Just noticed a restored GM Futureliner up on the E-place currently at $50k start, auction # 110196814322
Tom
:'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'( :'(
i want one.
It will be interesting to see if the reserve gets met, whatever that is. A very unique coach for sure.
Heck, I couldn't even afford the insurance on that thing. ;D
Paul
Yeah Chaz,
I know what you mean, I've been after one of those things for years but gave up when I learned I couldn't pick one up at a salvage yard and I'm no billionaire.
Very rare find and if I had that sort of bucks to play with I'd buy it for no other practical purpose than to have it.
Dreamscape (Paul),
Yes, it will be interesting to see what it sells for, but somehow I don't think this one will bring as much as the Barrett-Jackson Auction, though.
BusCrazyTom the Analog Dinosaur
That is going to be an expensive "Party Barge"! ;D
Love the bar! Wonder how original the inside is?
What I thought was interesting was that they retored it in the way they did. Unless someone wants that type setup it was a waste. (No knocks here, I just thought it odd!)
Does anyone know who owns the others and what they plan to do with them?
Jack
Jack at one time the owner of this board Mike had 1 I don't know if he still has it
I saw this unit profiled on an RV program shown on HGTV several years ago. You should have seen it before the guy started the restoration. He did a terrific job. Not really my cup of tea (I'd prefer a restored Scenicruiser), but I sure appreciate the work he put into it.
Hey Guys,
check out this website on the where abouts of the remaining Futureliners.
http://www.futurliner.com/other.htm
Happy Thanksgiving,
Bill
That's only about an hour from where I am. I wonder if they would let me come see it. That would be an adventure.
On a side note... I always see people talk about the e-place. Is there a reason we are not supposed to mention this place by name? I see no conflict of interest so I want to make sure. I am sure I have mentioned it before.
Quote from: Songman on November 22, 2007, 12:13:36 PM
On a side note... I always see people talk about the e-place. Is there a reason we are not supposed to mention this place by name? I see no conflict of interest so I want to make sure. I am sure I have mentioned it before.
Nope, no particular reason, except maybe the mentioner is trying to protect his innocence! (And his bid) :D
Dallas
Songman,
IN this instance it was because on another bus board I have been told not to post the name, so that is how I reference it here as well.
BusCrazyTom the Analog Dinosaur
what would it matter not like it is a secret code word and only a few know what your talking about.
It really doesn't, but I don't post it after having been asked not to on another board, and so I just make it a general rule so as I don't P-O the BBS or BUS gods who freely feed me fine information.
BusCrazyTom the Analog Dinosaur
ebay.....ebay.......ebay.......ebay.......
OK, I feel better now. :P
I didn't find the bus. Could someone link it?
Thanks
Never mind, I got it to work.....Ugh!
I am just a dumb country boy but. How do you get in the thing? does it have a door on the roof , how about the front or rear opening up? I really can't find it gollie
gomer
Kinda kills me that with something so rare that someone would buy two and use one for parts. Looking at the monetary and historical value of something, that only 12 were ever built, that one in ANY condition would be worth restoring. Taking a page from antique wooden boat restorations, as long as some original wood exists,like a hatch cover, it is still the same boat and carries the same history and value. Along with my other love of Bristish cars, specifically Austin Healey bugeye Sprite's, none are too far gone to justify totalling one just for parts to make one. Sad if any of them are lost forever because of that practice.
If only 12 were built and you has 2 or 3 for parts and used them for that it makes the remaining 9 or 10 worth that much more ::)
Kinda like insider trading ;D
Gomer,
The entrance is on the front, sort of above the right front bumper. Kinda hard to see, though.
Tom
Gomer....this link show (1st photo) a fine outline of door at right front side. After open, a stairs chase run up to right side of driver's seat. By the way these photos is are 1940 version with all glass roof over driver. They change to hard top before 53's show. Driver were getting near heat stroke.
http://www.futurliner.com/pic3.htm
Open Door & hard top & resigned grille to allow more air in: http://www.futurliner.com/pic5.htm
An interesting October 2007 letter from Michigan State Trooper William Rials...told his few years driving experience at bottom half of page: http://www.futurliner.com/mich2.htm
I been 2 Parade of Progress events....Lansing & Michigan State Fair.
