White, Red and Black (see UPDATE)

• 
• 

For many years access to America’s National Parks had been difficult with an automobile. This changed when in 1935 the White model 706 tour bus was specifically developed for sightseeing in the parks. Around 500 were built. Glacier National Park purchased 35 of these buses and had them painted bright-red with black fenders. A special feature was the canvas top (click!) that could be opened on summer days. They were known "Jammers" because of the noise bus drivers made when double de-clutching. Glacier Park continued to use them until 1989 when they were upgraded to modern specifications with power steering and automatic transmission. Ten years later the chassis started cracking due to metal fatigue and the whole fleet was taken of the road. Thanks to a grant from the Ford Foundation in 2001 the buses could again be “restored”, this time with up-to-date running gear and clean air engines. Although nobody hears the buses coming anymore, today’s drivers are still called "Jammers”. (with thanks to Hugh “Montana” Nutting. Photo courtesy Ford Motor Company) (RB)

Update by Lee Jacobsen: "These buses are being locally restored in batches of 10 or so. Drivetrains are modern as are fenders molded to match contour of slightly smaller, modern tires. One bus is preserved unrestored as a reference, anything that can be is saved as original. Otherwise, exact duplicates are made. Correct but expensive!"

Kommentar abgeben...