Erfurt – The American school bus owned by Stefan Wieczorek (49) measures an endless 9.50 meters – but the Ford Econoline E350 (1998 model) only becomes a real highway eye-catcher when you look inside.
Because Wieczorek converted the US children’s carriage into a chic camper, cruised through southern and northern Europe with the Donner diesel (the V8 engine swallows 20 liters per 100 kilometers) for the past seven summers.
After 50,000 kilometers it’s over now.
THE FORD MUST GO.
Long, longer, the longest: In the Ford (automatic, 90,000 miles down) the family traveled e.g. France, Italy, Denmark, Switzerland and Croatia
“The children are out of the house and I’m downsizing a bit with a heavy heart,” says the agency boss. organized the “Thuringia Grammy”. But who has room for the overlong school bus ship?
“You have to be a bit crazy to own a banger like that,” says Wieczorek regarding the motorhome, which he affectionately christened “Ivan I.” “After my then dog, the Akita Ivan.”
Double bed with TV
Bus “Ivan” almost became a dragster racing car instead of a camper wagon: “The racing driver Gerd Habermann wanted to use it to build the ‘School Jet Bus’ with an aircraft turbine. I persuaded him to buy the US bus for 10,000 euros.”
Its conversion in the Mediterranean style is still impressive today: double bed, two sofa beds, spacious bathroom, electric heating with a fireplace look, satellite system.
Kitchen with fridge and freezer
“TÜV is new, the battery, starter and a rear axle have just been renewed,” says the current owner. His personal highlight: “The lever for the folding bus door. That’s just the best thing!”
Ebay classifieds price for the 5.5-ton truck: “I put 65,000 euros in it, I would like another 29,999 euros.”
The two sofas can be converted into beds
