BusTalk

erin55 · Age: 68 Joined: 07 Mar 2016 Posts: 1 Location: Kentucky

I spotted an old silverside on route 421 at Wanita Ky this week, I had seen it earlier, its been there for a few years. I want to stop soon and get a serial number or something so I can find history. Wanita is very close to McKee Ky and the bus sits on the south side of the road. Has anyone else seen this bus before?

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2458 Location: South Florida

Welcome to Bus Talk forum!

I have no idea about that bus, but that model is a favorite of mine...
If you do find out any more about it, please be sure to let us all know...
Thanks! Smile

frankie · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 9:50 pm Post subject:

Is this the bus in question? If so, let's put our thinking caps on and figure out what it is! Where's Mr. L when we need him?

Frankie

To open the full image, you must copy and paste the whole address, not just the highlighted part (shows aerial view only)

https://www.google.com/maps/@37.4722612,-84.039385,3a,75y,260.75h,81.43t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1st_TaA3DbfH4xk2xEAGlaYw!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

JimmiB · Posted: Tue Mar 08, 2016 11:22 pm Post subject:

That is definitely not a Silverside. I'll see if I can figure out what it is.

frankie · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 12:37 am Post subject:

JimmiB: If you navigate a bit down the road a bit and make a 180, you can see the back of the bus between the building and the RV. Looks like a Yellow Coach to me.

Frankie

JimmiB · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 1:38 am Post subject:

Probably right Frankie. That was my first thought. Can't see enough of it to be sure.

frankie · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 3:41 pm Post subject:

I'm beginning to have doubts that this is a Yellow Coach. Two clues off hand: The headlights are too low. YC headlight are set higher and closed to the windshield. The vent flaps below the windshield are vertical. YC and GM are horizontal. The only exception that I'm aware of is the larger model 731. This looks like a 28 or 30 footer just by the number of windows ahead of the emergency door.

I've looked though quite a few reference books of different manufacturers and am still scratching my head.

Frankie

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2458 Location: South Florida

Agreed, it's not a "Silversides", but I have no idea what it is, or even its age...could be some obscure builder like Southern Coach, or CD Beck, perhaps....it does not appear to me to be a Yellow/GM, definitely not an ACF, or Flxible. Maybe a Crown, but not likely...
If the OP can, perhaps he can ask its owner, or get permission to see the builder's plate, and let us know....

Runcutter · Joined: 06 Jan 2011 Posts: 8 Location: Carrollton, Texas

It wouldn't be my first mistake of the day, but my vote is a Southern.

Arthur

frankie · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 8:58 pm Post subject:

Definitely not a Southern. All Southerns had engines that were mounted amidship and with large rectangular grills just above the front bumper. Southerns also had "eyebrows" above the front door and driver's side window.

The first Southern came off the assembly line in 1942 and I believe that the bus in question precedes that year - probably late '30's.

It doesn't appear to be a Fitzjohn or a Beaver either.

Frankie

JimmiB · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 9:04 pm Post subject:

You're right Frankie. I've been looking at many pictures looking for anything with that headlight and vent combination. It may be some oddball like Beaver Bus. Actually I believe that Beaver had low headlights like that but they made so few that it's hard to find any photos.

OK Frankie, It seems that you posted while I was typing. Maybe it's not a Beaver.

frankie · Posted: Wed Mar 09, 2016 11:14 pm Post subject:

Well JimmiB, I think we may have this solved.

I'm willing to bet that this is a 1948+ ACF-Brill C31. Pretty much most details match between the attachment photo and the bus in question. Same bumpers, front and side windows, headlight placement. The only exception are the vertical vents, but this may have been a buyer's option. The photos I've seen of the C31 have two small vertical vent just below the windshield.

I was able to move down the road a bit with the Google street view to capture the full bus from the front and magnifying it gave me a better prospective. The rear windows seems to be a close match albeit you're only able to view the center post part of it. And another characteristic of the Brills were the horizonatal rear bumpers that flared out. However this photo doesn't seem to show it.

Frankie

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2458 Location: South Florida

Nice job! I was only thinking of the ACF's I am most familiar with....the 37P, and the IC-41, with the forward front axle design...I forgot that they made these other types as well....

JimmiB · Posted: Fri Mar 11, 2016 12:35 am Post subject:

Way to go Frankie!!! I'm sure you are right. Now I can sleep better tonight.

MaBSTOA 15 · Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1058

99.9% sure it's an ACF-Brill C-31