Editor's Note: I was misinformed about the production years of the GMC 305 V6, the article I previously read was about a 305 V6 mounting kit that Flxible offered for these Clippers later when the motor was in production. This 46 Clipper most likely came from the factory with the Buick Straight 8 in it! I've seen the comments, and understand the 305 wasn't in production when the bus was built in 1946! Thanks for all of the info, guys!
Thank you for being respectful enough to admit your mistakes most RU-vidrs won’t do that love you, bro. Can’t wait to see the finished product. Definitely following.
Speaking of Buick straight 8s my pops is selling his 49 Buick Super with the Fireball 8 if interested.. I’m located in northern Indiana. It’s original and has great patina and runs.!! New to the channel this is the first episode I’ve watched and already I like the authenticity. Your dad and your relationship is golden !! Cherish these moments my friend. ❤
In 1964 at the ages of 6 and 3 my brother and I took a 46 GMC from the Continental Trailways terminal in Springfield Missouri to Shell Knob Missouri to spend some time with my grand parents. No other passengers on the bus. We road in the front seats and talked to the driver the whole way. I will never forget it.😊
Replying to @michaelbare5380: I AM VERY SORRY TO READ ABOUT YOUR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE!! **I WOULD NOT WISH YOUR TRAUMATIC EXPERIENCE ON THE ALL THE LEADERS OF THE TEARURISTSS ORGANIZATIONS IN THE WORLD RIGHT NOW!!**
Thank you and your father for bringing the old bus back into service. I'm 72 years old spending more time reading all the great comments than it took to watch the video
I’m 19 and I used to live by the flexible factory it’s so nice to see people finding these busses and restoring them loudonville Ohio is a amazing place to bring the bus too ❤️🔥
If this doesn’t get you to 100K I don’t know what will … absolutely rad. You can pay for the build by putting seats in it and giving people rides. And your dad is awesome.
I’m 73 now and watching reminds me of my life in the 60’s when my dad towed his 8 window flex home in Minnesota we put in a 401 we rebuilt together an I pulled all the seats out after school we made a motorhome out of it and became chapter president of Family Motor Home FMCA
I'm 72 years old and enjoying all the great comments. As a kid I'd take a bus if it was to far away to ride my Schwinn bicycle. You had to have a license plate on your bicycle obey traffic laws. I took the bus to the ballpark, parks and recreation activities, the zoo , Detroit to Windsor Canada, by myself.
Me and a buddy of mine stopped in Goodland Kansas and looked at this bus while we were on a trip to Colby. It is very cool. I'm glad to see it went to someone with some excitement and an actual plan besides lawn art or scrap. Good luck with your project.
@@thesneak281 More like 13 mpg and that's what these big block GMC V6's were known for was their torque. LOL GMC even made a 8 and 12 cylinder even a diesel toroflow version in the same engine family . All were awesome engines and plenty of torque . LOL.
In 1970's this kind of bus was means of transports in several cities of central Java Indonesia. Thanks a lot John for awakening my owesome memories travelling by this kind of bus.
That grin doesn’t go away. And you’ll find that everyone you drive past grins and smiles too. Clippers just make people happy. Great to see it moving !
Not a Flxible owner, I have a Crown, but BE ADVISED the Flxible is a unibody and has no traditional framerails running lengthwise, as you can see with the floor panels out. It will need bracing end-to-end as you cut the floor away to add the MH frame and drivelie into the mix. I don't doubt your skills, just wanted to point this out to you and anyone wanting to build on these cool classics. Most (like about everyone except John) keeps the unibody and builds on that if rust isn't an issue.
“Suns out” 🤷🏻♂️ haha dad is so cool What an awesome moment to share together! One of my favorite videos of yours so far, can’t wait to see this come together!
We used to build such beautiful things. That bus is graceful and has curves and delicate lines. Compare that old bus to the ugly box of a motorhome you just bought. BIG DIFFERENCE. What happened to us?
Loved the bus John, boy it sure has many characters in it, your Dad is the best, can't wait to see the final result down the road. Thank you again for inspired me to work on my old father's Peugeot cars. Oh when the bus start rolling, I can see a big smile and excitement on your face, congrats on the awesome bus.
Built about 100 in Australia under license from about 1950/59 in RHD.King of the road in there day.Rode in one as late as 1971,still a few restored one's on the road down here.
I love this bus! This thing is so awesome! I'm still 50/50 about the patina on the outside, although I would love to see the bus painted! I hope you fix all of the rust on the inside and underside and paint everything to make it look nice!!
I searched for a clipper for 5 years in early 2000's. They were scarce and if you could find one that wasn't a garage queen they were way way rough. I settled for a 1975 Crown Supercoach. 671 Detroit. Did a sweet conversion and have enjoyed it for 14 years. Busses are big projects and I hope you have an epic adventure with the build.