This Futurliner was at Mak Bus Conversion meet and took many photos. It took my breath away when I saw it driven in.....awesome vehicle.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
well gollie I found it and that is some pretty good body work LOL. I think it isn't original tho, It has a color tv on the counter, in fact in 1939 they didn't have tv's did they? thanks for the insight. I don't believe I can afford it how about you'all LOL ::)
gomer
I think a guy here in AR has one of these but don't know anything about the condition. He had a bunch of buses and got rid of all of them except this one and I assumed from his description that it is a Futureliner.
Jerry,
Good, good information to enjoy from the links you provided about the Futurliner. I got the same excitement reading about it as I did when I first stepped into Dave Lang's Flxible bus, if you have not seen this creation you have to see it at one of our rallies. Oh, he is a walking encyclopedia of bus knowledge also if you need good information.
Here is two photos of Dave's bus, you will get nearly the same feeling looking at Dave's bus as you would looking at a Futurliner.
Thanks again Jerry for the Futurliner link.
Gary
Gary
Yes Gary! I total agree about Dave Lang's Flxible being very done well rebuild to today tech. I have taken several photos while at Jack's rally in Arcadia of his cummin installation. Would like to hear from Dave about the engine cooling system...how it doing! Flxible was ahead of all bus manufacturers in regard to air flow around bus and air cooling to radiator. I think future buses will be going back to Flxible's thinking. Hi-speed streamline passenger train is already doing it.
Greatest power robber is vacuum behind bus's end.....frontal is #2 for power requirement. I believe Flxible has equal balance of power requirement of both ends.
FWIW
Sojourn for Christ, Jerry
I agree with Gary and Jerry, Dave and Carol have one wonderful coach!
After starting some serious work on our 'Cruiser this weekend I am fired up!
Ya'll meaning everyone on this board are a tremendous help...and I appreciate it!
Jack
Dave & Corl's Flex was a feature coach at one of our Bussin' rallies and was one the buses used by Jim Shepard & Sonny "Catskinner" Gray in their seminar on engine swaps. It is certainly a beautiful coach and also one of the best engineeered engine swaps. Dave & Carol plan to be Bussin' 2008. Jack
Someone is testing the waters ;) and it's not yer old pal Green Hornet!
Over $500,000 with more than a day to go!
Gary...thanks for the great pics of Dave's Flexy. And...I am sorry I am kinda also hijacking this post. Used to drive Flexies in Yosemite National Park ways back in the ancient past like 1970 or soosss. Are we getting old yet? He he he....NEVER!!! :) :) :)
HB,
You did not hijack this thread from me, it was originally about Futurliners and I am sort of the one that (Hijacked) or injected Dave's bus in particular in this thread as I will probably never see one of the futurliners but I see Dave's beautiful bus at some of the rally's we all attend. This is about as close to grandeur of these old buses as I will ever get.
I modified this reply HB to give you a taster of one of the buses featured also last year at the Florida Arcadia Bus Rally of Jack & Paula's. Hope this brings back a few memoris also. This bus was also beautifully restored to the Tee.
Gary
Well.....
It's now over $535,000 and way over my budget now! :(
Nick-
And the reserve has not been met. I am thinking at least a million to go over reserve. Maybe lots more. The problem with the Barrett-Jackson show is that now everyone thinks their Futurliner is worth 4 million.
Reminds me of the one about Mile Tyson paying $80,000.00 for a White Tiger when you could get one for $20,000.00 at the time. That idiot made the going rate $80,000.00 overnight! What an idiot!
Jack
PS...not disparaging the guy selling his Futurliner.
funny thing is the 0one at barrett jackson was a resto-Mod......did not have the original drivetrain.
