive it. It will require a thorough makeover from head to toe, but we don’t know how hard it will be to find 100-year-old parts. So be prepared to make some of its bits and pieces and use substitutions otherwise. One cool thing about the White bus is that it has its original exhaust whistles that still work!
Another one! Such a short time since one was featured here. Well, I never got intrigued much by this model but I sure loved the White 706 that replaced these. I remember them back when I was a kid. In Glacier they were painted red with black fenders but in Yellowstone, they were yellow and black. They were an icon in both parks; it seemed that something was missing when you didn’t encounter at least one of them on the various roads through the parks. I would like to have a 706 myself but I sure wouldn’t know what to do with it. I settled for one (of each) that I could afford. They look good in our Christmas village…
I think you can buy scale models of both the red and the yellow ones. Upkeep is easy and insurance, probably a non-issue.
That’s what I did, Al. I heard that Yosemite also ran 706s but they were green with black. I never saw one except in pictures. But if that’s the case, I need to round out my collection…
When we vacationed in Glacier rode in one of them Ford rebuilt the frame and running gear disk brake etc but this old thing is not worth restoring sorry
Well its a good thing everyone is not like you. There are people who love history and keeping these cool old rides running. There won’t be any cars built today that will even exist in a hundred years yet run.
12 passengers plus the driver would exceed the 3/4 ton rating.
Ha, and then some. Mechanical brakes on the back only made for some extra unexpected thrills, I bet. I think the rating system for trucks was different then.
Quick tour bus story. Had a good friend that years ago, as a younger man, was a tour guide. This was the 70s, so tour buses were still a bit crude. Going down a particularly steep hill, my friend noticed the driver a bit tense, unknown to the passengers, the brakes were fading. As the bus gained speed, the driver fought to control the bus, while my friend distracted the riders with view comments. They made it to the bottom, but the driver said, “we’ll be taking a short break here”, as he went around back to smoke a cigarette.
Wow a charabanc … don’t see many from the US ……
I think the national park itself should buy it back and restore it, albiet maybe with a brake upgrade. The motor would work fine as-is, you aren’t really worried about speed in a national park. If it were to be mine, i’d modify it to have taller wheels and tires, like a vintage rural mail carrier Model A. It would be fun to drive it down and get some hot chocolate with the entire family in tow.
Good night to all
Flint
Does anybody know why there’s a factory exhaust whistle?
Good Night To All
Flint
The White Motor Company has a very interesting history. When I lived in Oklahoma, used to go to Chickasha, OK and hang at (the late) Joe Ersland’s garage (the late Don Boulton was there almost every time I visited). Joe had exclusively pre-war stuff, mostly pre-WWI, but his real passion was White steam cars. Here is a great synopsis of the White Motor Company. Hope somebody will restore this old bus to its former glory. I would but not everybody in my household thinks I need another project…..
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/White_Motor_Company
There is an interesting link to the seller’s story. The guy seems to have built a 72 foot pirate ship in the same barn as the tour bus was kept.
That was a previous owner, not the current owner
https://www.latimes.com/la-me-boatbuilder-pictures-photogallery.html