I knew a guy in the 70's who bought an old school/church bus for $100.00 It was one of those big old 60 passenger International Harvester jobs, It had a big gas hog V8 and a four speed transmission. That tank ran along on big old balding tires, that leaked.

It was rusted out in many places as well.

Well he gutted, and furnished it inside nearly like a mobile home.It had nearly everything. The windows had specially made aluminum framed screens that could be taken off via means of clips that loosened on a screw. They worked well.

The bed area and the living area had windows that opened for fresh air. Many other windows were covered with sheet metal or painted over with stain glass effect paint.

He painted the whole thing flat black.

It was one ugly, patched up pile of junk. But, it ran good, and afforded a measure of comfort for about a grand total of $1,500.
and a lot of elbow grease.

This guy was one of the early "Survivalist Types" of the era. He was a bit "Farout" there and a borderline radical.

He decided he'd drive out into the woods and set up for an extended stay. On the way into a state game area, he blew a tire on the rear. He had no spare. He got out his bicycle, and wheeled back to a small burg about 20 miles away. It was late night now. No one was open. He waited untill dawn in a car he found unlocked. Next day, there was no one in that area equiped with a rig that go in, jack up the bus, pull the tire, drive back out, pull the tire of the split rims, and hopefulluy patch up the worn out tires he had on it.
He was forced to hitch hike back to town here. Now two full days had passed and was approaching a third. He didn't have much cash, so he went to truck junk yards looking for a cheap replacement. No luck. Nearly a week passed. Finally he found a dude who felt sorry for him, and offered to drive him back up there, (75 miles away) and help him pull the wheel and tire, and patch it there on the spot.
He'd have to wait until saturday. Another days wait.
Well, they drove up there to where the broken down bus was waiting. A burned out and gutted shell was all that remained. Vandals found it, gutted it, and torched it. Manny was heartbroken.
So much for living out in the woods like a freeman.
He never bought another bus or truck for that matter. Last I saw him in the late 80's he was driving an old rusty honda civic!
He was still wearing his old OD green field jacket, and had a long greying beard, and a tie dyed head scarf covering his balding head.

Survivalist were pretty fringe then. SAD!


War Dog out...