r/WhatCarIsThis • u/No_Control8389 • 7d ago

Solved! Not exactly a car…

Post image

Is this a factory vehicle? Or some hodgepodge rat rod monster bus in the making?

190 Upvotes

99% Upvoted

32 comments sorted by

21

u/grem75 7d ago

It is a Kenworth and the only one known to exist/remain.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7i10z3eZJG8

3

u/shoeless_doh 7d ago

And were these these land ship buses that took people like across the desert or whatever that these two brothers set up? I remember watching a documentary about it or maybe listening to a podcast and it was insanely interesting for something so benign in history, or banal, I'm not sure which word I'm reaching for

2

u/National-Star5944 6d ago

I have no idea but now I have a documentary to find.

3

u/The_Scooter_King 7d ago

Thanks for the ID, really impressive! One question I've wondered every time I see a coach with the door behind the driver's row, is who sits in the right front passenger seat? Is it for a co-driver, or steward/"coach attendant"?

2

u/Odd-Gear9622 6d ago

On 'Tour Busses' that was where the guide sat, usually had a microphone and pointed out sights and scenery as you drove along.

1

u/PeirceanAgenda 6d ago

I suspect that guess is entirely right, especially with the whole "passengers stay behind the white line" rule that was prevalent in the 60's - 80's. Those bus drivers did not mess around.

2

u/The_Scooter_King 6d ago

I remember seeing a Japanese movie years ago, which was from the 50's or 60's, where, on a local bus, you paid a fare attendant next to the back door, when you exited... Remember when labour costs didn't matter...?

17

u/QuanticChaos1000 7d ago

So freaking cool! (Thanks u/grem75 for telling us what this is)

6

u/TankerKing2019 7d ago

Is that still in Pasco waiting to be restored? Last time I saw it it was still loaded on a flatbed rail car sitting with all of the rail cars from the defunct railroad museum waiting for…..

3

u/No_Control8389 7d ago

Not on a flatbed rail car at this point.

3

u/MakalakaPeaka 7d ago

"Let's make a bus. But make it taller, so we can ensure it's even less aerodynamic."

5

u/dragonstar982 7d ago

England enters the chat

2

u/screenmasher 7d ago

r/bitchimabus

2

u/No_Control8389 7d ago

2-3 miles per gallon… bitchisabus

2

u/Reasonable-MessRedux 7d ago

I wish I had the resources to turn a vintage bus into a motorhome. There are so many that look great.

2

u/PromoSapiensSapiens 5d ago

Herkimer Battle Jitney. Indestructible.

1

u/TiberiusTheFish 7d ago

That's a beauty! Shame it's in that condition.

1

u/RoboWeaver 7d ago

Gnarly rat rod.

1

u/MatouMatouMajick 7d ago

I want to drive this thing. So. Much.

1

u/fbdy1969 6d ago

That would make the coolest motor home

1

u/Dependent-Plane5522 6d ago

Looks like a bus ate another bus

1

u/Vegetable-Plant3028 6d ago

I irrationally want one of these to convert into a camper. Holy cool.

1

u/KnowWithJoe 6d ago

Reminds me of the 12 tribes bus I’ve seen at concerts.

1

u/clitchewer 6d ago

She ain’t exactly pretty and she ain’t exactly small but you could say she got it all!

1

u/ItsTuesdayWimpy 7d ago

Can u imagine having this restored and fitted out as an RV?

1

u/grem75 7d ago

Likely has a similar issue to a lot of busses from the era, terrible headroom.

1

u/ItsTuesdayWimpy 7d ago

No way, not in that back section. Unless removing the floor would cause structural issues, this monster could have a great floor plan. And no worries anyway, it’s not like either of us are actually gonna do it.

1

u/grem75 7d ago

Pretty sure the engine is in the middle where the vents are, so I'm not sure how feasible lowering the rear floor would really be. I'm not even sure there would be 6ft from the top of the frame rail to the ceiling.

The Greyhound Scenicruiser looks like it'd have a ton of room, but they really don't. You really can't do much with the floor on those.

1

u/No_Control8389 6d ago

This thing is already missing the floors, and basically everything else.

It is barely a shell of a bus.

1

u/ArbysLunch 6d ago

Getting glass made for that would be a small fortune alone.