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Re-titled as a 2009. I would take a WAG (wild a** guess) that title is probably listed as a “homemade” based

on former title listed as salvage.

At some point in a rebuild Wisc. motor vehicles must allow this type of title year change. The bus has changed so much that it

may not be a true represented original 2009 product but applied for title in the year 2009. This has all been done to

increase bus value , maybe.

There was a older bus listed as a Liberty a year ago. Some one on PC made the comment that the displayed bus

had attached a Liberty logo to the bus and in fact not a Liberty product.

Inspecting a bus is very important prior to purchase ….also just as important inspecting the title. Members who

are thinking of buying any bus should ask to see the title before spending big bucks. What type of title do you

have, clean title (prefered) or salvage, flood, repo, repairable. Is the year being advertised actually with-in

standard practice one year converter build. Is there a lien holder ?

On both Prevosts I’ve owned I have requested a photo copy of the actual title as part of pre-purchase inspection. Thus …..no surprises.

[Jerry]

The “2009” was not “rebuilt” to the degree the description suggests. The interior is clearly nowhere near the standard set by any of the converters or those on our site that do interior work such as Jeff or Tradewinds. Neither would do work to that low level of quality.

What really got my attention was the statements about modifications to the size of brake chambers and relocation and addition of “custom air bags”.

Prevost coaches are not only well designed, but because they are commercial vehicles they have to be certified to rigid standards. I cannot think of any reason why anyone would feel compelled to redesign perhaps the two most important systems. There is no mention of how many miles the seated donor coach had prior to being converted. I would want to see photos of the coach prior to and during reconstruction. The new front cap to me is a clue someone spent some serious money and that makes me wonder why. And finally, that non-Prevost slide scares the hell out of me.

[Dick]

I cannot in any size, shape or form probably even come close to the man hours total rebuilding of this bus.

As the ad states it lives in Portage, Wisc. someone had a lot of time on there hands. But a complement to the

builder and his many talents.

It’s gets very cold in Portage, Wisc. this project kept someone very busy.

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This is like a “refit” for a yacht… the only problem (like Jon says) is that it appears to be of lower quality than the original which leads me to the true confession that follows…. and the conclusion.

In 2004, I acquired a 40 foot Newell that was previously owned by Al Unser Sr. It was not in really great shape. We took it to Freightliner in Houston and had the entire exterior and interior redone. We used professional interior decorators and their very high quality materials and designs (some of which came out of Prevosts). The outside body had 100 places repaired and over 115 rivets replaced. We put new everything including windshields, windshield wiper motors, exterior electric mirrors, lights, air conditioners (3) , new complete front and rear furnaces, ice box, huge exterior T V flat screen, new Michelin tires, brakes, batteries, shocks, rebuild of the Detroit Diesel 8V 92 and a refreshing of the transmission (all engine/tranny work done by Stewart and Stevenson) ….Freightliner of Houston is recognized as having one of the finest body shop / paint facilities in the United States and they repainted the coach in a completely dehumidified stall back to the original Unser paint job…3 colors with two complete coats and two coats of clear using the Enron 5000 paint… the job took five months with one to three persons wortking on it everyday… it never left the stall… and the ultimate rebuild was a number I wish to forget…

IT WAS FANTASTIC… BUT I couldn’t get any one interested in it when we went to sell it…. it was still an ’87 coach to the buyer… no financing, etc….and all of excuses that are natural to the circumstance…

That’s my story … I do, however, think it is amazing that we look at Sportfishing Yachts or other rebuilds of any yacht type and they are listed as (for example) 2004 / 2014 obviously meaning a 2004 year of build but a rebuild/refit in 2014. On such occassions, for some reason, significant credit is given to the refits in boats but not in coaches… A lot has to do with the original quality with which the “refitter” is working.

With this being true and consideriing Prevost quality, a professional refit should be a natural value added attribute above other manufacturers. I pesonally believe that Prevost converters should make every effort to educate the lending community on the quality and credibility of the refitted coaches certainly beyond the ten year loan limit I believe thay have at this time…. A strong, well based used market helps all prices…

We ought to work on that ! Any thoughts?

Pres

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I don’t think the price is unfair considering what has been done. I just believe what was done could have been better and despite the claims the thing was taken down to bare bones it is still an old seated coach with who knows how many miles or its real history. Was it a salvage? Was it in an serious accidents? Does it still have the 20 plus year old wiring? And just how well done were the systems relating to the conversion? Three roof AC units is really on the low side when you consider the size of the coach with a slide plus it has a dark finish that is going to absorb heat.

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I’m no way an expert, but knowing the little that I know I would be much more interested in the former Al Unser, Sr. Newell which was built as a motorhome vs what appears to be a back yard conversion of a seated coach. The original Newell conversion should have the infrastructure to support the redo.

I was really surprised at the type and apparent quality of finishes. I drive through Portage from time to time. While neither Menards or Home Depot have a store right in Portage, both offer stores within 20 or 25 miles. There should be a number of good cabinet makers in the Portgage area who could have done a really great job on the finishes..

The very first Prevost we looked at was in 2011 (parked along I-94 near Racine, WI). It was a 1981 Marathon that (alledgedly) had a full Marathon redo on the inside and a new engine/trans in 1996. The seller wanted $75,000 as I recall. The interior and the exterior looked really, really nice. The seller talked about how great it was. Being the first Prevost we’d looked at, we didn’t know what to ask. I thought it might have been a decent deal. The seller said he bought it after winning big at the blackjack table in Las Vegas. A guy at the table had it for sale and that is how he ended up with it. (I’m not making this up.)

If a member of the PC is interested in the Portage Prevost, reach out to me. I can drive over and look at it. Its only about an hour away.

[Larry]

That is a very nice offer Dick to go look at it for somebody!!!!!

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A big concern for me would be that its an H3-45 with 2 slides and 3 rooftop airs… Here in the south you would die from the heat in that bus.. no bus air either?

Just my 2 cents worth !!

Diane

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Ditto on Diane’s statement. In Texas you would have some hot trips.

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As one I have no dillusions to value. I started with a Entertainer with 400,000 miles on it. Built my own slides. I have about 35 grand in it. Even though I rebuilt complete suspension etc. I would feel lucky to get cost out of it when that time comes. That said: It will probably stay in family for whom ever wants it. By the pictures his work is better than mine.! no doubt! It is a hobby with me. Still a old coach as is mine. I can respect the amount of work. Do wish him/them luck. Just my 25cents worth. 2 cents was in 1964. I dream of a factory coach but at last reality sits in. I have not lost money on any of the 4 I have done. But add labor I’m really in the hole. Enjoy the ride!! Bob