1960 GMC PD-4104
VIN: PD4104-4505
Austin, Texas

Detroit Diesel V8 871, 2-stroke, 318 HP, 8 cylinder.
Allison V730 automatic 3-speed transmission (from a 1992 Flxible city bus).

$13,000 OBO. For sale by owner, currently insured, with a clean Texas “Motorhome” title.

Contact Brian at [email protected]

This description, plus the converter walkaround video and an extensive photo and video archive, is available here:
1960 PD-4104 photo and video archive

This mighty cruiser performs the five critical mechanical “S” elements well: starts, shifts, speeds, steers, and stops.

Engine speeds

MPH at RPM (see the photos and the 0 to 70 mph uphill video):

• 48 mph at 1250 rpm
• 55 at 1425
• 60 at 1600
• 70 at 1800
• 75 at 1950

History

Western Greyhound fleet #7527 was one of 75 coaches ordered for the New Mexico, Arizona, and Nevada runs, according to the Ohio Museum of Transportation final vehicle record (my thanks to Jon Usle).

My father bought this bus in 1978 and converted it to a private coach in 1985 in San Angelo, Texas. The original 671 Detroit engine and four-speed Spicer manual transmission were replaced in 1993.

In March 2001, at 270,000 converted miles, I filmed his detailed walkaround explaining the operation and modifications. He made a few changes afterward. A detailed timeline of that video is at the bottom of the archive page, and in the comments on the video.

Sharp eyes will notice the Trailways Silver Eagle emblem. He was not a purist. I think he liked the visual incongruity, like putting a Pepsi cap on a bottle of Coca-Cola. It will be removed prior to sale.

He used the coach regularly for gospel music ministry throughout Florida and the South until 2006. Health issues ended his travels. It was started occasionally, but rarely left the pad.

I inherited the coach in 2014 and had it driven to Austin. Diesel Tech did significant repair and servicing from 2015 through 2020. It moved to nearby open-air covered storage in 2020. I have started it every few months since, but I have only driven it around the storage yard. It is not musty, because it is aired out regularly and DampRid is used.

My father documented maintenance, repairs, upgrades, and modifications, with schematics, manuals, and receipts. That includes detailed logs of every outing and stop. If you have been curious about the price of 40-weight oil and the quality of Pensacola’s chicken fried steak in March 1997, you are in luck. These documents are organized into categories for easier reference.

Repairs and service since 2015

About 80 miles driven since this work:

• Engine tune-up and oil change
• Transmission service, fluid and filter change
• Air filter cleaned
• Air regulator replaced
• Compressor replaced
• Fuel pump, line, and filter replaced
• Water pump replaced
• Radiator, coolant line, filter, hoses, and clamps replaced
• Power steering fluid filter replaced
• Turn signal switch replaced
• Electrical box rewired
• Rear brake lines replaced
• Front air brake hoses replaced
• All air pads replaced
• Fuel bay door hinge replaced
• New engine bay struts
• New windshield wiper blades

Modifications and upgrades

• Automatic transmission
• Sheppard power steering
• King cruise control
• Spring brake (rear)
• Air throttle
• Rapid-priming electric fuel pump
• Engine block heater power cord
• Front peninsula windows
• Generator exhaust pipe to the roof
• Alcoa aluminum rims
• Extensive new wiring
• 12-volt interior
• Axle lubrication system
• Engine bay external compressor hookup port
• Toad hitch
• Master shore power switch
• CB radio
• Audio system in front and back
• Air-supported captain’s seat
• Upgraded battery cables

Additional parts included

• Original steering wheel
• Starter
• Two aluminum panels (66 inches)
• Aluminum bay door panel (36 inches)
• Ten-ton bottle jack
• Seven new fuel filters
• Unused wheel hub and lug covers
• Pneumatic hoses and power cables
• Original taillight fenders
• A large assortment of electronic, plumbing, audiovisual, and mechanical parts
• Four wheel covers
• Two airbag leveling valves
• Unused rear inner axle seal
• Unused pinion seal
• Wheel tools

Pros

• Clean title
• Extensive, organized vehicle history, documentation, and service records
• Queen bed
• Jake brake
• Interior in fairly good condition
• All tires intact, with about 80 percent tread
• Very smooth ride and braking
• 60 or more recent gallons of fuel, with Diesel Kleen cetane boost and Clear Diesel cleaner added (see the fuel tank photos)
• Non-smoking coach
• Tight steering, no slack in the wheel
• Zero fluid leaks
• Driver runaway shutoff
• Dual roof air horns
• Original horn
• Bedroom emergency exit
• Captain’s seat adjustable fan
• Wipers, defrost, and heater fans work
• Batteries hold a 12.6-volt or higher charge on a constant trickle charger
• Structurally sound, except the rear cap and fuel bay panel
• Never parked on grass
• Minimal rust (see below)
• Fiberglass holding tanks: 88 gallons fresh, 98 gallons gray
• Inspection exempt in Texas because of the diesel engine and age
• Primary stereo and speakers work
• Audio and video cable and wiring, with a cockpit cassette deck
• New engine bay struts
• Bay doors open and close
• Bay struts work
• Many backup parts and spare gear

