Need advice on my bus search

[luvrbus]

The older Blue Birds look like a school bus nothing about the LX looks like a school bus they were made on the Blue Bird commuter bus chassis damn good looking bus IMO lol maybe the name just says school bus Chessie   

[Robert D]

I went and looked at this 1972 MC-7 yesterday. It was in great shape. Stored inside. 20 years of service records. We took it for a short ride. On the plus side it has a working kegerator. Took a lot of pictures and a couple videos if anyone is interested. The price seems a little high to me, what does everyone think?
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/4124059030942285/?ref=search&referral_code=undefined

[richard5933]

Looks like a Custom Coach in great shape. I'm partial since I own a CC, but I think that they did some really great conversions.

I paid $46k for my 1974 CC, but it only had 41,000 actual miles on it. This one has over a million miles, so I'm thinking that the asking price is high. I'd say it's worth looking at though, and if it has been well maintained may be a good bus.

[usbusin]

This was an executive bus and does not have a bedroom that I can see?  What would you have to do to make a bedroom and what else to make it an RV?  No shower either?

[Robert D]

This was an executive bus and does not have a bedroom that I can see?  What would you have to do to make a bedroom and what else to make it an RV?  No shower either?

It does not have a bedroom but the rear couches fold out to make one full width bed. I took the table down and folded out one side to see that they would meet in the middle. I didn't lay on it though so I don't know how comfortable it would be.
It does have a shower. It would need a good cleaning as it was used as a storage compartment. The caretaker for the current owners doesn't recall it ever being used so it's functionality would need to be checked.

[richard5933]

Looks like it still has the upper bunks in the rear 'bedroom' as well. Those fold down from the ceiling.

We have a similar setup, and I didn't have much trouble converting the two couches to twin beds. We find the twin beds much more convenient than having to move things between night & day.

It also looks to have the original CC a/c units, which should be able to be put in working order easily. They use off-the-shelf commercial refrigeration components still available, but like it needs nothing more than a recharge and new air dryer, if that.

[luvrbus]

Look at the MCI 7 for sale in the ads on this board in New Mexico for under 20k good thing about the MCI 7 is they are easy to upgrade to different engines not like most MCI buses 

[lvmci]

MCI7 Combo! Find one and put a 12V71 in it!

[niles500]

I have been on that bus, and know the mechanics who maintained it. Art Pepin often let charitable groups use it to raise money and if you were lucky enough you might end up at the gulf front compound with a yacht ride. Of course there were complimentary AB beverages and Eagle snacks. Pepin took care of all his vehicles with his own in house mechanics- FWIW

[richard5933]

Look at the MCI 7 for sale in the ads on this board in New Mexico for under 20k good thing about the MCI 7 is they are easy to upgrade to different engines not like most MCI buses

The big difference is the conversion. This one is a Custom Coach. The one on BCM classifieds appears to be a DIY using an recycled Airstream interior. Big difference, but not sure how much value it adds without seeing it firsthand.

[luvrbus]

The big difference is the conversion. This one is a Custom Coach. The one on BCM classifieds appears to be a DIY using an recycled Airstream interior. Big difference, but not sure how much value it adds without seeing it firsthand.

Custom Coaches are solid built we had a MCI 9 they converted but they weren't into great detail on some of their conversions in the later years IMO

[richard5933]

Being a 1972, I'd put this one right in the heyday of Custom Coach. The listing says it was fleet maintained and has maintenance records and DOT certification. Might be worth taking a look.

[luvrbus]

I don't see drive train specs on the bus I am guessing a 8v71 and the MCI 7 could have a 4 speed manual or Allison most 7's with a automatic were the old H70 wet torque converter transmission,no matter what bus he buys with a 871 N/A engine it will struggle pulling a 24 ft enclosed trailer

[windtrader]

Were there multiple AB exec coaches? I swear I have seen one like that posted for sale in the past couple years, may be the same one.
If you are spending good money for a ready to roll bus conversion then think about the livability features and design differences between day exec and living in.
For example, I'd suspect many systems in this bus are not optimal; like black/gray tank size, fresh water size, stove, refrig, storage, so many design features that likely need to be modified, detracting from the higher initial costs.
I've seen many day coaches with a small sink and little counter space. A live in RV will be much more comfortable with a larger sink and more counter space. Many other similar comparisons.

[richard5933]

Were there multiple AB exec coaches? I swear I have seen one like that posted for sale in the past couple years, may be the same one.
If you are spending good money for a ready to roll bus conversion then think about the livability features and design differences between day exec and living in.
For example, I'd suspect many systems in this bus are not optimal; like black/gray tank size, fresh water size, stove, refrig, storage, so many design features that likely need to be modified, detracting from the higher initial costs.
I've seen many day coaches with a small sink and little counter space. A live in RV will be much more comfortable with a larger sink and more counter space. Many other similar comparisons.

Yes - there were a few AB buses converted by Custom Coach. I've attached the build number inventory for the CC buses.

Good points about livability on exec coaches, but a lot of that depends on how the bus is going to be used. We have a 35-ft CC which has a similar layout except shorter. The tradeoff of the smaller kitchen and bathroom is the larger living spaces. After refitting the couches in the rear bedroom to be twin beds, we have a really nice bedroom which still includes a large sofa (we kept the rear sofa) and lots of space to move about. Our kitchen is smaller, but we've spent weeks at a time in the bus and for the two of us it works out nicely. The front parlor with the dinette and sofa is also nice.

Custom Coach generally installed large tanks for fresh water and waste - ours are 90 gallons each but I've seen larger on the 40 and 45 ft buses. Counter space is really the biggest lacking we have, but storage overall is great for a 35-ft bus.

In the end, it all depends on the intended use.