Who wants to buy a house-bus in Pittsburgh?
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One can’t help but notice this house rolling down the road that’s for sale.
Pennsylvania native Andrew Weidman, 27, is visiting Pittsburgh for the winter, hoping to sell “Lucy Half-Bus.” It’s a 2003 Ford E350 converted former school bus, powered by Ford’s legendary 7.3 diesel, with 137,000 miles on the odometer.
He listed the vehicle on Craiglist four months ago with an asking price of $20,000, or best offer.
“We put a lot of love into turning her into a home,” Weidman said of the 20.5 foot half-bus. “She runs perfectly.”
A carpenter by trade, Weidman said he and his former partner had a desire to travel and a short bus was the perfect compromise between living space and maneuverability.
They purchased Lucy at an auction in Butler County in 2017 and spent about a year customizing the interior and exterior.
“I’m really happy how it turned out. We had a lot of fun planning the layout and features so it would feel livable full-time,” Weidman said.
Weidman’s former partner handled the painting and fabrics. Weidman said modifying the front door turned out to entail more work than he expected.
“It used to be a regular bifold school bus door and I used steel plates to turn it into a single front door with a standard door knob and lock,” he said.
Long-term Lucy road trips have included camping in Mexico, New Mexico, Utah, Louisiana, Texas, South Carolina, Virginia and Minnesota.
“Living in the bus was actually an upgrade of sorts for me,” Weidman said. “I’ve spend several years living out of a sleeping bag. It’s been really cool to be able to have everything I need without visiting a grocery store for a month if I choose.”
Lucy is registered as a van, gets about 11-13 mpg and includes myriad customized features that include: a refrigerator, magnetic curtains, sink, LED lights, a rooftop deck and rear ladder, a captain’s chair, a queen-sized 35-gallon freshwater tank, power strips, a cloth awning, seatbelts, bookshelves, a backup dash camera, curtains and a 50-watt lighting system. There’s also a queen spring mattress that folds up into a couch.
Weidman said his favorite feature is the roof deck.
“It’s structurally sound and we’ve had some good times hanging out up there with friends or just playing music,” Weidman said. “There’s also plenty of room up there for a substantial solar system if desired.”
Weidman can provide complete and detailed service records for the bus and said his ex is available to make a hand-loomed custom tapestry (the one currently in the bus isn’t included in the sale) for $400.
Weidman says the decision to sell is due to his new interests.
“I’m into rock climbing and general exploration now and I’d like something that can take me on four-wheel drive tracks,” he said.
Weidman is living with his brother in Garfield for a few months and hopes to sell Lucy soon.
“I’ve had lots of interest but no offers yet,” Weidman said.
To schedule a showing, call 540-209-2316.