I am restoring a 1954 GMC very short school bus. I believe she's about 18 and a half feet in length with about about enough room for 4 bench bus seats behind the driver's seat. The back door is on the driver's side wall, at the very back of the bus. The back wall has a 2 paned, flip up horizontal window, which I presume was for ventilation.

The bus has all her windows intact, as is are the entry door and back door I described on the side of the bus. She has her original red flashing lights which still function as well as her marker lights.

Someone turned her into a school bus camper rig over the years, tossing the seats of course. The good news is, the camping guts can be removed in a day's work, or so. The passenger section of the body is really narrow, compared to say a 59 GMC shorty bus.

I really would like to restore her back to original, as a school bus, as I am a teacher of 35 years and a lover of old cars, trucks, and of course, buses. My students have seen my many classic cars and old trucks, but they really want me to restore this old bus. I need to know what I have regarding seat configuration and I really need the seats that are either correct, or at least period correct to put back in the old bus.

If you can help in any way, please call Tim in Tigard, OR at (503) 913-1205. Thanks everyone.

Hi Tim,

Welcome to Old Bus :)

Congratulations on your short bus, the really short bodies are getting hard to find.

From your description ( rear window design and exist door), it sounds like you have a 54 Gillig GMC. Here is a Gillig body on a 55 Gillig Ford-

http://www.oldbus.us/MemberBuses/RestoredBuses/Bobs1955GilligFord/tabid/99/Default.aspx

Here are probably the type seats you are looking for:

http://www.oldbus.us/MemberBuses/RestoredBuses/Bobs1955GilligFord/55GilligInterior/tabid/102/Default.aspx

Gilligs are not as common as Wayne or Superior buses, so I don't know if the 55 Gillig seats differ from those made in 54. ( I never made a proper study of them to tell).

Here are the seats in my 55 Wayne:

http://www.oldbus.us/MemberBuses/BusProjects/Georges55WayneChevy/tabid/76/Default.aspx

50's bus seats should not be that hard to find, unless you want everything to be correct. I would keep checking the Old bus classifieds. You may find someone who has a 50's long bus for sale that will sell you some seats. I have found that most enthusiasts out there want to turn these buses into either hot rods or camper/RV's and do not want the seats. You might also look on Ebay motors.

Good luck!