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Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
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Author:  Frank T [ Sat Mar 04, 2017 8:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
Our German member Thorsten Link writes from Germany that the 7th of 12 General Motors Futureliners has been found under a shed behind a towing company. I am digging for more facts.

In the 1940s-1950s GM made 12 "super cruise bus" Futureliners and toured the USA with them, promoting GM's forward thinking design department. Each bus was a moving museum/classroom and business office, with living space akin to today's luxury motor coaches. In the era of teardrop AIRSTREAM tow trailers, a bus you could live in was a startling idea. They made caravans cross-country in unison, then disbursed to hit more remote areas in every compass direction.

Over the years they have disappeared one by one. HEMMINGS MOTOR NEWS owned one for a long time and drove it to many car shows. Number 7 had long been thought to have met its fate, but the little thumbnail photo of it sitting under a sun shed makes me think it might have a future on the road again.
More as it develops, please add any info you might have heard about this.

Frank
Author:  FM6 [ Sun Mar 05, 2017 7:09 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
Image
You look here : [url]http://www.futurliner.org/[/url] :P
Author:  HowardJ [ Sun Mar 05, 2017 10:03 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
I remember watching the restoration of one of these Land Yachts by one of those TV restoration shops. It might have been Fantom Works or possibly Bitchin Rides? They remade most of the box tube skeletal structure and then duplicated and fabricated the amazing sheet metal. They also fabricated a passenger side drop side that doubles as a stage when open. These buses are amazing rolling works of art (even if impractical).


Howie

UPDATE: Yup. Bitchin Rides.

The restoration of Futurliner #3 was the subject of two episodes of the Velocity Channel show "Bitchin' Rides". Number 3 underwent a 19-month restoration in 2013-2014, intended to be the most complete and period-correct restoration of all that have been attempted so far. "Bitchin' Rides" is a reality show about the activities at Kindig-It Design in Salt Lake City, Utah.[15]
Author:  FM6 [ Thu Mar 09, 2017 4:59 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
There is one in Amherst Mass somewhere.
One of my facebook friends posted about it a few years ago.
Author:  Frank T [ Thu Mar 09, 2017 5:10 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
Designed by Harley Earl in the 1940s; 4-cyl diesel engine 150hp, 30,000 lbs, 40mph top speed.
Author:  Pogo [ Sun Mar 19, 2017 7:34 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
Note the PeterPan signage on the side of this Futureliner.

This vehicle is stored in secure PP property in Spfld. The front quarter panels (both sides)open to reveal stairs leading up to the cockpit for the driver & co-driver. Other than them, passenger capacity is 0.
Author:  Frank T [ Mon Mar 20, 2017 11:22 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
Well, unless you're sticking your head out the escape hatch, right? :D

WHY do I want one of these?
Author:  johnnyZ [ Wed Mar 29, 2017 5:00 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Missing FUTURELINER #7 found intact
I believe the one from Mass. showed up at the Shriner's car show in Orange about 5 years ago. I saw this thing coming down the road and could not believe my eyes. It is a striking looking art-deco style vehicle that is not like anything else I've seen. I had the good fortune to be able to climb up into the cab. It has a half-spiral stair case going up to the cockpit and duelly steering wheels up front. There are some cool videos on YouTube on the Futureliner including some old vintage GM films.
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