1947 Flxible Clipper

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The Flxible has now been sandblasted and stripped. Even the guys who stripped the bus couldn't believe what great shape the bodywork was in. I think it's down to 7 layers of lead based paint and 40+ years in the California desert :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtS0-NwWwS4&feature

 
What direction you goin' with the paint? Vintage livery scheme would be cool. Might even make a movie star out of her! Nice supplemental income to boot.

Bill
 
Hi Bill,

Same paint job as before (blue and white) but I'm having the fenders, wiper arms, side mirrors and Flxible sign on the front chromed.
 
Jay Leno's shop foreman was featured on Xtreme RV's recently with his Flxible as he restored it for the Flxible Rally in Ohio. I have never seen so many in a parade!

He used pressed tin sheets like in the old buildings for his ceilings. You might be able to You Tube or something and find that segment.

If I had the time, I would chase one down in a heartbeat - they are just an All American looking rig, not unlike vintage Airstreams. I look forward to your progress.
 
Just as a matter of interest and I hope Bingo does not mind, but he has been running a similar thread on the RVOC forum, where we are both members, here in the UK. Personally I think most of us on the RVOC thought, at the beginning that he was barking mad, but now are just a teen tiny bit jealous. Perhaps we will have a rally when the Flxible reaches these shores to welcome it to it's new home. ;D

http://www.rvoc.co.uk/forum/rv-general-chat/12469-1947-flxible-clipper-motor-home.html
 
SuperMike said:
Just as a matter of interest and I hope Bingo does not mind, but he has been running a similar thread on the RVOC forum, where we are both members, here in the UK. Personally I think most of us on the RVOC thought, at the beginning that he was barking mad, but now are just a teen tiny bit jealous. Perhaps we will have a rally when the Flxible reaches these shores to welcome it to it's new home. ;D

http://www.rvoc.co.uk/forum/rv-general-chat/12469-1947-flxible-clipper-motor-home.html

Thanks SuperMike, much appreciated!!!
 
The bus restoration is coming along at a pace :)

Some images of the bus getting its first coat of primer. Lots of bodywork still to complete and all of the interior to sort out but there has been a lot of progress made!!
 

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I love this project. Are you going to keep the Ketchum sign in the destination window? My dad was a tour guide for the Union Pacific and we lived in the Challenger inn in Sun Valley until they built a house in Ketchum. He most likely road on that bus.
 
Yes, keeping the Ketchum sign!!

We've also now decided on the design of the soft furnishings. It keeps the retro look we are after and matches the exterior colour scheme which will be Corvette Nassau blue and white.
 

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bingo66 said:
Yes, keeping the Ketchum sign!!

We've also now decided on the design of the soft furnishings. It keeps the retro look we are after and matches the exterior colour scheme which will be Corvette Nassau blue and white.

Glad you are keeping that sign, are there any other towns on it?
The interior will look great!
 
Not sure if there are other names on the scroll. I haven't actually seen the bus in the flesh yet :)
 
The interior is fully stripped and the metal work has been refurbished and well treated with plenty of primer.
 

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Insulation now fixed into place and the internal walls are going up :)
 

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Looking great!  Steel framing studs are a wonderful thing.  What will they be using to make the actual wall surface?  I assume drywall (plasterboard) wouldn't work well in an RV environment.
 
My father also owned a 1947 Flxible that was converted. It had a 401 CID V6 that came out of a dump truck. It was originally a greyhound bus that ran around Abilene, Fort Leavenworth and Junction City,Kansas. What a blast that was riding in that bullet. He sold it in Colorado in the 90's.
 
The materials being used are commercial building products. The Flxible has now had the ceiling panels installed and they look pretty good. Again, high grade building products have been used (GRP, with an embossed wipe clean surface). The walls will be a lightweight, engineered panel.
 

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