I was an avid Jim Reeves follower beginning in early childhood. Very few have ever had the baritone voice this man had. I think each artist has his or her own style that sets them worlds apart from others .... Jim Reeves was one of these .... He had a range from higher to lower note ranges that few had or have now. George Jones was another of these. As for Jim Reeves tho, he was a true gentleman, earning him the nickname "Gentleman Jim". I can watch these videos time after time. P.S. Flxible was based here in Ohio, and from the badge on the front, Flxible was located in Loudenville when this bus was manufactured. Later on, I think Flxible merged or was purchased by Grumman Corp., and took the name Grumman Flxible. After the merger, they were located in Delaware, OH, 20-25 miles north of Columbus. Thank you for sharing. I had never seen Jim Reeves' tour bus until now.
Hello Robert, Thank you so much for watching and sharing that very interesting info. The whole way home after seeing the bus we listened to Jim. Very nice to hear that he was such a good guy. Stories like his need to be told more. Big thank you again for the support!
Jim Reeves is my favorite singer of all time and has been since I was 2 years old. My cousin lives in Brady and she told me that Jim Reeves’ tour bus was at this museum. I would love to go down there and see it but I’m mobility impaired and I live in Missouri. Traveling is not feasible for me at this time. But I will put it on my bucket list. I appreciate the video because now I’ve gotten to see it without having to go to Brady.
So glad you enjoyed the video my friend! When I get there again I will try and get some more video and maybe even video inside the museum if they let me. I’ve really enjoyed listening to Jim since seeing his bus. Great sound. Big thank you for watching as well!
@@theautohistorian I heard somewhere recently that the museum in Brady also has his red jacket with the black lapels and the shirt and tie that he wore with it. Those are inside the museum I guess.
I saw this bus in Tennessee back in '05. At the time the engine was missing. Another country singer (Wilma Burgess, I think) had the same model and Mary Reeves gave her the engine. The Reeves bus was a static display by then and she figured it would never be needed again. I was wondering what happened to it. I'm glad it's still around. Better shape than expected. It's certainly in restorable condition. 😊
I'm from India writing this Without the voice of Jim Reeves the Christmas is not start in our house till now. Happy to see the tour bus. Boney m and jim are our favorite
I have passed by and seen this bus many times and, have never stopped to see or look at it. I will now make it a point that the next time I pass by Brady again, I will definitely stop. I am a fan of old/classic country and western music.
I am a Jim Reeves music fan, but I once played with someone who had played with Jim Reeves and said he was anything BUT a gentleman. He said the "Gentleman Jim Reeves" was an invention of his manager.
@@theautohistorian After his house and meusum where torn down they opened up his meusum to the Smyrna Expo center. The Expo center was sold to Rush Peterbuilt. Glad to know where it's now!
@@theautohistorian There's another anecdote to this. Justin Tubb dated Joyce Gray (later Joyce Jackson) and she asked him to write a song about her. The title was "Take a Letter Miss Gray". Justin recorded it. It's on YT.
@@theautohistorian I'm not sure if any pictures are around, but if I find one,I'll send it to you. It's been 10 years or more now since it was torn down. Less than a mile up the street, 2 years ago, Elvis manager Col Parker's house was replaced by a car wash.
It wasn't HIS house that was torn down. It was the house that contained the Jim Reeves Museum. Jim Reeves' house in Madison, Tennessee is still standing. It is unfortunate the museum house was torn down as it was built during the time of George Washington.
Thank you for the info my friend. I’m new to buses but I love learning from y’all. What do you think the price for one like this would be today? Thanks for the watch as well!
Back in the day they worried about freezing on those old buses, it was either too cold from no heat or too hot from no A.C. idk Jim Reeves was pretty popular and might have had the cash to keep up the maintenance. But remember he flew for some reason or another..
Great video of Nostalgic America. Was there an onboard Bathroom Commode and sink? Maybe that last door on the passengers side of the bus after the Master Bedroom windows. Back where the engine and AC unit was.
@@theautohistorian Well I subbed too as I have always liked the stories that go with old cars, etc. You are correct too about off the the way little towns. You never know what you will find. Nomadic Fanatic gives us that all the time too!
Definitely nothing like the new ones but I was surprised how comfortable it was for its age. Not sure how they would fit 20 plus people in there when it was configured to be a regular city bus though. Thank you for watching my friend!
The best bus at the time was a GM 4104. Air ride suspension instead of spring ride, Detroit Diesel in line 6-71 motor with over drive gears, 35ft length under floor luggage bays and it could be optioned with factory AC and a lavatory. This bus was made to go 1 million miles, there’s many survivors today as RVs.
