Neat looking old Crown

[frank]

Hi, I've been lurking around here off and on, reading and looking at pictures.
I saw this ad and thought I'd share:
http://vancouver.kijiji.ca/c-cars-vehic ... Z138655651

(I am not connected with this bus, and have not even seen it in person, just thought it was unusual.)

[Dennis The Bus Dweller]

Sweeeet

[Rudy]

Here are the two photos. Can anyone tell us a little about the Cat 1160 motor that is in that 1955 Crown? Do all Crown buses have the motor in the middle of the bus? And, are those skylights original? Thanks, Rudy

[Dennis The Bus Dweller]

Once again, This is another time I thank the "Bus Gods" that im broke I love these old rigs. I'd buyem all if I could

[frank]

I don't know much about crown buses, they are pretty rare here in Canada. I believe the sky view windows would be original, this was a crown highway/touring bus. The cat 1160 would not be original, I expect it might have originally had a gas engine. An 1160 cat would not have been my first choice as a swap...
From my bit of reading about it after seeing the ad this is probably a pretty rare coach, apparently there were not that many sky view coaches made.

[Mark R. Obtinario]

Skyviews were very rare, probably less than 100 total.

This one originally had the curved glass windshields as well. Someone has done a fair job of converting to flat glass.

One has to wonder how they mounted the Cat 1160 (the early version of the 3208). Originally the bus most likely had a Hall-Scott gas or Cummins small cam engine.

If the engine is still mid-mount there would have to be some kind of doghouse for the engine since you can't really mount a V-8 horizontally. If you did, which way would be up?

If the bus has been converted to a rear engine configuration it would have taken a lot of time and $$$ to accomplish. And after all of that work one would have to wonder why a Cat 1160.

[Dennis The Bus Dweller]

Not that it matters much but my GMC 4905 has an 8-71 laying on it's side, It looks pretty crazy but in work good.

[TMAX]

Maybe it's a straight 8 (shades of a '49 Buick Roadmonster), just kidding. The only diesels I have had experience with (besides my '76 Peugeot Frogmobile / Explode "O" Car) were generator types from my radio daze. Detroit 4-53, 2-71 (my favourite), 3-71, and a 4 cylinder Perkins (somewhat weak). For the most part they were great engines.

TMAX

[frank]

This bus has actually been for sale for a while now, and I've seen it advertised in a few different places.
The guy stated in one ad that it belonged to his father, a retired heavy duty mechanic, and in another he said that his father had acquired it after it was retired from use as a tour bus at Yosemite.(Or maybe it was Rushmore, my memory isn't perfect.)
In any case I assume it's a pusher, I can't see any easy way to stick an 1160 in the middle.

[Sharkey]

Maybe it's a straight 8 (shades of a '49 Buick Roadmonster)

That would have been a clever joke, except that Flxible manufactured buses in the late 40's using a Buick I-8 as a power plant as standard equipment..

I wouldn't mind finding a decent photo of Crown Skyview coach for the "More Crowns" page in the Bus Barn.

[TMAX]

Whoa!! Didn't know that. Straight 8 in a bus... like pouring gas directly onto the road. Actually inline 8s are amongst my favourites, they are incredibly smooth. Went to Radio Netherlands shortwave station in Bonaire 16 years ago. All of their diesel generator power units were inline 8s (2 in use, 2 in standby, and 2 being rebuilt).

TMAX