Any tips on what I should offer for this?

[jordansinthesky]

Hey guys, I have lived in a bus before, but was just renting, so I have an idea of what I'm looking for.  A friend of mine has a 1968 Fishbowl professionally converted with 8,000 miles on a rebuilt detroit deisel and gears.  The details are as follows: 


Make: GMC aka "fishbowl" model
year: 1968
Model: T6h4521
Serial Number: 003
Engine: 6V-71 Detroit Diesel
Length: 35'
Transmission: Automatic

The engine and drive gears have all been rebuilt and geared for highway driving. The engine has roughly 10-11k highway miles on it since it's rebuild. I'd have to look at the odometer to be any more exact. All the filters have been re-routed to the engine bay at the back of the bus so that they can be changed easily by any grease monkey at a local truck stop. You will find this style bus is still in use in parts of Canada and upstate USA so parts are still readily available and I have info on the sources for parts in the giant 3 rings binders on the bus's history.

I am looking for a value to offer this guy for his bus.  I have a video but no photos. i'll try and get something up.

1968 GMC Fishbowl converted bus. Value?

[HighTechRedneck]

I moved this post out of the bus photos thread.  Out here it will get more attention too.

[cody]

I hadn't picked up on the professional conversion aspect, it was very hard to tell with the extreme wide angle lense used to film it so I had to stop action several times, I would have a hard time calling it a professional conversion, I'd call it more of a home built conversion based on the fit and finish of the material, we discussed this in the chat room a little today, my suggestion was to get the bus looked at by a bus mechanic or someone knowledgeable in bus's rather than a truck mechanic, i'm always very hesitant to accept the recent rebuild claims, I don't think I've ever seen more than a handful of used buses that didn't claim a recent rebuild, the proof is in the documentation.  The conversion was very hard to determine the level of expertise involved due to the film technique used, the prices on buses still is in the basement so I'm thinking I wouldn't go very high on the offer, there are an abundance of buses out there to choose from.  My problem with most conversion work is that I expect a certain level of expertise with the fit and finish of an interior before I'd concider it professional but many home built units are quite nice.

[jordansinthesky]

Thanks for looking at it again.  I appreciate all your input today.  I am working on finding someone from this site to come check this thing out for me.  I live right between phoenix and tucson if anybody is around here.  Sorry about the film job.  I did use my 180 degree fisheye lens that I use for skydiving, so it kinda sucked.  We are going to go drive the thing soon, so I will do a detailed walkaround then.  Thanks again!

[jordansinthesky]

By the way,  the current owner does have 3 large 3 ring binders full of receipts and history of conversion and maintenance.

[bevans6]

I love fishbowls.  Toronto Transit still  has a bunch in service, I see them (and hear them) every day I go downtown to work.
http://gmtransitbuses.fotopic.net/c1818478.html

According to that page, they rebuilt 59 of them in 2009 and will be running them into 2012!

I also love three ring binders full of receipts!  When I bought my bus, the seller said he had all the receipts but couldn't find them after a move.  The deal I made was that he got the last $1,000 after I got the receipts.  It took him about a month, but it was worth it to him to find them, so I got evidence of a very complete chassis rebuild on the steering, suspension, brakes, two new windshields, and what he paid for it all!

Brian

[grantgoold]

Where is the bus located. My first bus was a fishbowl from the local university and I still have some glass and other parts left over.  I sold my unit with about 45% of the conversion completed and power steering installed for $3500.00. At the time, both parties felt like the deal was solid. More pictures would help. Out in Northern CA, we have a great bone yard for parts.

Grant

[loosenut]

I like the look of the bus and I'm sure you will have a blast with it running around AZ.  Value is always tricky.  It will probably depend more on your pockets than the value of the bus. 

Assuming the bus has been maintained, buy it for less than $7,000 and expect to spend another $10,000 to modernize systems.

Mike 

[cody]

The seller seems reluctant to name a price other than the 30K number that he said he paid for it 5 years ago and then put additional thousands into it since then, those numbers are irrelevant in my opinion,  He wants an offer made and I'd be reluctant to exceed 7500 in any respect based on what I've seen with the bus and conversation, unfortunately the seller is a friend of the potential buyer so that creates difficulty. The proposed price of 20K is highly optomistic with the market as it stands today, a price of 5000 to 7500 would be more in line with the actual value of the bus, keep in mind that like mike said you can probably expect to put at least that much or more into it to update things like tires, brakes, fluids, batteries, etc.  I'm not trying to discourage anyone from buying it just that with the glut of buses on the market right now a person can afford to pick and choose.  Personally I'd rather a OTR bus simply for the greatly expanded storage or if I were to go with a transit I'd probably look closely at the rts buses.

[Paso One]

Nice bus  What can I say

Looks like he has a V730 installed,

Ask what he changed the rear end gears too ?

Other than that it likly has all you need.

[jordansinthesky]

Hey guys, thanks for all your speedy replies.  I definitely have my heart set on this bus.  It is located near Tucson Az, and it would stay in the area for at least a year.  I will have more info soon after we go drive, and will have a better video.  I think im gonna offer him 7 and see where it goes, but I won't pay more than 10 with the buses around on the market.  Any more help will be great!

[Mex-Busnut]

Hey:

Before you offer him MORE than $7,000, have HIM look at the classifieds on this very website.

My 2 pesos' worth.

Dr. Steve, central old Mexico

[buswarrior]

Back of that transmission looks to be flat and bolted on, back of a V730 is molded on the corners.

A 6V71 and 2 speed transmission would drag the price down, in my mind.

Slipping into hydraulic while climbing without massive transmission cooling capacity will be a game ender.

You need to find somewhere to climb this bus to see how it performs. The flat won't cut it for a test drive.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[robertglines1]

it is worth what you are willing to pay!!! a 5000 dollar seated coach will cost you 10,000 to do a conversion with generator--apliances-tanks-electrical system pumps-maybe tires---furniture..and that figure is basic no frills...so do you get excited when you are around it? I hope the market has bottomed    out...but now its a buyers market...Bob

[Paso One]

Back of that transmission looks to be flat and bolted on, back of a V730 is molded on the corners.

Buswarrior

  Good eye ,Yes you are right the VH9 and the Vs2-6 have the flat back.

I was looking at the remote tranny filter that is a  spin on off a V730

What is the shift pattern on the shifter   easy to tell   F N R  on the VS2-6 and the VH9 that they both use.