We nearly deleted the press release from RM’s Auction America about a Futurliner at the May 12-15 Auburn auction, thinking it was a display. But not only is it actually going to cross the block at the auction, we didn’t even recognize it as one of the nine known GM Parade of Progress show vehicles.
So after consulting with the auction house, we turned to the guy who knows more about GM concept vehicles than any other, Joe Bortz, who filled us in on this particular Futurliner.
It turns out it’s actually one of five Futurliners once owned by Joe, who famously saved them from being chopped up into diners. He sold this and another to a California collector in the mid-Eighties, and it’s been essentially unseen ever since.
It is a “known” Futurliner, although Joe says he was never able to establish a number for it, and we didn’t recognize it because it’s been spiffed up a little for the auction with new tires, windshield and siding. It’s not running but should contain a near-complete restorable original drivetrain. Additionally, Joe says it’s the most complete of all the Futurliners, with original features that no others had, and when restored could be the most authentic.
For comparison, National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States (NATMUS) will be bringing their restored (ex-Bortz) Futurliner for display, and Joe thinks it will be the first time in about 50 years that two have been seen together publicly.
Auctions America estimates $450,000 to $600,000 for the bus; we’ll be watching closely to see where it ends up.
UPDATE: This appears to be the same Futurliner advertised on Hemmings for $450,000 by Brad Boyajain. I think that makes it this one, and there are more pictures from Boyajian’s American Movie Trucks site:
