Help me identify this?

[Ditzy-Izzy]

Hiya!

I'm Izzy. I'm 38, a retired chef. I'm a sci-fi nerd and motorcycle rider. I'm an avid hiker and I have a beautiful mainecoon who likes to join me.

After the covid crashed my industry I decided to go ahead and just get out of the whole working for someone else thing and bought this bus.

Now, the title would have you believe it's a 1972 harvester international and the shop manuals It came with verifies her status as a TransStar...which obvi.
However, the stock dash's curves and the windshield beg for further investigation.
The windshield manufacturers (I've called more than a couple) have all told me it's definitely not a 1972 H-I BUS... so unless I can ever identify her, I'm stuck with a custom built windshield, which then might as well be Bulletproof so I never have to buy it again... go big or go home.

So imma go ahead and post pix of her now.
Oh I'm in one... I hope that's ok...

[Ditzy-Izzy]

This thread is gonna be all about me asking you fine folks to help me identify and fill the blank spots in my knowledge of my mystery bus. Imma start with help me identify this bus?

She wasn't originally raised, and she was definitely a yellow school bus, the paint is chipping and showing her true colors...

I thought a pic of the dash might help too, I've removed the wood from the door side. It's singed by the people who did the conversation.... but those lines and curves... I can't wait to make a fiberglass dash that keeps the orginal look.

Anyway thanks for looking.

[Argosy]

I haven't seen much about skoolies on here, and if you're looking for the body builder



https://www.skoolie.net/forums/


might be a better place to ask.


That kick up at the back is interesting, not anything I've ever seen. I don't see a real need for it in a school bus and it would add cost to a vehicle that was pretty much built for function. It reminds me of the GM intercity, wonder if they were trying to enter the market?

[Skip426]

Welcome to iRV2

I'm a little confused ; is this vehicle right hand drive ?
Could be it was built for Europe and never made it out of North America .

[MSHappyCampers]

Hi ! Welcome to IRV2! We're sure glad you joined us!

Good luck, happy trails, and God bless!

[spinroch]

Here’s hoping someone can help you identify the bus. It is a beautiful rig! It looks like you are building a custom dash, and you know your way around a wiring harness. PLEASE consider posting photos of your build progress. Possibly someone on the bus conversion web forums might be able to help.

[Ditzy-Izzy]

Oops!
sorry the picture is just flipped for some reason.

[momdoc]

Welcome to the forum.

You are joining a good group of folks here with good information to share. Read the various threads here and ask questions as they come up or add information if you can.

Good luck and enjoy the adventure!

[TonyDi]

Nice to have you onboard with us.

Browse the forums and ask questions. You might also want to explore the Vintage RV forum. https://www.irv2.com/forums/f65/

You should get the VIN number and use that as a starting point in determining what you have.

[ponytl]

I remember seeig a bus like that was local it was a "bloodmobile" had "lifeblood" on the sides same roofline ect... good luck on the glass search

[Ditzy-Izzy]

Originally Posted by TonyDi

Nice to have you onboard with us.

Browse the forums and ask questions. You might also want to explore the Vintage RV forum. https://www.irv2.com/forums/f65/

You should get the VIN number and use that as a starting point in determining what you have.

The Vin is attached to the truck frame which is a 72 harvester international transstar, but the IH bus that they built on that frame looks nothing like my bus. So our best guess is during the conversion there was a swap and the bus body was moved to a newer frame, maybe for rust reasons?

Actually a member on another forum identified the bus in like 5 minuets.
It's a late 60s Wayne Corp. Bus. I even found old timey adverts. Though given the obscurity of the brand, knowing the brand might not do much for me windshield wise.

[tderonne]

The folks at Skoolie.net know their busses. I wouldn't call a Wayne obscure. I see mention of them a lot.

Have fun with it. Looks cool.

[Skip426]

Glad you've solved the mystery ; although with the ad being in Spanish , I hope you don't have to go to Mexico for a windshield .

[Argosy]

Originally Posted by Ditzy-Izzy

The Vin is attached to the truck frame which is a 72 harvester international transstar, but the IH bus that they built on that frame looks nothing like my bus. So our best guess is during the conversion there was a swap and the bus body was moved to a newer frame, maybe for rust reasons?

Every Transtar I could find is a Class 8 COE tractor. You posted a picture of your dash and front, it has a flat floor and no radiator opening. Does it have a front or rear engine? Also, the tractor chassis is way shorter than your body and probably had tandem axles.

The real biggie, swapping a body that size requires a huge amount of skill and major industrial equipment.

If you look at Wikipedia "In the 1970s, motorhomes were manufactured using IHC engines and bare chassis.[citation needed] Most of the bodies were constructed of fiberglass.[citation needed]"

I'd look at the VIN again and make sure it's right. Then check against other sources. What make and model does the title have on it?

There's a FMCA (Family Motor Coach Association) plaque on the front. If you're a member I know you could contact FMCA's membership people with that number, they would take your info and contact the person with a request to contact you, it was their choice to do so.

I don't know what they do for non-members, but it might be worth a call and a little schmoozing, tell them your story and you're looking for history, maybe you could talk them into doing the same. A prior owner might be able to give you valuable bits of history as they know it which could help you a lot.