In December, 2005, I ran head on into the apartment management. Apparently the high vacancy rate of our complex caused the parent management company (Camden Properties) to do an audit of the complex.

In the process, they discovered lots of cars with dead tags, including my bus. Also, complaints from residents were examined. They found a couple of complaints regarding my working on the bus in the parking lot. At the moment the GWB is barely running. No power. Most likely fuel related. So the bus was setting until I could get to work on it.

But working on it was now verboten. As well as the fact that they were going to tow the bus if I didn't get current tags on it. Crap. No run = No smog check = No tags.

I actually listed him for sale for a bit, thinking I'd keep the 71 Deluxe that's in my garage. GWB didn't fit in the garage because of the high top so I figured the 71 was the better choice to keep.

Then common sense ran up and smacked me upside the head: Why not pull the top off?

I had considered making the top "swappable" with a steel top or similar for a while just for the convenience of getting it into the garage, and for parking in structures that have lower than 8 ft clearance. Now was the time to see what would be involved.

I gave the 71 to Busted Bus, and had Chris and Jim help me get the top off the GWB. Eleventy Billion screws and some muscle got the top off. Here's what we found:

It's not easy to see in those shots (I'll get better ones later), but the rust is quite extensive. Obviously the seal between the top and the steel of the bus had deteriorated and allowed more water to move in than there should be.

Once someone comes and takes the top out of my garage so I have room to work I'll get better shots and see just how bad things are.