Futurliner News
GM Futurliner Restoration Project
National Automotive and Truck Museum of the United States
ISSUE #7 -- JANUARY 2001

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This is the 7th newsletter to keep our supporters, volunteer workers and other interested people informed on the status of the restoration project. This is an all-volunteer effort with one goal - restore one of the twelve 1952 GM Futurliners to an original and functional condition. The vehicle is owned by the National Automotive and Truck Museum of the US (NATMUS) in Auburn Indiana and is being rebuilt under the direction of Don Mayton in Zeeland, Michigan.

Don M. Mayton, Project Director
4521 Majestic Vue, Zeeland, MI 49464
616 875-3058

Dean G. Tryon, Newsletter Editor
2516 Laurelford Ln., Wake Forest, NC 27587
919 562-4660

What’s
Happening!
  • The hardy group continues to work through the winter months and braved 15" of snow, blizzard conditions and freezing temperature to get to the regular Tuesday work session on 12/12. As Don wrote, "those volunteers that could dig out made it - they’re either nuts, crazy or just like the challenge to drive through this stuff – go figure". (Or maybe it is Carols hot lunches every Tuesday that is the attraction – Dean)
  • Del Carpenter and Wayne Jackson have rebuilt the complete front axle assembly with Weller Truck overhauling the components. The springs have been rebuilt by State Spring Service as noted below.
  • The roof redesign by GM is done. We should be receiving the drawings shortly.
  • The lower left cargo door frames have been rebuilt by Jerry Sigler. The front left access door has been painted by Wally Snow in its final coat of "Target Red". Next comes the addition of the trim pieces.
  • Montana Paint through a local distributor (Wyrick) continues to donate paint products as needed. In fact, the first parts are being painted the correct "Target Red" color supplied by Wyrick. This is a very significant commitment from them for the project and is much appreciated.
  • Weller Truck is again helping us locate a source to repair the brake air compressor and the power steering piston assembly. They also rebuilt the power steering slave cylinder for us.
  • The two rear access doors as well as the front door are also under restoration and require significant reconstruction.
  • The cab body has been the focus of replacement of all body structural metal. Approximately 30% has been replaced and through the winter, we will be working on the balance.
  • Connie DeJong has done extensive welding in the cab area and Bud Dinger has been doing most of the fabrication work. Jim Baker continues to fabricate body structure braces for the rear of the Futurliner.
  • Sparta Steel has been supplying metal that we cannot bend through our contact and volunteer worker Ed DeVries. His son Ryan DeVries has also been making some of the special tools for us.
  • Bill Bicknell is well along on the engine restoration at his place in Ohio. It should be ready to set up on the test stand and fire it up in the Jan/Feb timeframe. Progress so far includes:
    • 2 NOS shortblocks have been received with sets of new piston rings and gaskets
    • Our original engine is apparently a 1955 or 56 model based on the casting numbers and has very few miles on it.
    • The engine is partially disassembled and various parts cleaned. The cylinder head has been machined with exhaust valve inserts installed. All valves and intake seats have been reused (except 1 intake which was open for 40 years) since no measurable wear was found.
    • A standard transmission flywheel has been obtained for test stand use. The automatic transmission flywheel will be installed after the engine is done and tested.
Web Site
  • Jim Crame has added a "Scrapbook" section to the web site (address is above) with much of the material supplied by Vic Garske and Tom Van Voorhis. This 35 page section, like most all of them, has many links to specific photos (over 46), letters, press info and other information of interest.
  • The web site now has over 125 web pages and over 400 photos. Thanks to Jim, all the Paraders and others that have provided this material. We will have the most comprehensive collection on the Futurliners, Streamliners and the Parade of Progress. Be sure to hit them all.
  • Don received a note from Cathy Grubman of the American Bus Association commenting on the "best web sites I’ve ever had the pleasure of surfing. SO complete and fun to read – truly a great job". She is preparing an article for the magazine that will be in their Feb or March issue.
Other
Volunteers
  • Mike Ball has volunteered to lead the effort to organize catalog all the material collected so far. This is no small task but a much needed activity to preserve all the information being received.
  • Dave Mikol purchased a 1936 Parade of Progress postcard on eBay and donated it to our archive files.
