I purchased the bus in 2008, and was thrilled to get it. I found it in Hemmings Motor News for sale by accident. Since I was 17 years old, I always wanted an old truck or bus. At 45, I figured that I had waited long enough! When I first came across this bus, I had just purchased a 1954 Wayne short bus on Chevrolet chassis. In short, I had no time or money to take on a 2nd bus, but just couldn't turn this one down. Thank you Pam, my wife, for not divorcing me! Unlike most buses it's age, the 55 is completely original, and runs great. I had it towed down to Florida by Fox Auto Transport , for $1100.00 the same folks that help find a shipper for my 54 Chevy bus that I had hauled back from Montana. With the price of fuel, I thought this was a reasonable price to ship it.
Unfortunately, the bus had been sitting for 5 years when I got it, and wouldn't run. After draining the old fuel out, new plugs, fuel filter, point and plugs, I got her to come to life. Besides the obvious differences in the front end, this bus s a little different underneath as compared to my 54 Wayne with the Chevy chassis. For one thing, it does not have a two speed rear end. The front and rear axles don't seem as heavy duty. Instead of having 10 lugs in the rear, the 55 has just 5. I believe it is a one ton, not a 1 1/2 ton like my 54 Wayne. Plus, this one actually has shocks in the front and rear. Although it's slightly lighter duty than my 54 Wayne Chevy, it's nice to have 2 buses that are different. I don't really need that heavy 2 speed rear end, anyway. My 54 Wayne 1 1/2 ton only has shocks only in the rear, which makes for a pretty bumpy ride.
Under the hood is a 272 Ford Y Block engine with a 2 barrel carb. Presently, it has a governor on the engine, and won't go more than 50 miles per hour. I have plans to remove it, and possibly modify the exhaust. The early Y blocks have a weird exhaust that joins across the front of the motor behind the fan. I think that a better exhaust and air filter will make the motor more efficient, especially with fuel as expensive as it is. It has the old oil bath on it, but a good flowing K&N filter would probably make it breathe better and give the old girl more oomph. For the most part, I want to keep this bus as original as I can, but want to have some fun driving it.. Thanks again, Mike, for selling it to me, and for being a refeshingly kind Christian man. If there were more people like you, the world would be a much better place.
George Hummer / Old Bus editor