Replica Bus, Are They Toys ?

Made of die-cast metal and durable plastic this collectible measures 6x6.5x1.5 inches and weighs 3.2 ounces. It is perfect in every detail to the original bus right down to the chrome window trim, turn signals, side mirrors, color scheme, lettering and signage. The interior shows the original seating for 41 passengers.

Put into service by Greyhound through the 1940's this bus was powered by a powerful Detroit 6-71 diesel engine and included a 4 speed transmission with the shifter on the column. It did not come with power steering. It was updated in 1951 with a retooling of the rear section of the bus.

Although these replicas are actually classified as toys many collectors cherish them for their true to life attention to detail and the superior workmanship truly makes them suitable as collectibles by serious memorabilia collectors. You don't have to be a collector, however, to appreciate the beauty of this piece of history and many who lived through that era get much joy from the memories that they inspire.


 The size of this replica also makes it equally perfect for inclusion in a HO rail road display as well as in a prominent place on a book shelf,mantel or any other display area. In 1913 by a young man by the name of Carl Erick Wickman, a miner who didn't care for his job, opened up a Hupmobile dealership. He couldn't sell the things so he started driving workers to the mines in them for 15 cents apiece.


Having been a small boy myself during that time period I personally recall seeing many of these buses and eventually getting my first ride on one. So I find these items dear to my own heart and have several in my own collection. I just wish I knew what happened to my Lionel train set which I received one Christmas in the late 1940's. I can still remember the touch of the smooth cool metal, and smell the oil that lubricated the moving parts of that train. The head lite lit up, the horn blew,


it even had smoke coming out of the stack. I hope that I didn't swap it for a bag of snake eye marbles or a wooden rifle that shot rubber bands which we made from inner tubes, both of these were really in great demand around our neighborhood in the early fifties.