BCM Classified Ad Alert – 1983 MCW Double-Decker Restaurant Bus

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Bus Conversion Magazine has listed a bus conversion for sale on our Online Classified Ad Page.  This is a beautiful bus and would make a great mobile restaurant for any Bus Nut that loves cooking and wants to have their own restaurant.

With this bus, you could run a restaurant up North in the summer, and down South in the winter to stay with the best weather.

This is a brand new conversion and is ready to start working.

Here are some of the specs:

“Mammoth” Bus Restaurant Features

1. Transparent canopy. Aluminum structure, Plexiglas side windows and roof. Weight is approximately 350 kilograms (770 lb.). Ceiling is designed to slide open from the middle to be flexible during all seasons and for emergency exit.

2. Laminated wood floor and walls are decorated with wood panels halfway up.

3. Heating and air conditioning, three fire extinguishers, built-in sound system and speakers, digital ticket display, four safety alarms.

4. Water and fireproof seat covers, designed to match the design and the color scheme.

5. Seats have been replaced with new foam and covers.

6. Bug screens upstairs and in the kitchen.

7. Outlets for charging phone/laptop at all tables.

8. LED lights placed under seats and around the edges light up the bus from inside.

10. Small dimmable table lamps to be used in the evenings to access more lighting.

11. Stairs and staircase are carpeted from sides, covers lower deck and top deck area.

12. Fully fitted kitchen, best quality stainless steel. Ceiling, floor, walls are stainless steel. There is one large canopy 3 meters x 55 cm (9.8 ft. x 1.8 ft.) preparation fridge, bain-marie top, grill, Panini toaster, drink refrigerator, hot plate, cake refrigerator/display, steamer, large flat grill, frizz maker, frizz warmer, fryer, digital tilt computer screen. Cutleries, steel shelves and steel storage fitted in. Bathroom includes washbasin, large sink in the kitchen, heater, fan, order reader machine.

13. Front of lower deck is for storage. Extra space for fridge, freezer, containers. A front part of the entrance lower deck floor is carpeted for health and safety reasons.

14. Four external side projectors.

15. External flat LED lights fitted under window edges all over.

16. Internal fitted pipping for both kitchen and toilet.

17.  Two large steel shelves in two freezers.

18.  Two bug screens on windows in the kitchen, two fire extinguishers downstairs, digital screen menu.

19. Health and safety: Fire exit, kitchen, water and toilet, and smoking signs.

20. Bathroom under stairs, lower deck.

21. Twelve tables on the first deck/floor. Passenger capacity four guests at each table for a maximum capacity of 48 customers total. 

22. Table size:  60 x 80 cm. (23.6 in. x 31.4 in.)

23. Main washing sink and small wash basin-hand wash sink-stainless steel in the kitchen.

24. Main storage at the front on the lower deck. Two large 90 cm (35.4 in.) freezers, fitted with storage steel shelves, six double power outlets.

25. Power panel, internal commercial fan, menu display screen, wireless ultrasonic tank liquid level, and temperature gauge.

26. Year of the bus: 1983. Bus Engine: Cummins with Automatic transmission. Mileage after overhaul: 60,000 KM (37.5 miles). 
                                                                               
27. Bus is in very good condition. Has a current MOT, (UK safety certificate) Gear box oil, engine oil and wheel oil was last changed April 20, 2020.

28. Water tank capacity 200 liters (52.8 US Gallons) in the kitchen, waste tank, capacity 100 liters (26.4 US gallons)

29. Nine double power outlets in the kitchen.

To view this pre-loved bus, click here…
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/1983-mcw/

To see all buses listed for sale on our website click here…
https://www.busconversionmagazine.com/bcmclassifieds/

Please note: We post these ads as a service to our readers and paid advertisers that support the magazine and website you all enjoy. This Forum does not allow individual posting of buses for sale.

If you would like us to list your bus for only $99 until sold, contact me at Gary@busconversions.com.

Thank you for your support.