Texas is a big beautiful place that is for sure! I would love to have seen cars on the road back on the 50s and 60s. Very interesting times for the automobile!
Decent busses, though the 52 I had was very underpowered. Only about 28 feet of usable living space inside also, though total length is about 35 feet, due to the storage area being in back instead of underneath. Standard spring suspension, no air bags, which has it's upside as well as downside. Probably was originally powered by a straight Buick eight cylinder, later by maybe a Ford industrial gas motor, which still left them underpowered. Great for the Texas panhandle, but in the mountains, its "get out a push" everyone! Still, this one with the history should be taken care of a wee bit better. Really a "art Deco" design, streamlined......and seldom seen anymore on the road. If you do, consider yourself very lucky......sometimes history rolls right by you and if your not quick, it's gone! So take a good look at every vintage bus you see, who knows who it might be going down the road alongside you!
Fantastic info thank you for sharing! Do you have any photos of your bus? If so and if you’re ok with it could you share it on our Facebook page? I love seeing photos of these things! Here’s the link to our Facebook group I started for us. facebook.com/groups/ryantheautohistorian/ Thank you for watching as well my friend!
Not any available now on my old flexible....I'll have to dig some out, scan etc when I get a chance so I beg of you, be patient! May be able to send a few of my buffalo here if I can figure out how!
Won't find any jack Daniels on that bus lol. He didn't drink . he had a golden voice truly one of the best , so sad when he died in 1964 plane crash and he did not like air planes rarely ever got on one too.
Yes, Reeves was just like Sonny James in that respect. No alcohol. I remember my mom telling me that Sonny James, who was popular for his recordings of several Country & Western songs, one being, "Young Love", only drank orange juice. In fact, he bought my mom and dad, each, glasses of orange juice at one of his bay area appearances back in the early 60's.
That check for $41.95 was a canceled check that Reeves paid to a Joyce Gray (?) He must have bought something of great sentimental value with it to frame it like that.
I can tell u r a youngin' the reason it had "Air Conditioning" on the side wasn't because it was in Texass! It's because in 1956 most houses, car's, & businesses didn't have Air Conditioning!!!!! They were Bragging!!!!!
That's a Flxible Bus, not a GM. It's also correctly spelled for copyright purposes. Pronounced flexible, it used a torsion suspension and airbrakes. Flxible Corp was located in Ohio.
@@theautohistorian it could be between 27-35 ft long and it’s likely running on a Buick straight 8 engine if it’s still going on it’s original engine. Flxible was based in Loudenville, Ohio and Flxible owners still have rallies with their buses even today. 👍🏼 You should change your title to reflect it’s a Flxible Clipper Bus, not a GMC
Jim's 1956 would be a Visicoach (1950-1956) not a Clipper, Clipper was made 1946-1950 the 1957-1967 Starliner had the torsion suspension like an Eagle bus.
Nice video. I can't remember if I've ever seen it before. But you have no idea who the great Jim Reeves was do you? You gotta educate yourself or do more research when you do theses things.
Thank you for watching my friend! And I’m doing my best to learn all his songs as fast as possible! He sure does have a very impressive line up of songs.
I would have enjoyed the tour of the interior of the bus if you stopped just half a second on the various pictures and awards with a close up of them. I could then pause the video and read them. Too bad you spoiled that opportunity.
Why would you leave a piece out history out in the elements? That should be cleaned up and gone through not restored but put back in running condition and put inside . What an asshole
@@rm742 Dude its Jim Reeves that is a piece of history ! Why would you leave it out in the elements to rot look at the inside the plastic is cooked the inside is cooked and cracked , That is like finding Hank Williams bus and shoving it outside to rot . I would of left this one original and not touched it and put it inside and keep it running condition this is an absolute shame . My Mom loved this man I grew up hearing him I think she bought everyone of his records
@@rm742 Ok but for a little more money they could of built out and extra frame work and put some tin around it to protect the bus but make is wide enough people can get in and get out and still see the bus. Having it exposed like that to the elements the rain and dust and especially the dust is just asinine. The bus has really deteriorated badly because of bad decisions. They could of built a better shelter on the cheap with out storing it inside . At least it would of protected it instead of letting is rot in the sun. There are options and it would of not cost much more money to protect some history.
Nowadays, you'd have to the worst music band in America to tour in that. It would be like an insult gift from your label because they hate you or something.
