What is a bus conversion actually worth?

[thomasinnv]

With actual cash out of pocket and value of components swapped over from my other bus, I'm into my DL3 north of 65K. This winter will see some new furniture and a diesel genset to replace the gas burner, so maybe around another 10K or more. Try not to think about the money you spend on these things, it'll make you sick lol.

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[belfert]

I figure I could get maybe 20% of what I have into my bus if I sold it.  I could certainly get more if I actually finished the interior and painted it.

I plan to keep mine as long as I have a good job and diesel prices don't go to $10 a gallon or something like that.  I'm still spending $2,000 to $3,000 a year just to keep it on the road with registration, insurance, and yearly service along with tires and such.

[Dave5Cs]

Seven years ago bought ours for $15K. It was converted but the PO rip part of the professional 1989 conversion out and then let it sit. It was a race teams in Missouri then he bought it and drove it to coltan California and then to Sacramento, California where we got it. He was the head Diesel Mechanic for A to Z Bus. We reused everything we could. Fixed a lot of wiring, Mounted brand new seats air ride that were in it but never put in. Put in more cabinets. Re did the bathroom, Kitchen and bedroom. Changed most of the plumbing, new shower. Went through air system lots of new valves and air hose. Went through brakes, new inverter batteries. All new tires. Yep probably have at least 50 in it now but a lot of the work was done by us and a lot of the interior material was things I had left over from some of my jobs before I retired. Probably would get about 20 or 30 today but having way to much fun traveling to rallies and doing weeks and a few months at a time. enjoy keeping up the maintenance on it.

Dave5Cs

[bevans6]

Great answers confirming what I thought.  I wasn't really after what people thought their bus might fetch, but what an honest feel for what it costs to build a good solid conversion is.  I paid $30K for mine, way different market than now, and in Canada to boot, for a rust free MC-5C with a working conversion, new brakes much of the steering/suspension, and a dusted engine (didn't know that part).  I'm about $20K more after I finish my transmission exchange, but that includes a new engine as well as new inverter, batteries, and new air-bags in the suspension, and new DD-3's.  I have no idea what it's worth, because I never sell nothing...

Brian

[luvrbus]

Brian, did you buy your 5 direct from the Indians here in Az or from a individual.I saw the other 5 at Globe AZ a few weeks ago for sale it looks in sad shape they were asking 4k for it

[kyle4501]

It has been my observation that if it doesn't have slides & a computer controlled 4-stroke, the price will be much lower.
Seems most are scared away from the older 2-strokes as they are OLD.
There also seems to be a lot of desire for slides and the extra room they provide.

The reason I wanted to build my own was because I couldn't find a floor plan that I liked.
My reason for starting with an old bus was strength & durability of chassis.  

With the cost of no slide factory built motorhomes dropping, the market for converted buses shrinks.

When my wife found a Newell for less than half what I had budgeted for the conversion of my old bus AND it was ready to use NOW, the option was clear.

[belfert]

I have spent so much money on my bus I lost track.  It is way more than I thought I would ever spend, and I haven't had the engine or transmission rebuilt.

My shell cost more than many have done an entire bus for.  The shell with new tires, registration, getting it home, and taxes was close to $40,000.  That price was actually not bad for a factory four stroke back then.  I was naive and the shell had major mechanical problems that I spent over $10,000 getting fixed or fixing myself.  I was over $50,000 before buying a generator or installing an interior.

[bevans6]

Brian, did you buy your 5 direct from the Indians here in Az or from a individual.I saw the other 5 at Globe AZ a few weeks ago for sale it looks in sad shape they were asking 4k for it

It was bought direct from the indians or a broker in 2000, when it was retired from service at 20 years old.  Imported to Canada by a broker who converted it to Canada spec (a lot of repairs, and metric speedo and hubmeter) then bought by a teacher who converted it and ran it for 10 years, I bought it in 2010.

Brian

[chessie4905]

Probably figure on getting 50% or less than you think it's worth. Bus conversion interest peaked before fuel prices went crazy and little chance of the interest being that great anymore. The next generation have different interests. Conversion Vans,Bass boats, Harleys..... they have peaked or will as our generation ages. For us the next thing will probably be mobility scooters.

[Nel]

I bought my 4104 pretty cheap for what I thought they would be worth,it's a crap shoot when you buy a vintage bus, never know what might be a problem but then again I bought it to make it my own and enjoy it.

[rip]

I paid $40,000 for my Prevost in 1999,had a 748 tranny put in and a 8 inch roof raise.was full timing in 2003 with about $12000,00 invested.I had an appraisal done at that time for my insurance and it came in at $185,000.Thirteen years later who knows what it's worth.

[luvrbus]

 We have John 316 and Steve's DL3 it would be frightening to know what they had tied up in that bus and what they let it go for we got a heck of a deal IMO   


The value is creeping up with cheaper fuel,when fuel reaches 5 bucks a gal again take off another 25%

[brmax]

A lot of value in things don't change much without change.
I was lucky to work directly under engineers who sharply understood the value of things in a different way than marketers, and bean counters. Although it was their common responsibility to budget all aspects of the build.
Anyway with this opportunity I had seen from many meetings around them their ability to react in their way, calculating quickly and realizing the specific or particular role in the picture "and more importantly" common building steps to better the situation.
Heres where many don't like their answer to "better and or address the issue",  in the same mind of the many they have to have this particular information so to evaluate.
what is this secret, I said it!
Evaluate! yep, with what I hate Test and yep! I am the loud one that needs the measure to fix the problem. 
The results slowly start a pattern of standards, as them pesky ones we talk and text about.
Good Morning
Floyd



curious: what does insurance say on the sheet "other than the amount due"

[Charles Seaton]

I agree with Tom C.  There are a lot of factors that go into the value of a converted coach.  I recently had the opportunity to take a day trip in a TOTALLY rust-free GM PD4108 that also happened to be for sale for about $70,000. 

Nice original conversion.  Is it worth that much?  Well, the bus was converted new from a factory shell.  Very low mileage and parked indoors.  Owned by the owner of a charter bus company and extremely well maintained.  Everything works.  Bus drives very well, however it is a four-speed Spicer. 

Bus remains a bus on outside with nothing giving it away as an RV.  If someone is into near-classic GM styling, 35-feet and doesn't mind the issues that a wet clutch presents when shifting, it probably is a pretty good deal.  But for that price, most people are looking for bigger, newer and automatic driving.

- Seaton     

[rip]

I just listed my bus in the classified section.I still don't know what it's worth but I guess I have to start somewhere.