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1936 White Motor Co Model 706 Yellowstone Park Bus

Currency:USD Category:Collectibles Start Price:25.00 USD Estimated At:200,000.00 - 350,000.00 USD
1936 White Motor Co Model 706 Yellowstone Park Bus
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Offered for public auction is this immensely rare and original 1936 White Motor Company Model 706 fourteen-passenger Yellowstone National Park Bus, Y.P.T. Co. Number 386. For over 100 years, the history of Yellowstone Park has been one written with tales of transportation, that of traveling across a continent to experience the grandeur of the park and of transportation in the park. From hiking the miles of its beautiful lands to pack mules and horse drawn stage coaches and eventually the transportation touring busses. Tourist from around the world for generations have been chauffeured along the park’s scenic roads in these large open-air buses that were produced by the White Motor Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The Busses were operated and privately owned by the Yellowstone Park Transportation Company with this, Model 706, being the last generation of touring bus. A total of twenty-seven of these 1936 White Model 706 buses were ordered by the Yellowstone Park Transportation Company, and by 1939, a total of ninety-eight Model 706’s of various years were in use (the largest number of National Park Busses operating anywhere). Buses of this style were also used in Yosemite and Glacier National Park. The Model 706 was constructed with a robust flathead inline six-cylinder 318 CI engine and four-speed manual transmission on an overbuilt 190-inch-whealbase chassis that was bodied by the Cleveland coach builder, Bender. The body of the 706 shows a beautiful aerodynamic design created by the famous automotive stylist, Russian Count Alexis de Sakhnoffsky. One of the most stunning and novel features of the bus was a large canvas-covered roof that could be completely uncovered in good weather, which provided a nearly panoramic view of the park for the tourist riding inside. Another notable feature of the 706, as noted by nps.gov, was the semaphore turn signal on the driver’s side, a Wyoming requirement for buses operating in the state. A divided storage compartment, or “blanket chest” is located behind the rare seat and was used to store blankets for passenger’s comfort. This particular bus, Y.P. Co Number 386 was delivered to Y.P.T. Co. in 1936 and was used in operation from 1936 to 1965. In 1965 the bus was purchased by the artist and teacher Ray Campeau of Bozeman, MT and was used to carry plein air painters around Southern Montana. In 1980 the bus was donated to the Museum of the Rockies and refurbished by Gerald Pesman and Ron Buckingham. It was at this time that the bus was professionally painted in the factory original colors by Bozeman Ford. Two years later in 1982 until present time the bus was used by the Museum of the Rockies patrons on architectural tours, parades, and to fund-raise. For over 35 years the bus has been meticulously maintained by owner and operator the Museum of the Rockies keeping the bus in private storage and pristine condition. The superb condition original bus has 110,000 original miles with the factory original interior, circa 1980 professional paint with minor blemishes, six new tires, vacuum brakes, and good condition fold back canvas top. Behind the flathead 6-cylinder 318 CI engine is the infamous 4-Speed “crash box” transmission which lent to the bus drivers being nicknamed the “Jammers” due to the sound the gears made when shifting on the rough terrain. The “jamming” sound came from the unsynchronized transmissions, where double-clutching was a must. These all original excellent condition Yellowstone Park Model 706 Buses are increasingly scarce with very few ever being offered for sale. This bus is being sold by the Museum of the Rockies, Inc. a 501(c)(3) nonprofit with all proceeds being used to support the charitable mission of the museum. A few Yellowstone Buses have been offered at public auction including bus number 427 offered for sale by Mecum Auctions in their Monterey 2016 Auction and valued at $300,000-$350,000. This bus, No. 386 and No. 427 are the only all original condition (including an all original functioning drive train) buses ever offered for public auction, with No. 386 funds being used to benefit the charitable mission of the museum in Montana. The bus offered in this lot is in very good running and driving condition and can been seen functioning without flaw in an upcoming video.