Anyone in the Seattle/Tacoma area? General advice requested, too!

[suzanka]

Hi all,

Does anyone live near Tacoma that can check out a bus?  Actually two. 

This seller https://seattle.craigslist.org/tac/rvs/d/graham-bus-for-sale/6810084906.html  Has two Buffalo buses, a 4905 automatic gutted with two side windows removed, and a 4107 manual fully converted.  He's looking to sell them both for $15,000 for the pair (doesn't want to separate them).

He said he was originally going to convert the 4905, then decided to use it for parts, mainly transferring the automatic transmission to the 4107.  It hasn't been parted out yet besides taking a few windows off.

I live in NJ, but I have a friend in Arlington, WA where I was planning to store the buses and work on them over the summer.  I can visit in the last week of Feb, so if you could visit before and tell me if it's worth the trip to buy them, I'd be happy to compensate.  I'd also appreciate it if you could come with me.  I'm eager to learn!

If you're not in the area, I'd also love your feedback.  I'll attach a few photos of the engines, and maybe you could tell me if the asking price is reasonable.

Thanks!

[richard5933]

If I were looking for another bus, I'd certainly fly out there to take a look. Lots of things pique my interest...The 4107 still has the belly pan under the engine. These were usually removed when in revenue service, so the fact that they're still there might indicate that it's been better cared. There is a bump on the engine bay door which might indicate that there are Jake brakes installed. The rear glass and Astro glass appear to be intact. The interior doesn't seem to need more than a refresh to make it useful.

All that, together with the possibility of getting a spare bus for parts or to sell is quite positive in my book. The 4905 actually looks to be in fairly original condition, but it's hard to tell from the photos in the listing. If the auto transmission is functional, then you might score a win here.

Have you talked to the owner to get a feel for the history & condition of things. If that happens and you're still encouraged, then if there's a bus nut on the west coast that can either accompany you or make a trip to see the buses on your behalf I'd say that it's worth the trip. He's got them listed at $15k - assuming $3k for the parts bus, that's a tad high on the 4107 at $12k. I bet you can get the pair for quite a bit less if you take them both and get them off his property for him.

Looking forward to seeing how this story develops.

[suzanka]

Thanks, Richard.  That is indeed very interesting.

I had a couple of conversations with the owner.  He didn't mention much in the way of maintenance, but he mentioned having driven it as far as Arizona and Yellowstone without it ever breaking down on him. He didn't originally convert the black 4107, but he has had it for 15 years.  The green 4905 he's had for 3 years, and he says it "drives better than the black one."  He says they'd both make the 2 hour trip to Arlington, but the green one needs some onsite work because of the missing windows before it can hit the road.