Cons

• Interior electrical needs work. Power only reaches the cockpit and the floor lights.
• Brake and reverse lights are not operating correctly
• Plumbing has not been tested, because there is no power to the pumps. No other known issues.
• Bathroom sink and toilet only (see the potential expansion video)
• 6 kW generator cranks but does not start
• Air conditioning is not working. The cause is unknown.
• Rear window and rear cap need replacement
• Backup camera is not working
• No captain’s chair seat belt
• Cabin door functions and locks, but not with the interior panel attached
• Non-original door handle
• Small cracks in some peninsula windows
• Tires are old (MC4F PXBW 2302)
• Batteries installed in 2022
• Bay door locks need replacement
• Fiberglass water tanks are circa 1982
• No microwave in the compartment
• Chip in the passenger-side front window
• Rust under the left front bay door and the fuel bay door (see photos)
• Multiple exterior bulbs need replacement

Photos

The photo albums are in the Google document linked above: exterior, cockpit, roof, engine, mph and rpm dash, interior, bathroom and a possible bathroom expansion, bedroom, wiring and batteries, door, fuel tank, front left compressor bay, radiator and cooling, undercarriage, rust, and the document files.

Interior note: the discoloration is on the plastic runners, not on the carpet underneath.

Videos

These are in the same archive:

• 1960 GMC PD-4104 walkaround with the converting owner, March 2001. Walkaround timeline
• Cockpit start and drive, June 2026
• Exterior, June 2026
• Remote start and run, July 2026
• Lot acceleration from the cockpit, July 2026
• Shifting, exterior and cockpit, July 2026
• Suspension and stopping, July 2026
• Traffic and highway acceleration to 70 mph, July 2026
• Roof view, July 2026
• Driver-side bays and passenger-side bays, July 2026

March 2001 walkaround timeline

• 0:05 Intro
• 0:23 History of the coach
• 1:10 Entry
• 1:28 Power, ignition, and emergency cutoff
• 2:00 Console and light controls (since modified)
• 2:35 Transmission switches (since modified)
• 2:50 Jake brake
• 3:39 Camera, backup light, floor lamps, driver fan, and heater switches (since modified)
• 4:40 CB radio
• 5:20 Spring brake and air pad control
• 6:56 Compressor and battery charger switches (not connected)
• 7:52 Ceiling light switch
• 8:03 Captain’s chair (since replaced)
• 8:40 Cigarette lighter and power port
• 9:02 Engine hour meter. It displays 441 in the video and is currently at 4513. It counts time with the start switch on, not only when the engine is running, so the reading is higher than actual run time.
• 9:15 Generator, power level, voltage meter, and battery level (since modified)
• 10:19 Map lights
• 10:22 Thermometer (since removed) and driver’s fan
• 10:58 Cruise control
• 11:28 Air horn and steering wheel horn
• 12:01 Air conditioning control, audio, and speakers
• 12:45 Interior (no audio)
• 13:03 Bedroom, audio console, and TV
• 13:59 Interior (no audio)
• 15:05 Wheels and axle lubrication system
• 15:43 Front peninsula glass
• 15:50 Operator door handle (removed)
• 16:02 Headlights, spare tire, and mileage stated at 270,000
• 16:32 Left front lower bay and air tank (compressor removed)
• 16:56 Air pad switch relays
• 17:25 Left forward bay, air conditioning compartment, and generator exhaust diversion pipe
• 18:15 Storage bays
• 18:40 Generator
• 19:11 Electrical control box (since removed) and shore power box
• 19:58 Batteries and cell water-level probe (since removed)
• 20:55 Rear emergency door and rear peninsula window
• 21:35 Radiator panel
• 21:45 Engine and conversion details
• 22:30 Fuel filters and air compressor
• 22:44 Rear tailgate extension for the Jake brake and valve cover
• 23:15 Air filter change indicator
• 23:30 Air intake runaway cutoff
• 23:58 External air compressor hookup port
• 24:17 Cruise control
• 24:30 Electronic fuel pump
• 25:12 Fuel pump switch location
• 25:30 1992 Flxible Allison transmission
• 26:30 Engine block heater
• 26:59 Water tank and plumbing bay
• 29:28 Right center storage bay
• 29:48 Diesel fuel tank panel
• 30:05 Right front storage bay
• 30:28 Gas fuel tank for the generator
• 30:58 Roof air horn
• 31:12 Captain’s plaque
• 31:25 Log books, with 1978 and 1988 entries
• 34:12 Rear view of the coach (rear tire flap since removed)
• 34:43 Open engine bay and startup