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One of our favorite “catch phrases” is, “no job is too big or too small”.  We do routine truck/motor home repair and truck/motor home body repair jobs on a daily basis.  We have also done so many unique projects of all sizes over the years.  Our unique jobs range from small (painting a bicycle for a customer’s grandchild or welding a piece back onto a dialysis center’s chair) to VERY large. 

That brings us to the largest project ever completed at Stephenson Truck Repair, Inc.  The BIG RED BUS was a major project that we completed 21 years ago.  A group of investors hired us to put this project together for them.  They envisioned a double decker Husker party bus that could be rented for special occasions as well as football Saturdays.  This bus was completed in the era of domination for Nebraska Cornhusker Football.  The year was 1996.  Nebraska Football was on top.  They were National Champions in 1994 and 1995.  They again were crowned Champions in 1997.

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At the time there was an antique double decker bus that had been mounted on poles and was being used as an advertising space.  The antique bus was located at the “Bennet Corner” near Lincoln.  The Bennet Corner is the intersection of NE Highway 2 and NE Highway 43, near Bennet, NE.  Two cranes were used to remove the double decker bus from the poles.

Originally the investors wanted to use the skeleton of the double decker bus that was mounted on the poles as the actual vehicle.  It was, however, determined that using the bottom of the bus would be too costly to completely rehab it mechanically.  Instead, a late 70’s or early 80’s Bluebird school bus was purchased from the Waverly, NE School District.  That bus would become the foundational bottom of the double decker bus.

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Antique Bus being removed from poles

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Similar Bluebird bus

Now that we had the basic pieces, construction was set to begin.  The top level of the double decker bus was cut off so we could attach it to the school bus.  After that was done extensive designing was done to equip the vehicle with the latest and greatest facilities.  The bus had two restrooms; one for “Huskers” and one for “Huskerettes”. 

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Stephenson Truck Repair Logo on the Bus

The bus also had a heating and cooling system installed by A-1 Refrigeration.  Next came custom wood floors and a spiral staircase.  The finishing touches were the seats and booths that were installed throughout both levels.  Each custom seat had a Husker logo on it.  The upper level was outfitted with several tiny televisions.  Who wouldn’t want to ride around in the bus and watch college football on a 5” screen?!?  There was also an outdoor patio area on the top of the bus.  The radiator from the front of the double decker bus was removed and installed on the front of the school bus, to make it look more “English”.  The bus was painted red by our body technicians and Husker decals were installed ALL OVER the bus exterior.  

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    Upper level with TV Viewing                            Lower Level with Booths

There was a children’s book written that included the bus as a character.  The book, Lil’ Red and the adventures on the Big Red Bus!, was produced by Innovative Marketing, the Lincoln Journal Star and University of Nebraska Athletics.  The book’s concept was by Wayne Swanson, Illustrations by Angie Johnson, Story by Bonnie Winans, and book layout by Julie Burton.

The book chronicles the Nebraska Mascot Lil’ Red who travels with his friend “Bobby” the Big Red Bus to famous sites in Nebraska.  They reside in Lincoln, home of the 435-foot tall state capitol building.  They visit sites in Nebraska such as Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, Ashland’s Strategic Air Command Museum, Northeastern Nebraska’s Ash Fall Fossil Beds, Chimney and Courthouse Rocks, the Sandhill Crane Migration in Central Nebraska, a Nebraska farm, Nebraska City’s Arbor Lodge, the Nebraska State Fair (still in Lincoln at the time), and finally Memorial Stadium in Lincoln. 

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                                                  The Book

The bus was used for a few years in and around the Lincoln, NE area.  After the company decided to retire the bus, it was purchased by a collector and now resides somewhere North of Lincoln and is not currently for hire.   

If you are in need of any “big” or “small” unique project, please give Stephenson Truck Repair, Inc. a call at 402-466-8532.  We are also your experts for truck and motor home repair!  With separate body and mechanical repair buildings and staff, we can address any issue that you may be having!  Give us a call today!  

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