  • Rick Sheehan who owns State Spring Service in Grand Rapids has completely restored the front spring assemblies for the front axle including bushings, pins, shackles and thru-bolts.
Project
Needs
  • As we look ahead to the time when the restored Futurliner is again on the road, we would like to obtain some of the memorabilia that would show a little about the Parade of Progress. Some of these things are connected to the Paraders. It would be nice to have:
  • Uniforms – Work and Lecture
  • Traveling trunk that the Paraders used.
  • Just as Don made this plea in a November e-mail, Parader Raffee Johns stopped (by as reported below in the "Paraders" section) to solve the problem.
  • The oil filter housing apparently is a standard military version that we need to locate.
  • The work group needs a small, narrow (2’ wide x 4’ high) scaffold to better work on the body and a commercial type floor mounted buffer.
  • Photos of the Futurliner used by Square D Corp for hauling equipment for a race car team.
Paraders
  • Raffee Johns and his wife Esther visited the project site on 11/14 from Middleburg Heights, Ohio. They brought photos, newspaper articles, one of his lectures and other documentation. He was hired as a trainee in 1954 and the first job he was given was to take a stick with a nail in it to go pickup the paper on site. As all the Paraders did, they were very versatile. Raffee still has memorized his speech that he gave inside the Aer-O-Dome tent.
  • Raffee also brought with him his parade of Progress uniforms. The work uniform consisted of green slacks, a tan shirt and a green jacket. The lecture uniform consisted of a gray business jacket, dark blue slacks, white shirt and dark blue and tie. All had "GM" and "Parade of Progress" embroidered on them. Don has borrowed them and hopes to have them reproduced for the future display. Thanks to Raffee and Esther!
  • Harry Hardenbrook wrote and sent old info and pictures for the archive. He writes" I was happy to hear that the info and pix were to a great extent new. Anything I can do to make that great crew you have continue to enjoy the fine job they are doing and add to the background and history of the show and Futurliners I will do. There are a lot of anecdotes and stories that I can recall that I hope to pass on later."
Hershey
Report
Don attended the big annual old car swap meet in Hershey PA this year along with others in the work group. Some of the key "finds" include:
  • Wayne Jackson located and obtained the 4 running lights that were the basis for modification for the Futurliner. GM used 1940 Chevy truck front fender lights, cut them shorter with other slight modifications. Thanks to Wayne’s sharp eyes for spotting these lights and to recognize how they were modified for the Futurliners. Now al we need is to find the proper glass lens.
  • Del Carpenter and Ed DeVries set up a box at their swap met spots and "sold" Futurliner pins for donations to the project. It brought in another $70 to the cause.
  • Ryan and Linda DeVries displayed a neat Futurliner leaded glass picture that Linda made. Don bought one and she has one other for sale.
  • Don met with Tom Langdon who is very knowledgeable on the 302 cu in engines used in our vehicle. He is helping find a number of parts and gaskets we need.
Status of
Other
Futurliners
  • Peter Picknelly of Peter Pan Bus informed us that their restored Futurliner is being featured in two publications – NATIONAL BUS TRADER and BUS RIDE. This one as you recall is being used for advertising of various products.
Misc. Notes
  • With this issue, we are sending it via e-mail to over 60 of our friends who have expressed an interest in receiving the newsletter electronically. If you are getting a hard copy and prefer an electronic one, please let the editor know. These are also all on the web site if you prefer.
  • Gary Irwin of Kettering University (formerly GMI) ran an article in the Alumni News about the project last year and it has been updated in the latest issue of the "Kettering Perspective", Vol 40, #3 sent to all alumni in December.
  • The west Michigan Mustang Club held their Nov. monthly meeting in Don’s pole barn with the Futurliner. In addition to donating $100 to the project, they provided valuable information on possible sources to rebuild the steering wheel and the 220V generator. Other clubs are welcome to visit the site also.
  • The magazine "The Private Coach Enthusiast" (Vol 1, Issue 6) was just published with two excellent articles on the Futurliner and the Parade of Progress. We want to thank Karla Jensen for an excellent job with these articles and promoting our restoration project. Check out their web site also at www.PrivateCoachMagazine.com.
Financial
Status
  • Contributions continue to come in from various sources. Any donation is welcome. The Financial Donation form can be used to send financial contributions directly to NATMUS if you desire.

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