[Jeremy]

Bus has UK registration and UK electrical system but is in Baltimore - slightly weird. Looks like a well-done conversion, although the 240v electrical outlet located directly underneath the sink and surrounded by water pipes is plain scary - especially as every single surface is clad in nicely conductive stainless steel too

Jeremy

[jap42]

Rewiring for 240 Split Phase is pretty simple.
Outlets under sinks are very common, although it should be GFCI they may have GFCI breakers rather then individual outlets.
Metal Counter tops would be the safest in that situation, The entire interior is metal. You could charge the whole interior with 240V and never notice while you are inside. Just make sure your well grounded or you will feel it when your on the outside.

[Jeremy]

I know American standards are different but I'm surprised power sockets under sinks like that are considered acceptable and even normal - it'd be a blazing code violation here. I take the point about live metal surfaces not being a problem until you're earthed, but I suspect that argument would go down like a lead balloon with a safety inspector too

Jeremy

[jap42]

There is no code that relates to outlets under a sink. Its not considered a wet area. Commercial Kitchens it would require GFCI as all outlets in the commercial kitchen require it, residential would not as its not a wet area. Thats NA code. You may have a local code but it would be a very strange restriction. Most houses have an outlet there for a garbage disposal, dishwasher or point of use water heater. I just peeked through the NICEIC, its actually pretty relaxed compared to NEC.

Again, metal counter tops are required in all commercial kitchens. They do have to be grounded (Earthed) but not a code violation in any way.

People make a lot of assumptions about electrical code, its really not that hard, and the restrictions are not very specific.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

Bus has a UK registration and UK electrical system but is in Baltimore - slightly weird. Looks like a well-done conversion, although the 240v electrical outlet located directly underneath the sink and surrounded by water pipes is plain scary - especially as every single surface is clad in nicely conductive stainless steel too

Jeremy

This bus is currently in the UK.  The price includes shipping to a port in Baltimore.  Nothing strange or wierd about that.  The owner of this bus has imported a few buses and he prefers the Baltimore port, but arrangements can be made for shipment to any U.S. port.  He will also drive it to any location you choose basically for the cost of fuel and teach you how to drive it as he drives these buses on a regular basis in the U.S.

I was an electrician in a previous life and all outlets for pigs in kitchens are always under the sink along with metal piping in old houses so I see no problem with an outlet in that location and all outlets in kitchens and bathrooms should be GFI protected outlets as noted above and these may already be.

Some of the outlets would have to be converted to 120V for the U.S. market for the upstairs dining for customers of course, but that will be pretty easy to do based on the way this bus was designed.  I would not convert the kitchen appliances because 240V is a better setup anyway and is typical in commercial kitchens.

This bus would make a beautiful small restaurant or coffee shop and would draw a lot of business because of its uniqueness. I would love sitting on the top deck with the top open enjoying lunch, or dinner, or just a cup of coffee. Am I the only one?

Any more comments or questions?

BTW, this bus is featured in the August issue along with a long story about it's construction and features.  If you are not already a subscriber, then now is the time to sign up so you can read about this bus as soon as the issue comes out around August 1st.

[Lin]

What wire size would they have used for those 240v circuits?

[richard5933]

As voltage goes up, current goes down. Being able to use smaller gauge wiring is one of the advantages to higher voltage systems.

Should be easy to find the specifics using online wiring charts/tables.

[Jim Blackwood]

Depends on the amperage, the length of the run, and how much cooling is available to the wiring. But a good rule of thumb is 12g for 20-30A, 14g down to about 10A and 16g below that. Signal wires can be much smaller but then terminating the wires in a reliable way becomes the next issue.

Jim

[Lin]

My curiosity as to the wire size for standard UK circuits was to see whether one could just change over the receptacles or they would need to actually rewire them.  If they have at least 14 gauge wire, one could easily use a 15 amp circuit.  But if the wire is sized to a lower amperage you may have a problem.

[Gary Hatt - Publisher BCM]

My curiosity as to the wire size for standard UK circuits was to see whether one could just change over the receptacles or they would need to actually rewire them.  If they have at least 14 gauge wire, one could easily use a 15 amp circuit.  But if the wire is sized to a lower amperage you may have a problem.

They used 14 AWG wiring so the wiring should be fine as it is. The question would be, how many appliances are on each circuit.  Those details can be worked out later depending on how it will be used and what in the bus will be used.  One could just use UK --> US adaptors, but if it were me, I would change out the outlets and be done with it.