Legacy Classic Trucks Restores 1937 Kenworth Tour Bus
Legacy Classic Trucks has debuted a fully restored 1937 Kenworth touring bus, which once shuttled tourists to and from Mount Rainier between 1937 and 1962, the resto-mod shop announced.
The detailed restoration project saw Legacy Classic Trucks take a bright red and black 1937 Kenworth vintage bus and fully restore the vehicle engineering underneath while preserving its vintage aesthetic.
“Today, most people associate Kenworth with large format semi-trucks, but the company actually manufactured buses as part of its business back in the thirties,” comments Legacy Classic Trucks Founder Winslow Bent. “Decades have passed, but the Kenworth Mount Rainier tour buses delighted travelers for years and years. When we were presented with the rare chance to work on the bus, we knew it was just too cool to pass up. Our work at Legacy Classic Trucks is focused on giving workhorses like the Mount Rainier Tour Bus a new life, and we can’t think of a more deserving vehicle. This tour bus has brought so much happiness to the world.”
The Mount Rainier Kenworth Tour Bus was originally put into service in 1937 transporting visitors to Mount Rainier from local hotels up until 1962. Legacy Classic Trucks outfitted the limited-edition bus with a six-cylinder Hercules JXD engine mated to the vehicle’s original manual five-speed transmission, which produces up to 130 horsepower. The first three gears are all compound low gears that originally assisted in climbing and descending the steep mountain passes of Mt. Rainier. Legacy also upgraded the bus with 20×6 Budd wheels and Bias Ply Tires to retain a period correct aesthetic.
Legacy thoroughly restored the long body bus, which underwent rust-repair and re-painting in the flame red shade that became a classic hallmark of the buses. Retro-style gauges adorn all instrumentation paneling while every sconce was restored to its original look to ensure a true 1930’s era feel for all travelers. The patina’d wood flooring is also original to the vehicle. Legacy did upgrade the bench seating with leather made from 23 hides of imported Italian leather. In total, the bus can seat up to 18 people in the cabin, which features an open top canopy system that allows passengers to see everything while driving.
“Interestingly, the Mount Rainier Kenworth Bus was actually brought to us by a long-time customer who thought Legacy could have some fun with this project,” continues Bent. “Restoring a classic bus like this takes an insane amount of work. A larger format vehicle demands an exacting amount of detail, so the restoration is more extensive. However, it was one of the most rewarding processes in our company’s history, and Legacy couldn’t be happier with how everything turned out restoring this bonafide piece of automotive history.”
