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The bus is a 1955 VL-100, delivered on December 6th 1955 to ContinentalWestern Trailways in Dallas Texas. The Coach was sold to StraubLinesin Idaho Springs, Idaho as a tour bus in 1967. The coach was thenpurchased by Carver Coach in Oregon City Oregon, by Jim Hartman,who engineered the professional frame up rebuilding and conversion(a quality job, since what you see is the evidence of that conversion-it has held up very well, and looks as if it is a new conversion).

I found the coach in Oregon City, advertisedon the web. It was owned by Mike Galvin, who is a retired FireChief for Oregon City. Mike purchased the coach from Jim Hartman.Mike and his family had meticulously maintained the coach, andkept it garaged in an air-conditioned, humidity controlled shopwhen not on vacation with it.
My wife and I paid a nice sum for such an old coach, but becauseof its condition and the quality of the conversion, we felt thatthe price was worth it, when compared to everything else we foundon the market at the time. Those who have seen the coach, seemto feel that we paid a fair price for it.

The coach has 64,000 miles on it sincethe conversion. The drive train is an 8v-71 Turbo with a 10 speedRoad Ranger transmission. It does still have the air steering,which we are planning on converting soon. The coach has two fueltanks, holding a total of 250 gallons of diesel, 200 gallons offresh water with an equal amount of black / gray holding capacity.The coach also has a 55 gallon propane fuel tank, located betweenthe engine and the bulkhead, mounted transversely. We have anOnan 6.5K Generator, which runs on propane. In addition, all ofthe appliances (3 way Refer, Convection Micro,
Trash compactor, Ice maker, and T.V. DVD) are new in 2001. All6 tires were new in 2000, and have about 6,000 miles on them.The coach has 50a 220v service, with 30 amp adapters. Finally,the coach has dual a/c's mounted on
the lower roof, which are ducted throughout the coach. We areobviously very pleased.

The coach drove beautifully from PortlandOregon, down the California 101 Hwy, across the Southern CaliforniaMountains, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and all the way home toFlorida. In fact, we took the LONG way home when we
got to Florida. All the way down to the tip on the western side,and then across Miami and back up the eastern coast to Titusville.It was that enjoyable to drive.

Finally, Joyce and I and our childrenwere able to attend the Gettysburg Rally (2001). We met many wonderfulpeople, such as Dave Glass, and many, many others. They are trulya wonderful bunch of people, and my wife and I look forward tohaving the opportunity to meet many more at some of the otherrallies, if the Lord allows. Thank you all on behalf of my wifeand I and
our children for welcoming us into the Flx family.

By the way, we have a pad for at leasttwo buses, and sewer and electrical hook ups. We could handleperhaps 2 more coaches in "boon dock" mode across thestreet from our home in a shaded lot. We would love to welcomeany and all who would come our way. The Lord has blessed us withthe Gift of Hospitality, and we would love to bless you all.

Jeff and Joyce Chamberlain (FOI 467)
Pastors
ChristAid International

jeff@christaid.org

Titusville, Florida
(321) 3833168 (Home)
(321) 403-4072 (Cell)
(321) 264-8850