What would I pay? 1954 GM TDH-5105 (Episode 3)
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- Опубликовано: 11 сен 2024
- This episode looks at a 1954 GM TDH-5105 old look transit bus. It's not in the best condition but I think it's still worth taking a look. If I was in the shoes of the buyer, what would I be willing to spend on this bus?
I'm the buyer of this particular bus and, at the moment, I am driving across Texas on my way to collect it. I should pick it up on Friday. It is very much a parts bus for us. We are going to use it to help with our restoration of a 1949 4509. Our 4509 has a great body and all of the important exterior parts are in wonderful shape. Unfortunately though, somebody broke every window with a BB gun. And all of the interior parts are missing. Additionally, the engine on our 4509 was partially disassembled and left like that. The blower is missing too. So with this bus we will be able to get the 4509 back in roadworthy condition.
That's awesome news!! Glad to hear it'll help bring your bus to completion.
@@Unit2345 Do you still need the tail light assemblies you mentioned in a prior video?
I don't think so. I've gotten a few single wire lamps I should be able to modify. Thanks for checking!!
@@keepyourliberty I have some questions that perhaps you can answer. If you have time would you be willing to contact me at oldlooktransit@gmail.com?
@@Unit2345 I'm happy to help, if I can. But don't get your hopes up! :-) I emailed you.
Nice commentary, and I agree with the assessment you gave this particular bus regardless the lack of knowledge of this model or its background, you still covered many good points.
We're the one who sold this bus, as well as one other similar model to the party in SC several years ago, and both were in complete running condition, so it's sad to see how this one was destroyed given it had great potential for restoration at the time. Your judgment about the seats was right on, as I'm sure the seller kept them as spares for the other. We have many of these GM Old Looks of various models, among 100+ other vintage buses in our collection, so we do see a few of these sell on the market occasionally, they just don't all pop up in public venues to help give you the scope of values. Plenty of parts are available for these models, so it's a shame the new buyer paid what he did given the shipping alone far exceeded the value. Hope it all works out.
Ross at Rolling Living bought the bus for parts for some of his other projects. He was nice enough to pull a few and send them my way for my TDH4512! The supply is only getting smaller so everything that can be saved is worth it! Here's Ross' channel if you haven't seen it.
ruclips.net/user/RollingLiving
I will buy it as I have a 1967. 2000 hours of education may make my offer better than others.
Interestingly enough, when the bus was purchased in 1954 it coat about $7,500 brand new. The TDH 4512 that we restored in Knoxville was purchased from a bus operator that had about 20 old 4512's just sitting. We paid $1,000 for the bus and restored it for about a total labor and parts cost of $35,760. We actually had to do no engine work on the bus except change a few rubber lines and replace one injector. Many parts were donated to us including tires and paint. The operator that owned the 4512's let us get any needed parts off the other buses sitting there for no charge. Your assessment of this 5105 is pretty accurate particularly since we don't know the condition of the engine. We can pretty well assume that it will take a lot of work by the Bus Grease Monkey to get it operating correctly.
Interesting. Adjusted for inflation that's $74,000 in 2021. That's not very expensive at all.
@@Unit2345 Very interesting as a new transit bus today rings in at about 350,000-400,000. Of course they are a lot more complicated but not nearly as durable. A note; in 1963, a TDH 5303 went for about $38,000.
I agree with your assessment. I couldn't see a restoration or conversion would be worth the cost. Considering the cost of moving it and possible storage costs, I think it would be of value to someone who wanted to harvest parts then scrap it. Its probably worth what they paid in scrap value.
Once they removed the floor, they uncovered a bunch of cancerous rust. The corrosion is bad enough that even some of the aluminum, especially down low near the floor, is corroded through. So they abandoned their restoration plans. But the glass and much of the interior ceiling parts are all in good shape, as is the engine. She'll never drive again, but she's a good donor bus.
Good luck with the transmission.
I worked on that one,many moons ago.