1959 Bus

[sean]

Wow, very interesting. Looks like a nice find.

Those scoops on the roof look identical, but difficult to make out in the picture but is it some sort of sheet metal going across between the two scoops?

[Eugene]

Nice find Sean
Whatever you do, keep those ears!!!

awesome!!! Good find.
no roads or trails leading to it... makes me wonder how it got there in the first place.

Sure it got there in under 2 hours

[hendriks]

Hi Sean,

please post pics regularly on this project. I think several people will be keeping their eyes on this one..

Can't wait to see it on the road.....one day. What a story to tell...

[sean]

So, here is my donor bus to get my 59 on the road again.



Firtst question: Am I able to bolt the front suspension over as well as the gearbox, spring plates and torsion bars from a fleetline onto a 59

[Klaus]

So, here is my donor bus to get my 59 on the road again.



Firtst question: Am I able to bolt the front suspension over as well as the gearbox, spring plates and torsion bars from a fleetline onto a 59

Looks like a nice donor bus.... Sure you want to cut it up?

Would love a panel if you want to move it on to raise funds for the project.

[MINCE]

Looks like your donor bus had a watercooled motor in it

[Danie Beetle]

nice find

Wow What a trip

[fig]

Firtst question: Am I able to bolt the front suspension over as well as the gearbox, spring plates and torsion bars from a fleetline onto a 59

I think all those bits will bolt up except the gearbox. If the bus was built after 4/59 then it will have the later front trans mount and the Fleetline box will fit. If it's earlier then you'll have to fab a new front mount and shift rod.

@Klaus, that donor bus is totally rotten, as only a coastal bus can be.

[Klaus]

@Klaus, that donor bus is totally rotten, as only a coastal bus can be.

@Fig, Looked okay from the front but sad if its all rotten. At least it's going to save an awesome early bus. Hope the vents at the back will remain with the bus to keep it's history.

@Sean, are there any bits of the donor that you won't be using? My fleety could do with some patina'd bumpers

[sean]

Firtst question: Am I able to bolt the front suspension over as well as the gearbox, spring plates and torsion bars from a fleetline onto a 59

I think all those bits will bolt up except the gearbox. If the bus was built after 4/59 then it will have the later front trans mount and the Fleetline box will fit. If it's earlier then you'll have to fab a new front mount and shift rod.

@Klaus, that donor bus is totally rotten, as only a coastal bus can be.

Thanks Fig

If I remember it was a late 59 according to the VIN number, so seems pretty positive so far.

@Klaus, that picture was taken a while back and the bus looks substantially worse even though at that time it was completely rotten covered up with foam, newspapers and fiberglass or was it even household roof materials. Once the 59 is complete I will for sure share the parts left over.

[Klaus]

You're a champ!

Good luck with the build.... Gonna be awesome when it's finished

[sean]

So, the other day I went to collect the “donor bus” for its running gear for my 59. I hired the trailer and brought the bus back to my place.






Last weekend and this weekend I stripped the suspension and transferred it over to the 59. The front suspension was an easy bolt over but unfortunately I have the early gearbox mounting and the fleetline gearbox doesn’t fit. Drat. Still, I installed it and the reduction gearboxes at least bolted to the spring plates that I could move it.

As I had to move it around to the other side of my house which meant I had to move it on the road, which involves a steep downhill and then up again and while having no brakes left me concerned. After a number of idea’s Tonia towed me out with Land Rover and we decided to walk it along the pavement down the road and regularly nudge the pavement to slow it down. I just had all these thoughts of this bus rolling into the back of my car trying to tow it. We made it round and we towed it back up the other side, luckily uneventful.

Leaving the garden where it had waited the for the last year, it had already waited 20 years in the bush though.





As it was looking so good with wheels I gave it a good polish and wax to see how the paint still looks, plus adding the headlights. I think that patina looks stunning and I am so chuffed this bus will be on the road again someday as well as being dry in the garage now.





You can see the small spot on the bootlid after cleaning some of the tractor paint off, it seems the paint is still good underneath, just got to complete it. It takes time but luckily it is some kind of waterbased paint which is easy enough to remove.



I am so glad I have been able to add this one to my small bus collection, I just have to get it on the road to match the others...

[jolas]

Well done man, this is going to be a very interesting project, looking forward to seeing the progress. Amazing - the transformation now that the '59 on wheels, with bumper and headlights. Very keen to see what is happening under that secondary layer of paint, that Dove Blue with patina is going to look wicked

[sean]

Well done man, this is going to be a very interesting project, looking forward to seeing the progress. Amazing - the transformation now that the '59 on wheels, with bumper and headlights. Very keen to see what is happening under that secondary layer of paint, that Dove Blue with patina is going to look wicked

Is it Dove Blue? It looks more grey to me.
Perhaps Fig can share a bit more info on this coulour...

The darker colour coming through is grey primer.

My rims should hopefully arrive next week which I can get started with.
As far as I know: The rims should be white like my bumper while the hubcaps being grey like the body. Is this correct too?

Thanks
Sean

[jahjuan]

Nice one, good luck for the build.

Isn't the colour mouse grey?