Making lemonade...

[Branderson]

how do you post pictures on here? 

[lvmci]

Yes Clifford, that must be why I'm having palpitations! tom...

[richard5933]

Posting photos is pretty easy...at the bottom of your post you click on the "additional options" link under the text box. There will be a place there to select and upload your photos. They must be pretty small (less than 196 kb total per post.) I'd suggest copying all your text to the clipboard before trying to post with photos though, because if there is a problem with your photos you'll lose your text and have to start over. Also possible to compose in something like MS Word and then copy/paste the text into the post.

If you're using the Tapatalk app on Android it's even easier. Should be self explanatory there.

Richard

[windtrader]

Richard,

There is a Facebook group for Custom Coach buses. Check with Buck Trout on FB, I think he can get you in there.

[richard5933]

...You might find that they installed layers of cork and lead sheeting in the floor for sound deadening. ...

Cork & lead sheeting? That must be hiding under the miles of authentic 1970s shag carpeting. 

Richard

[DoubleEagle]

Cork & lead sheeting? That must be hiding under the miles of authentic 1970s shag carpeting. 

Richard

Yes, indeed, if your coach got the star treatment. Access holes for wires or pipes might reveal how thick the floor is. The lead sheets are thin, but they are very effective as a noise barrier, and the cork acts as an absorber. There would be layers of plywood in between. Your roof might not have been raised, and that would reduce your chance of having that. The ones I saw at the plant had ceramic tile or marble for the floor covering.

[richard5933]

Serial number on our new coach is P8M4108A125. The information I found online was as follows:

125    203182    07/74    Super Service Bus Co (S Amboy NJ) {Housecar}

The story I was told by the seller is that the bus was ordered by the owner of a charter company for the specific purpose of being converted to a motor home. This record would bear that out.

The story continues that the shell was sent to Custom Coach for conversion. The conversion was done at a cost of $184,000, and with the initial purchase price the total spent in 1974 was $250,000. I have not yet confirmed these numbers, but according to an online inflation calculator that would be the equivalent of approximately $1.2 million in today's money. I've always thought it would be great to one day own one of the million dollar coaches on the market today, I just didn't know that I'd have to start with one that was 43 years old. No matter, as I'm already quite excited to have this piece of history and can't wait to get behind the wheel.

I've got a list a mile long already of things that I'd like to upgrade. But, I also hesitate to do anything that will upset the untouched vintage look of the thing. Seems like it's kept its owners comfortable (relatively speaking) in its current setup for all these years, so maybe I'll take my time and only do what's necessary for safety and to interface with modern campsite hookups. I'm actually looking forward to driving it with the 4-speed, at least for now. Am I too old to make believe that I'm a real bus driver?

Richard

[dtcerrato]

Really nice machine! Seems you deserve it after your experience. Enjoy the heck out of the lemonade your making. It taste excellent from our perspective and really happy to see it go both ways. Such a fine machine in the hands of a fine person who appreciates it for what it is. Really happy for your rekindled spirit & the fact that you keep on keeping on. Wishing you uneventful safe travels. I just love those numbers you crunched!