The History of Flxible 24
This history is a collaboration between Don Masterson and Marc Olimpio. Don is the son of the Don Masterson who owned the bus as the owner of Bemidji Bus Lines and Grandson of the Don Masterson who started Bemidji Bus Lines. Marc was the owner of the bus and the one who, starting in 1992, restored the magnificent vehicle as it exists today. Don’s contribution includes the years before 1965. In that year, his Dad passed away and his Mother sold the bus line. Marc’s contribution includes the Liederbach information and all the pictures of the conversion, much of the narrative and what the bus looks like today.
This is the first picture we have of what would become “24”. The new 1947 Flxible serial #8324 was sold to the Liederbach Bus Company in Minneapolis. This picture is from the Minnesota Historical Society. Looking forward, in the 1950s the Zephyr Bus Line purchased the Liederbach Line. Then in 1979 the Jefferson Line (Which is still an active bus line, and who’s President was recently appointed the Minnesota Transportation Commissioner by Governor Dayton) bought out the Zephyr Line. Note the front bumper. Marc had an interesting conversation with Dr. Aulick about the odd front bumper on #24. As you can see, the original 1947 bumper was more like passenger car bumpers and not very stout. While in service with Leiderbach the bus hit a horse drawn trolley. There was considerable damage to the front and the bus was not drivable. It was flat-bedded back to the Loudonville Ohio factory. The collision damage was repaired and the bumpers were upgraded to the newer 1950's Flxible look which you will see on the following pictures.
In the early 1950s the bus was purchased by Bemidji Bus Lines. It became Bus #24 in the Bemidji fleet (Not from the serial number but the 24th bus of the fleet). The white and light grey livery remained for several years.
In the Bemidji fleet, it was a charter bus. It was the second Flxible of the fleet but to the best of our knowledge there are no pictures of the first Flxible in the fleet which was an earlier “Clipper” with the flat windshields and the three front “bumpers”.
This is Don Masterson, the owner of Bemidji Bus Lines in the driver seat of the Flxible.
In 1956 the livery was changed to light grey and blue with a maroon stripe separating the colors. This is a picture of one of the “pro-bono” trips that was provided by Bemidji Bus Lines. It was a field trip to Itasca State Park for the Cub Scout Pack from Bemidji. Don the son is the Boy Scout second from the left and Don the owner is in the hat by the door.
This is the “final” livery of “24” as a commercial bus. In 1966 or 1967 the bus was purchased by Dr. Earnest Aulick. He rigged up a lift system with winches, come-alongs and ropes to lift the whole roof in one section, raising it twelve inches. The raised roof required modifying and raising the familiar rear air scoop since the new higher roof interfered with the airflow to the radiator.
This is Dr. Aulick’s wife early in rebuilding process. You can still see the number 24 as the bus was getting readied for paint. He then filled in the upright steel support posts that had been cut adding 12” to the interior. He then re-skinned the outside and added the end caps using metal straps to get the right contour. The straps were covered with chicken wire and fiberglass. All of these changes were hand crafted as you could not just go out and buy anything like what he wanted to accomplish. From all the documentation and notes that were passed along with the bus, Dr. Aulick had done a lot of homework. He was one of the earliest individuals to attempt such a monumental task. He could not go down to the local RV dealer for ideas as there were none! He did all of this while he was a still working as a doctor. The windows were changed from the familiar “slanted style” of the passenger coaches to jalousie type windows that were used in travel trailers and mobile homes in that era. He hired carpenters, plumbers and electricians for $2.50 an hour average. All in all in 1967 he spent about $30,000. Easily as much as many people then would have spent on a house.
The gold colored panels are panels that had to be replaced and they are covered in zinc chromate primer. The bus was only 20 years old at the time in 1967 and any parts that were needed could still be ordered directly from Flxible. Dr. Aulick cut all the new panels from flat sheet metal stock, then drilled and hand bucked all the new rivets in place just like the original bus was constructed. During that time he had it repowered with a 478 GMC magnum V-6 with an Allison six speed transmission. He also added a bigger air system and spring emergency brakes at a total cost of $9733. Keep in mind that in 67 you could have bought a new GMC pickup for base price of $2100. It has the same drive line in it today. He also upgraded the steering wheel to a “Ross” wheel from the Flxible Company.
Dr. Aulick and his wife in front of the finished product in 1967
As you can see in this picture of him, he was a very early member of FMCA (#512). The interior was all finished in walnut. The bus is totally self-contained and has a 6.5 KW Kohler power plant. It sleeps 6, and even has a gold plated lavatory sink faucet. In 67 the word RV as we know it today had not even been invented. Everything inside and outside was an original design by Aulick.
This pictures shows “24” as Marc purchased it in 92. He first saw it for sale that fall at the Hershey antique auto show. The bus then went back to Winnipeg Manitoba. Marc purchased the bus from Mr. Rostecki who was the owner that had purchased it from Dr. Aulick. Mr.Rostecki had owned it for about 5 years and it was showing its age as nothing had been done to the bus since 1967.
Marc flew out to Winnipeg and drove it back (2000 miles) to New Hampshire.
The “24” in the paint shop getting its current paint scheme in 1992.
Marc started the restoration by contracting with a commercial shop to do the repaint. The body was in very good shape but needed a little attention. He had it painted two tone red and a pink metallic (Ford Taurus) color. The whole coach was top coated with a DuPont Imron clear coat before it came out of the paint shop.
The bus as it looks today residing in Maine. It was used throughout the summer months traveling to auto and truck shows, camping, and concert events.
The rear “U” shaped couch/lounge was upholstered in red button tucked crushed velvet in 1967 and is still all original. There is a cushioned panel that fits in the “U” and makes it into a double bed. Marc had the other interior cushions reupholstered, added new carpets and generally freshened up the interior. The inside is all finished in walnut and now, after 46 years, has a nice mellow tone.
Looking rearward there are “L” shaped couches on either side that cleverly fold into two double beds. There is a refrigerator and stove/oven. In the dinette the upright cushions flip back and forth (Pullman style) to either make the back of the couch on the left and a front facing passenger seat or into two facing seats at the dinette. There are also twin roof air conditioners from 1967 that will cool it down like a meat locker inside in about an hour on an 80 degree day. The two units have never been serviced since 1967.
As you can imagine, “24” is always a big hit at shows. It was on the speed channel, Jay Leno’s garage web site, and AACA shows in Stowe Vermont. It was also featured a couple of years ago in a segment that they do on special vehicles at the AACA show. It has earned awards at the NSRA show in Burlington VT, and best of show at numerous other shows. It is an attention getter!! You can park it next to a $?000000 Prevost - guess which one gets the attention!
In 2014 Marc decided to sell the Flx and buy a classic 1976 GMC motor home. The Verb Hotel in Boston bought the bus and it is parked in front of the hotel, presumably to draw attention as it has done for years. This may be “its’ final resting place”, but one never knows. Not a bad resting place for a 67 year old bus!
Don Masterson Marc Olimpio
763 784 0596 207 206 4543
don@dmasterson.com getoldtoys@myfairpoint.net