Pick of the Day: National park tour bus turned RV

You could consider the Pick of the Day to be both a true historic vehicle and also a 2fer, because you get not only what was built and served as a Mount Rainier National Park tour bus but one that was converted into a recreation vehicle for travel and camping.

Advertised on ClassicCars.com by a private seller in Woodinville, Washington, working with a marketing agreement with a dealership in Carnation, Washington, is this 1954 Flxible Visicoach bus/RV that, according to the seller and based on “VIN history” and original registration, this was one of two Mount Rainier park touring vehicles that traveled in Seattle, Tacoma, the Sunrise and Paradise lodges, and Rainier park, according to the locations listed on the the bus’s destination scroll.

The bus was converted to an RV motorhome in 1972 and the blueprints for that conversation are included in the sale.

The bus is powered by a Caterpillar 1150 diesel engine linked to a 4-speed manual gearbox and 2-speed rear. The owner says the engine and transmission both have recently been repaired and updated. 

The bus has new batteries, wheels and tires (six of each), and a 30-amp power system, the seller says, adding that the gas stove, refrigerator and freezer are all in working order; the toilet flushes although the flush-valve sticks; the fresh-water and black-water tanks do not leak; and the front and rear electric heaters work, as does the ceiling-mounted air conditioning and air horns. 

The onboard gas-powered generator has a lead ? and “minor repair” is needed, the seller says. The shower has not been used, marker lights on the roof corners are disconnected, and several electric outlets do not work.

The bus comes with several additional pieces of glass believed to be spare windshields, as well as the original shades for the in-roof scenic windows, as do extra interior and exterior trim pieces.

“Overall, the ‘bones’ of this bus are very decent,” the seller reports. “There are areas of rust. A few of these spots are significant. Most are surface.”

So why is the vintage RV for sale?

“We are a larger family with 5 children and need a motorhome large enough for traveling,” the seller writes. “We have determined it just is not realistic to make this work for us.”

The bus-turned-RV is offered for $58,995. To view this vehicle on ClassicCars.com, see Pick of the Day.