This makes me wistful. About 20 something years ago, a good friend of mine bought one of these in broken-down condition and he and his family lived in it out at the edge of a field. I'm not a bus fanatic or anything like that, but when I saw it the first time, I thought it was one of the coolest machines I had ever seen. The lines, the shapes, the weird name, everything. I don't think they ever got it running, and I thought it was a horrible shame. I hope someone got it and enjoying it.
First vid of yours that I've seen, just the fact that you and your father wrench together earned you me subbing to your channel. I lost my father and wife last year, to stay busy and distracted I plan on finishing his and my last father/son project, a 74' Stingray convertible. It will be a labor of love and a tribute to both my parent who have passed. As I'm in a wheelchair, it will be a slow process, but the completion will feel like an absolute victory. Can't wait to explore your channel more. Hello from KY.
Awesome job! It is so cool to see the bus running and driving! Making fantastic memories with your dad on old cool stuff!! Keep it up John! Also i see you busted out some new Vans!
This "classic bus" from the 1940's reminds me in, first, the looks; then, second, the sound of many of that era's good movies. Gosh! I would love to see it totally restored to its glory days...with a series if updates in modification.
Awesome video, in Australia we have a Flexible Clipper club, with about 15 buses who travel around together , some are RVs and others are all original, cheers from Downunder 🦘🦘🦘❤️🇦🇺
Luddy, that was so cool to see the bus move. 45 years ago my brother had an early 60's GMC 3/4 ton Pick Up with that same 305 V-6. Even with the 1bbl. carb it only got 8 MPG. I can hardly believe the engine even moves the bus - which probably gets all of 4-5 MPG with that engine and loaded with passengers. The best part of that engine I remember was the V-6 created a large gap between the radiator. 4 bolts to remove the fan, 4 bolts to remove the water pump. No hoses to remove and I don't think I even loosened the fan belt. A complete water pump change in 5 minutes!
She’s alive! My first thought has been geez how slow that thing must have been in its day and now I guess. Couldn’t imagine in 1946 riding in that thing across the mountains.
Just found your channel and I love those old busses. I think they take you back to a different time in a way that cars just can’t. Don’t get me wrong I love old cars too but this is on a whole different level of nostalgia kinda like old tractors. Really looking forward to more episodes and glad to hear you’re not going to mess with the sheet metal. Make it modern and safe underneath but keep the original look. 👍
I haven't heard one of these in Decades. It sounds amazing & reminds me of the old CCF Brill Buses here in Canada. As a KID, keep this in mind, I was in love with the Brill busses & attempted to drive one out of the HSR bus yard because I thought I could drive one. I was about 7 at the time but what disturbs me about that experience is NO ONE from the yard came to see what was going on or why there was so much black smoke coming from that section of the yard I Was in, so no one paid attention to what me & my brother who was in the bus behind me was doing LOL Anyway I got the bus started but couldn't find the gears & That's likely a blessing cause if I did manage to find DRIVE I would have tried to drive it out onto the street. That's how much I loved these old buses. I really enjoyed watching this video & your experience with this bus, it brought back some fond memories & when you drove it I was as surprised as you where & it sounded so good to the ears. I really upset at the fact you will be changing out motors cause this will take away from that beautiful sound.
Heck...that bus is 2 years older than me! And runs better too... Nice find, can't believe how rust free it is, that alone is gonna make life alot easier. Can't wait for the next episode....( I subscribed)
That engine sounded GREAT! Love those art deco buses. Only thing to come close is the Greyhound buses of the 60s. My late father took a trip of one of those Greyhound ones when he visited USA when he was a sailor (steward) in 50s and 60s. We had stylish buses here in Norway too, but not that nice. I still have a postcard my father bought with one Greyhound bus on it. Your dad is great btw! My dad was the same, he could get everything running or fixed. Only thing he did not do was welding.
I'm not a "Will it Start" watcher usually but I am a Flixible Fan.. I love these things and I'm super glad it's not being crushed ( I wouldn't have watched that video either) So I'm really excited that you're putting modern drive train in it too but lowering it ?? Ugh ok, since it is going to work for you ... but since I'm an old body paint guy, ... I'd def paint and tits that thing out .. i'll keep watching it evolve
The gospel group that my parents worked for in the late 60's called The Gospel Chords out of Youngstown, Ohio had this as their first bus. I still have pictures of it and even bought a diecast of it and painted it to look like their bus and gave it to the manager of the group. It was red and white and we called it the Red Weiner. I think it is one of the coolest designs in a bus. Can't wait to see it when it is done.
Very cool video guys....as a former bus owner myself, 1951 gm bus 4103 with detroit diesel 671...i had the detroit rebuilt and converted into a 35ft rv that ne anily used for 12yrs .....ill be watching....Steve from fla
The youtube crusher guy is a huge part of what we have lost in this great country. I wouldn't mind that guy jumping in it and showing us how it works. 😅
You were like a kid in a candy store. I have always loved buses like this one and especially from the early-to-mid-1960's. I am subbing because I want to see your progress on this cool project.
