Odd Looking Bus

[Dreamscape]

I've seen this before, but can't remember the group or guy that built it.

Someone who has good memory and does not have CRS, please help me!

Paul

[HighTechRedneck]

It's the Peacemaker bus.  It belongs to a religious sect named The Twelve Tribes.

http://www.twelvetribes.com/

http://www.merrymakerscaravan.org/merry_canandaigua.htm

http://www.twelvetribes.com/current/merrymakers.html

[HighTechRedneck]

A lot more photos of it here:

http://www.webshots.com/search?query=Peacemaker+Bus

Most of those photos were taken by Mike Hill when the bus was here at the Choo Choo Garage for some work.  Although I wasn't here when the bus was here, I got to speak with one of the men that helped build it and the others when he and a friend dropped by the shop last year.

Chattanooga was a significant point in the origins:

http://www.twelvetribes.com/whoweare/our-beginnings3.html

[bryanhes]

Anyone notice on the Webshots one has single rear axle and the other has a tag? Two busses built the same?

Bryan

[HighTechRedneck]

They actually did several.

[Dreamscape]

Whew! Thanks Mike! I knew someone would pull through!

Paul

[philiptompkjns]

Wow, after doing some reading it seems like the people are more strange than the bus.  I really love the woodwork on the interior, it's beautiful.

[desi arnaz]

are they based in nh? i have been to that bus garage in lancaster but had no idea what was inside.

[Sam 4106]

It appears that the bus started out as a GMC Sceinic Cruiser, can anyone verify that?
Thanks, Sam MC8

[HighTechRedneck]

Someone that got a tour of if posted this on an automotive forum:

"Its a 1949 Aerocoach on a 1955 GM Vista frame"  (GM Vista?  Unless that is one I am just not aware of, I suspect they meant Scenic Cruiser)

The photo at this link shows the Aerocoach badge:

http://www.bobbergey.com/p558722252/h2722d194#h2722d194

[Nusa]

Here's another photostream: http://www.flickr.com/photos/mr38/2475050430/#in/set-72157600752641586/

Text there is:

General American Aerocoach Custom Three Level Bus - pre 1952

This bus is the result of combining two buses. The interior is fully wood paneled including the driver's position. It has several sleeping areas, front and rear, with a full kitchen.

Aerocoach made streamlined inter-city buses in Chicago from 1940 through the early 1950s. Early coaches were distinctive, later examples looked like other makers 1950s buses.

Trailways and Gray Line used Aerocoaches in the 1940s and 1950s

AEROCOACH (U.S.) 1940-1952

(1) General American Aerocoach Co., Chicago, Illinois. 1940­-1946
(2) General American Aerocoach Co., East Chicago, Ind. 1946-1952

[Nusa]

And this seems to settle it, with a quick photostory of the conversion on page 10:
http://www.greatnorthwoodsjournal.net/pdfs/Issues/Jan2006/GNJ_01_07_06_Pgs%5B1%5D._9_12.pdf

The 1955 Scenicruiser was
cut in half horizontally right
above the wheels using the
chassis as the running part of
the bus. The 1949 Aerocoach
was mainly used for its old
architectural pieces. The split
windshields, rounded corners
and curved overhead windows
are not found in today's style
buses.

And it mentions the other bus as well:

The Community has had a
bus similar to this on the road
since 1987. That bus is made up
of a 1961 GM motor coach and
parts from a 1950 Aerocoach.

[busshawg]

well if I had that many in my work force, and none of them drank beer I could have got lots done too, haha

Grant

[bryanhes]

Pretty amazing work to combine the two buses! You have to appreciate that type of ingenuity to create a one of a kind.

Bryan