I think the one Peter pan Bus Lines has is the one of only two that are Correct restorations as far as the unit itself.
if anyoneis interested...the Mack MV-620 prototype is for sale is certainly a more rare bird than the futureliner......only one made by hand.....to the tune of 2 million in 1956 dollars.
Hi Doug, how do I find a photo or info on the Mack?
Thanks
Jack
http://www.classicbusdepot.com/bus-photos/7_0_1_0_C/
presently parked right next to my MC-8
come on NICK quit cackling and git off your nest egg :) ;) ;D just hit it for I big one and show them you mean business LOL
gomer
Quote from: gomer on November 26, 2007, 05:53:50 PM
come on NICK quit cackling and git off your nest egg :) ;) ;D just hit it for I big one and show them you mean business LOL
gomer
Hi Gomer,
Let's see, my wife would leave me, my busisness would fold, my kids would disown me, and.....Hummmm!.........Naaaaaaaa!
Nick-
I just looked at this one and noticed that the seller has zero feedback and the pictures are from 2002. I do not think I would bid on it without seeing it in person. It will be interesting to see if it gets sold and stays sold.
Hey Charles,
The way I see auctions like this is you are bidding on first refusal for the item at what ever the price climbs to. I'd certainly not send any more than a deposit before I was able to have it inspected by my own mechanic.
When I picked the 'buy it now' button for my first 4501, I had every intention of paying that amount for it - but ONLY if it was as represented. I must admit, I was overwhelmed when I first got there. . .
Over 800K but I wouldn't bid on it without a foot rail for the bar. ;D
Hi Lee,
If you remember last year when Ron Pratte purchaced the Future Liner at Barratt Jackson, that one was a
resto mod that was Red and White. Meaning that the colors were Not factory. The outside of this one on e-bay
are correct colors with the stars and stripes. Along with a very custom interior. "I love all the fluted stainless"
I think it will bring a sale price of near or more then Ron Prattes.. [and of course, way out of my league]
We have until tomorrow night to see..
Nick-
Nick the one at barrett jackson had an original paint scheme.
they had at least two liveries on this vintage futureliner, that probably coincide with the rebuilds.
Gary....thank you for the pic of the driver's area of that old Jimmie. We called them blue sleds and the one I drove for awhile was a '48 or '49 and had a 471N with crown head injectors and the 1 or 2 speed auto. Had a top speed of 45 mph and it took awhile to obtain that. No A/C naturally. Had to turn off the Detroit to shift from drive to reverse. Long ago and far away indeed. Thanks. :) :) :)
Yea Doug,
I don't know what I was thinking.... The red and white were the orig. colors.. Thanks!
Nick-
Well the auction ended today at $800,100.00 reserve not met. I wonder what the reserve was and what's the record highest selling or highest bid item on Ebay? I should have bid to just to say I was in the running or highest bidder ;D
there have been items on ebay sell in the 7 digit range that I have seen......figure some real estate has sold for 8 digits
problem with the Futureline on ebay...is that is is far from original other than it's body and associated parts.
a bit of a white elephant to be taking to the Tailgate lot at the local football stadium.
if he was serious about getting top dollar for it he would have it in BJ this winter.
Until recently, the highest eBay bid ever was $9,900,500.00 for the Dodge Charger used in the Dukes of Hazzard movie.
Pretty stupid, huh?
Wanna hear something stupider? The current eBay high bid is $32 million! The item won was Dirk Diggler's (Played by Mark Wahlberg) prosthetic penis in the movie Boogie Nights. The winner... Bill Gates. Supposedly he was in a bidding war and won at the last minute. Who was the loser in the bidding war? Reportedly, it was Ross Perot.
The maximum for any eBay auction is $999,999,999.99. Their software will not handle a billion dollar bid.
Thought you guy's would want to see pics of Mike's Futureliner
Nick-
http://www.futurliner.com/kadletz.htm
Thanx for the photo Nick. I really would like to help out on something like this. It's just too bad I need to make a bit of a living. :-\
If only I could hit the right "6 numbers"! ::) lol
Chaz