[Mark G]

Just wondering how my bus would be judged I'm hoping to have the exterior done to original colors with some signs that should be on it. How would the judges know what should be on the bus and what should not? How do I prove this is original? The interior may or may not be done by Hershey, I have decided to restore the bus 99% correct there will be an addition to some of the seats changed to a sleeping area but nothing really outstanding. No kitchen no bath room Just minor changes like a rear seat removed for the spare front tire. and New heating, the old units might still be in the bus but not hooked up. How do you judge something like this.
this is how it looked when I bought it, it's now being painted Blue & Cream

Mark Golding

[novaman]

Hopefully you'll get an answer in a few days. A good number of AACA members are stranded in Philly right now due to the snowstorm. The only ones out are those who drove.

I wish I could give you a better answer than the vehicles are judged on authenticity, and condition/workmanship.

As for ?How do I prove this is original?? Documentation. The Documentation must be from the bus manufacturer in the form of sales bourchures, shop manuals, parts lists, etc. Being a commercial vehicle, keep in mind that any signs/lettering needs to be of that era. So it would make a difference if there were no zip codes, area codes used at the time your bus was built. Also, the lettering style would need to be of that era. So you may want some documentation that your signs/letter would be of that era in like old photos and such.

Hope this helps some. Although I do judge, I?m not really familiar with the commercial classes. They use a slightly different form and are judge ever so slightly different from the cars, due to the fact that some are built as cab and chassis only then another company puts the box, tank, flat bed, or whatever on the chassis.

[ex98thdrill]

Good point David, the one thing that I would add is that however you decide to letter the bus, do it in the correct manner. Today most of the lettering on cars and trucks are done in vinyl when in the past is was hand painted. I would hate to see you do the bus up real nice, letter it in vinyl, and take a big deduction for doing it.

Although computer technology allows you to letter a vehicle in vinyl in a manner that looks perfect, it's durable, and it can be a lot cheaper, but back then the lettering wasn't perfect, and it is hard to find the paint that will stick. The paint that doesn't contain the lead in it doesn't hold up as well. Because of the paint having a bigger tendency of wearing off, most people that I know that have a business are lettering their vehicles in vinyl. Of course unless you have documentaiton showing the lettering, and you're judging the bus for points, your best bet is to save yourself some money and leave it plain.

[Mark G]

The lettering on this bus is done in Gold Leaf or mostof it was anyway I have a sign guy that will do it in free hand style using the pictures I have from England of another bus that is like mine. I have also been finding on E-bay decals that they used in my era bus for the interior. That still needs loads of work so I'm not sure they will be re done for this year, I'm trying to get the exterior finished by the end of May, then go to the apolstery place and get the seats recovered. I just purchased 25 meters of the original style fabric, Just have to figure out how to get it to the USA cheap. it mioght be cheaper if I flew over and got it then to have it shipped. I would hate to restore this bus with out this seat covering. Up stairs I'm doing original style in Leather $$$$ or maybe Vynle if the leather is way over budget. with 30 seat sections it's going to cost me a fortune.
Anyway thanks for the tips and help. I'm hoping to have a good easy spot in Hershey to get out of the field and have the bus there this year. even if not finished to show. Come see me and introduce yourself. You will not have a hard time finding this bus in the fields