Are GMC buffalo buses hard to find?

[suzanka]

Looks ok from pictures. Which automatic? Check electrical panel alongside driver for water leakage. If it has the V730 and engine and trans. work, could be a good one to start with. You at the minimum will need tires and batteries, fuel filters, oil and filter. And check coolant protection.

Cool, ty!

@richard5933  All good points.  There's part of me that wants to go take a look at it just so that I could have a "Hands on" learning experience and just leave it if it's beyond my skill set.  I'd like to think I'd be pleasantly surprised, but I know that realistically I probably wouldn't. 

Do you know of a bus nut who lives near Kalamazoo?  Or a bus nut approved mechanic who could help me inspect it?

The price on the ad is $4,000, which is twice the salvage value on a good day. The glass looks good, so if it runs and drives, it is worth something. I would offer $1,000 if I was in love with a Buffalo. If it ran in the Erie, PA corridor, it would have been in a lot of snow and salt. The fact that the seats are already out indicates that someone had a desire to convert it, but gave it up.

Those are good facts to know for bargaining.  I had that thought, too, that someone just gave up on it.

On the Facebook post I noticed that he changed it to $3,000.  I'll paste the link to the Facebook post at the bottom of this post because it's long and unruly. 

I have a feeling that he would drop the price lower, and $1,000 for a parts bus sounds good to me.  However, I don't want to risk a breakdown driving it, and I'm not sure it would be wise to pay to ship it if it's only for parts.

https://www.facebook.com/permalink.php?story_fbid=2198016737107583&id=1394385037470761&__xts__%5B0%5D=68.ARBVtpR9HBpsMEKdUGGVUjkBlX0-EHncq3Y2dpKHLqxJawArEAyqQaQpRpW7S8q32RmMm8f-AeSMCfJpwkttKCW356G6qLCTGacd-I5rQ1veeq3gtN-z-_gDfpKdk4tUA5whfxnCdZOsCgZ-7h-u1_nr9xRBGZiZzgAlh0rw_LQ6v8_GV94EGEuBcTlI4cG1o4rhzXgN4pY1MTNhdG6vGcxR0cNBfsgwIu0tsLSWmJIWHrltimUTpzpa3e8t5RG9GlTbWmDso9e5K3q8dI6TQTFfdWKoAXlYkF5PYpB5qpMY51D-M-xWMqhgm-jrqmqPvOBiaQ2NUeuVCP5dcoCFPzv1_dWd7gb5s2uBiGyYOQsjvJV4YNu_HaYyG6HTrJJGJ5iI49uSCV5SlT99ifa0sZ5ufZhr3HyypMLM7mTeNAJV1sdL2atnWbLF8WZSSHo2HuKRm8Wr82LA5e-lYGyNH_g2sWUYeSci2XgHscAhbr4Yc63ALkIXKtjmEuPCOQ&__tn__=-R

[richard5933]

Your signature doesn't show your location. Are you anywhere near the bus?

I wouldn't plan on being able to drive that one away from there unless the owner is telling you that it runs and drives, and even then I'd be suspicious. Might take a few days of on-site work to get it road safe.

It's possible to tow the bus to your location, but of course the further you go the more it costs.

If you want someone to go with you, I'm sure that there are bus people is the area. Put the word out and see if anyone responds.

[suzanka]

Hmm, I'll tinker with my signature to give more information. I live in North Jersey, right next to New York City.

My sister lives in Indiana, so at least that's slightly closer. Indeed getting it towed back here isn't worth the dollars and cents unless it's a keeper.

The owner does say it runs and drives but I don't know why he's so hesitant to take a photo of the engine. Doesn't bode well, huh? :/

I'll just keep looking. Could you give me a nudge if you hear of anyone looking to sell theirs that still has all of the windows in place?

[Templar52]

I think that he is not able to open the engine door. That's why he did not send any engine pictures.

[richard5933]

If in fact it runs and drives, then there MAY be potential. If you're in NJ, call Tom at https://www.busesforsale.com/

That's who I bought our current bus from. Nice guy to work with, knows his stuff, and came highly recommended by Luke. See what he's got on his site or even what he has in his back lot for sale. You never know if you might find something right in your back yard. He's located not too far from Philly - I know it's a drive for you from North Jersey, but certainly closer than Michigan.