Crown
Sale price: US $16,500.00 Make an Offer
| Used |
| “Very clean for 60 years old, and an awesome runner/driver!” |
| Type: | School Bus | Fuel Type: | Diesel |
| Model Year: | 1958 | Make: | Crown |
Phelan, California, United States
Vehicle description
This 1958 Crown Coach, at 35’ bumper to bumper, is a preserved / lightly-restored piece of history from Muroc Unified School District, serving Boron, CA and Edwards Air Force Base. In addition to the newly re-painted roof, much of the trim has been refinished. While mostly original, its 743 cubic inch 220 HP Cummins diesel has been upgraded to a turbocharged version, rated at 262HP. The 5-speed manual transmission shifts smoothly, and the clutch is solid with light effort. The rear lighting was modernized in the 70s to enhance visibility and safety. Its vintage split rims are long gone, replaced with modern wheels and 12R22.5 tires -> brand new steers, and 1½ year-old Michelin rears. Newish 2 x 8D batteries effortlessly start it every time. It is equipped with a Williams exhaust brake, engine block heater, and air dryer/spitter valve, making daily draining unnecessary. The air seat has a new spring/airbag. Oil change just done, with new oil and fuel filters. For those new to the Crown obsession, the great majority are aluminum-bodied, with midship engine configuration, making for excellent stability and balance, along with a cavernous trunk. This one checks those boxes and more. While many of we enthusiasts also love the Detroit Diesel “screaming Jimmy”, the Cummins has a distinctive growl and much wider torque curve. Yes, current gearing limits top speed to 62mph, but it gets there rather quickly and climbs well, and will run all day at 55mph. It runs and drives beautifully. I enjoy the relaxed pace, while taking in the sights, sounds, smells, and thumbs-up. A collector/enthusiast for over 10 years, this is my 5 th Crown; I wish I could keep them all, but I am currently retaining 2 non-schoolbus Crowns and a Gillig. There is a growing community of Crown and Gillig enthusiasts, particularly on Facebook, and for 10 years my wife and I have hosted the annual “Buses Gone Wild” rally here at our SoCal desert home. We are now passing the baton, but stand by for further developments. With modest care, Crowns will last a lifetime. Until recent California Air Resources Board restrictions, individual examples have seen commercial service for many decades. In RV or recreational bus service, they will see many more. Outside of California, they may even continue to see commercial service. Essentially a Class-8 truck, many/most parts are readily available from NAPA and others. Currently CA registered as a (non-commercial) “automobile”, CA title is clean and in-hand. With more videos on the way, please copy and paste the following link into your favorite browser: https:/ youtu.be/-XQzmnIl9r0 Upon escaping the CARB-mandated crusher and withstanding the test of time, many hundreds of Crowns remain, but far fewer of this vintage have survived intact. This is your chance to own and drive a 60 year-old piece of history as reliable as a modern bus, and of a caliber only seen by few. Please contact me with any questions you may have via message or by phone: (559) 8O4-2O35.