Photo: Jim Michaud/Facebook Marketplace
In 1936, GM launched the Parade of Progress, a traveling exhibition promoting future cars and technology. GM used eight streamlined buses to showcase the exhibitions. Three years later, GM head of research Charles Kettering asked Harley Earl to design a more spectacular vehicle for the parade. Earl came up with the Futurliner.
Heavily inspired by the Art Deco movement, the Futurliner incorporated a massive exhibition area and a high cabin with a central driving position. The Futurliner was 33 feet long, eight feet wide, and more than 11 feet tall. It weighed in at over 12 tons and featured dual wheels at all four corners.
General Motors built 12 of these exhibition buses. Introduced at the 1939 New York World Fair, the Futurliners were later featured in the Parade of Progress in 1940 and 1941. When the parade returned in 1953, the vehicles were refurbished and driven until 1956.
Of the 12 original Futurliners, eight are known to still exist. All are in private hands except for the one donated to the National Automotive and Truck Museum, and some attend auto shows. The Futurliner you see here is one of those rigs. And unlike its siblings, it has been listed for sale, which is a very rare event.
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the bus appears to be in tip-top shape on the outside. Likely restored a few years ago, it sports the original red and white livery and aluminum side panels. The cabin retains much of the original design, though a few modern upgrades are visible. The bus provides seating for two passengers behind the driver. The exhibition area was also restored, so the bus can still act as a showcase on wheels.
Speaking of which, the Futurliner runs and drives. According to the seller, it can hit over 50 mph on the highway. The steering was upgraded with power assist for easier operation. On the other hand, the bus no longer relies on its original engine. This Futurliner was retrofitted with a Detroit Diesel 4-71.
Part of a series of engines produced from 1938 to 1995, the 4-71 is a 284-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) four-cylinder unit. It was factory-rated at 152 to 190 horsepower, but the output of this specific mill is unknown. An Allison automatic transmission routes the oomph to the wheels.
The ad mentions that the "original gas engine and transmission are included in the sale." The Futurliners were originally equipped with four-cylinder diesel powerplants, but GM switched to inline-six gasoline units in 1953. The seller is likely talking about the latter, a 302-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) engine made by GMC. The gearbox should be a four-speed manual.
According to the seller, this Futurliner is believed to be the no. 7 hauler used for the "Out of the City Muddle" exhibit. However, the "Peter Pan" lettering on the sides means we could look at vehicle no. 6, which is currently owned by Peter Pan Bus Lines. This hauler was used for the "Energy & Man" exhibition and rescued from a cornfield in the 1990s.
The bus is listed for $998,900, and the seller has made it clear that he won't be responding to "ridiculous offers." And if you think that's a lot of dough for an old bus, other examples have changed hands for a lot more. Futurliner no. 11, for instance, sold for $4 million twice (in 2006 and 2015). Hauler no. 3 failed to sell despite a $2.6 million high bid in 2016. I'm very tempted to say that this one is actually affordable. What do you think?
General Motors built 12 of these exhibition buses. Introduced at the 1939 New York World Fair, the Futurliners were later featured in the Parade of Progress in 1940 and 1941. When the parade returned in 1953, the vehicles were refurbished and driven until 1956.
Of the 12 original Futurliners, eight are known to still exist. All are in private hands except for the one donated to the National Automotive and Truck Museum, and some attend auto shows. The Futurliner you see here is one of those rigs. And unlike its siblings, it has been listed for sale, which is a very rare event.
Located in Springfield, Massachusetts, the bus appears to be in tip-top shape on the outside. Likely restored a few years ago, it sports the original red and white livery and aluminum side panels. The cabin retains much of the original design, though a few modern upgrades are visible. The bus provides seating for two passengers behind the driver. The exhibition area was also restored, so the bus can still act as a showcase on wheels.
Speaking of which, the Futurliner runs and drives. According to the seller, it can hit over 50 mph on the highway. The steering was upgraded with power assist for easier operation. On the other hand, the bus no longer relies on its original engine. This Futurliner was retrofitted with a Detroit Diesel 4-71.
Part of a series of engines produced from 1938 to 1995, the 4-71 is a 284-cubic-inch (4.7-liter) four-cylinder unit. It was factory-rated at 152 to 190 horsepower, but the output of this specific mill is unknown. An Allison automatic transmission routes the oomph to the wheels.
The ad mentions that the "original gas engine and transmission are included in the sale." The Futurliners were originally equipped with four-cylinder diesel powerplants, but GM switched to inline-six gasoline units in 1953. The seller is likely talking about the latter, a 302-cubic-inch (5.0-liter) engine made by GMC. The gearbox should be a four-speed manual.
According to the seller, this Futurliner is believed to be the no. 7 hauler used for the "Out of the City Muddle" exhibit. However, the "Peter Pan" lettering on the sides means we could look at vehicle no. 6, which is currently owned by Peter Pan Bus Lines. This hauler was used for the "Energy & Man" exhibition and rescued from a cornfield in the 1990s.
The bus is listed for $998,900, and the seller has made it clear that he won't be responding to "ridiculous offers." And if you think that's a lot of dough for an old bus, other examples have changed hands for a lot more. Futurliner no. 11, for instance, sold for $4 million twice (in 2006 and 2015). Hauler no. 3 failed to sell despite a $2.6 million high bid in 2016. I'm very tempted to say that this one is actually affordable. What do you think?
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