1987 47 passenger MCI 9 with 28,000 miles?

[oltrunt]

I know the devil must be sitting on my shoulder, BUT,  I ran across an ad for a MCI 9 bus today and can't resist following up.  All I know is that it is a Ca. bus of the 6 cyl variety with an automatic trans, a/c, and ps.  I don't know yet if it is a 96 or a 102 or anything else except that it has unbelievably low mileage.  I did snag the serial number which is 1M89CM7A8HP041517.  Can any of you tell me anything about the bus from the serial number?  I sure hope wiffy doesn't go snooping on here tonight or I'll be the turkey on Turkey day for sure!  Thanks, Jack

[lostagain]

An MC9 is 96".

JC

[oltrunt]

Thanks!  I know more than I did!  Jack

[Lostranger]

Jack, Jack, Jack....

[Lostranger]

Honeysuckle Rose could be your toad.

[TomC]

One of the main reasons I bought my AMGeneral is that it is 102" wide. That extra 6" width really makes a big difference. Look for a MCI 102C3-much better bus-better suspension, doesn't lean as much. Good Luck, TomC

[oltrunt]

Thanks Tom.  I know that is good advice.  I suppose its just the chance of such low mileage bus that has me entranced.

Jim, you made me laugh.  HR as a toad would be sort of like having a granny flat .  Wonder if I could sublet it at the RV park?  Jack

[Bill Gerrie]

I bet the mileage is since an engine rebuild. No MCI 9 has that low of a mileage. 

[lvmci]

Hi Jack, maybe its 28K since engine rebuild, the only way a MC9 would make sense with that milage would be if it was from factory as a conversion, that would be really low too, it might be 280K, that would be very low also, 2.8 million would be more like it ( 9s are 3million mile buses ) and not a good buy. Check anglefire listings, click MC9, if its a roswell bus it wont be listed, thats ok too. Make sure you look at the significant rust areas, calif and west coast buses can rust also, inspect the intake area for the radiators, the baggage door locks latches in the bays, they are soft steel, the upper sub chassis frame members for the radiators and spare tire bay, if any rivet is bubbling up from rust also, in the engine bay, the engine mount areas. This is just about rust, if all these seem ok, proceed to normal observations on what kind of care the bus has had. You saw my 102C3 and Vans bus, I dont think you would be unhappy with a 96" wide bus, good luck, best wishes for the holiday, tom, lvmci...

[oltrunt]

Hey Tom, thanks for the anglefire reference that was fun.  I am awaiting a return call about the odometer reading and CARB requirements.  If I understand all that, the CARB junk does not apply to rv's--at least not yet.  I've now seen a few photos of the bus and it is , cosmetically at least, absolutely beautiful.  It has the same interior color combination as your bus but smaller and I've always been a sucker for a pretty face.  I wasn't sure if you meant I'be happy or unhappy with a 96, right now 96 sounds pretty good as HR is only 90" wide.  Well, I doubt anything will come of all this but the hunt is clearly half the fun.

We will be taking Honeysuckle Rose out again next week for a couple of days for a belated Thanksgiving run.  We hope to get one more short trip in before the demands of Christmas. I know neither will be as much fun as Lake Mead but it's good to finally be able to use our bus.  Jack

[lvmci]

Hi Jack, Im sure you will be fine with the 96", 102 is great, but most are fine with 96 inches, we lived with 96" for 6 years, it was full timing in the future that we wanted 40 ft, and the 102 inches just seemed like we might as well, but we considered many 96" inch buses, and would have bought one if the right deal went thru, Im glad your looking at bus conversion, with your talents, as shown in your chevy bus, you will have fun, enjoy your search, and your build, tom...

[MightyThor]

For many many years grampa ran down the road with a 33 foot Apollo with a 22 foot Rialta as the toad.  with hitches and such, it was just a little past 60 feet.  Tried it one time myself with the two units and swore I would never do it again.  I see these 3/4 folks pulling the fiver with a boat behind and just shake my head.

[oltrunt]

The day of the auction finally came.  I arrived at 0700Hrs and spent 2 Hrs crawling over the bus.  Everything about it was in tip top condition.  The trans fluid looked brand new, the engine oil was clean and full, the sight glass on the radiator tank showed full and the complete engine was a lovely purple color with only slight seepage here and there.  The devil on my shoulder kept insisting I buy it.  I should also add that both the dash spedo (a replacement) and the hub odometer showed within 100 miles of each other--no doubt installed at the time of what looks to have been an out of frame rebuild about 28,000 miles ago.  I found no rust other than minor surface stuff and all the bays and hatches operated properly.

Unfortunately, two mitigating factors reared their heads: first, I had not been able to secure absolutely a place to park the bus while I worked on it and second, some dummy had left the brand new batteries connected and various light switches on with the resulting dead battery.  I do know for a fact that the bus came in under its own power but between not having secured parking and not hearing the bus run, I gave up bidding at a price that would have given me the bus including tax and license for $5000.  Someone's proxy bid got it for $4000.

I've played at auto auctions all my life and I'd have to say that I've never left an auction feeling jubilant.  Somehow I either feel like I paid too much or as in this case that I should have just gone ahead and made the purchase.  Bummed.  Jack