TheSamba.com :: View topic

Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:25 am

Hello
We recently bought our first split a 67 Deluxe.

I am in the process of rubbing it back down to the original sea blue, when I came across some sign writing.

On the left hand side of the bus I can make out
O RLINES
below it in smaller lettering
SA

(Cargo door RLINES)

(before cargo door, O , and lower down the door SA and another letter)

On the rear I can see
RLINES
5 9 0740

On the other side I can see
O/ RLINES

LAKE TAHOE

( O/ RLINES at top of picture)

(LAKE TAHOE in middle of picture)

I don't think there are any letters after RLINES however I think there are a few missing letters before hand.
On the rear RLINES is quite clear, unfortunately there is filler before that so the begining of the word is missing

I think it may have been a taxi or shuttle bus.
If anybody can work out the missing letters or has any other information that would be great

Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:45 am

AIRLINES perhaps?

PSA "Pacific Southwest Airlines"?

Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:49 am

My guess:

AIRLINES - probably Holiday Airlines. Tahoe had a decent airport in the 60's and 70's - it's too small for major flights now. They go through Reno or Sacramento. Holiday Airlines had electras and would fly San Francisco to Tahoe with people that wanted to go skiing without driving (it's still a tough drive in the winter months)

I bet they picked them up at the airport and took them to the lake tahoe lodges. I'll ask my folks, They lived in Tahoe in the early to mid 70's

Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:53 am

Same Font?

Holiday Airlines Electra at Lake Tahoe Airport

Quote: Holiday Airlines was formed specifically to provide passenger flights into Lake Tahoe Airport. The airline started was a local taxi operator before purchasing three Lockheed Electra turboprops to provide convenient "holiday" service into the mountain resort of Lake Tahoe. Scheduled services started in November 1968 between Lake Tahoe and San Jose, Oakland, and Hollywood-Burbank, advertising the "Fastest Fun in the West" using the Super Electra "Jets". By the early 1970s, services had expanded to include San Diego and Los Angeles services. Although Holiday Airlines was providing a unique service with minimal competition (Hughes Airwest was the major competitor in the market), the airline suffered financial difficulties and eventually filed for bankruptcy in February 1975. Parked on the ramp and loading up passengers for another flight is N971HA, a Lockheed L-188-C Electra, originally delivered to Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) in November 1959.

Thu Jun 16, 2016 10:59 am

different but similar quote from "Departed Wings"

Quote: Holiday Airlines was formed specifically to provide passenger flights into Lake Tahoe Airport. The airline started was a local taxi operator before purchasing three Lockheed Electra turboprops to provide convenient "holiday" service into the mountain resort of Lake Tahoe. Scheduled services started in November 1968 between Lake Tahoe and San Jose, Oakland, and Hollywood-Burbank, advertising the "Fastest Fun in the West" using the Super Electra "Jets". By the early 1970s, services had expanded to include San Diego and Los Angeles services. Although Holiday Airlines was providing a unique service with minimal competition (Hughes Airwest was the major competitor in the market), the airline suffered financial difficulties and eventually filed for bankruptcy in February 1975. Parked on the ramp and loading up passengers for another flight is N971HA, a Lockheed L-188-C Electra, originally delivered to Pacific Southwest Airlines (PSA) in November 1959.

Thu Jun 16, 2016 1:15 pm

Very rad stuff to find! A real airport shuttle bus, now you need to make it a logo bus again! 8)

Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:33 pm

Photos from Internet.
Alaska Airlines colors were that color blue with white letters

Lufthansa was blue and yellow

PSA was orange and white

PanAm was that color with white and lighter blue . They were also white with blue.

Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:37 pm

SGKent wrote: Alaska Airlines colors were that color blue with white letters
Lufthansa was blue and yellow
PSA was orange and white

of those three, only PSA flew into Lake Tahoe. Again, it's a tiny airport

Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:41 pm

Erik G wrote: SGKent wrote: Alaska Airlines colors were that color blue with white letters
Lufthansa was blue and yellow
PSA was orange and white

of those three, only PSA flew into Lake Tahoe. Again, it's a tiny airport

I lived in San Diego in the 1960's and 70's, and knew their chief training pilot. Drove by their line many times. Never saw any color but that orange and white, some browns mixed in, some blacks, silvers but never saw them blue. Your Holiday is a good guess too.

This airline was there in the late 1960's. Internet Photo.

Thu Jun 16, 2016 2:51 pm

I still think it's Holiday Airlines.

There is no space between the R and Lines on the bus. PSA would not have changed their logo, there would have been a space

Thu Jun 16, 2016 5:20 pm

Wow thanks for all the responses.

I was hoping that it could have been something to do with airlines as that is another one of my interests.

Holiday Airlines could work, I think I can see an OL, also the writing is in italics which ties into their logos.

The SA could be SAN JOSE that they flew out of.

Been doing a bit of research, found out a fair bit about the Airline but no photos of the bus yet!

Thu Jun 16, 2016 5:32 pm

Look what I have just found!

http://www.airlinefan.com/airline-photos/Holiday-Airlines/Lockheed/L-188-Electra/N971HA/6473673/

That could be the bus
Will see if I can get a better quality one.

Erik G - Thank you for that lead, if your folks know anything that would be great.

The plan for the bus would be try to save as much of the originality and sign write it again

Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:16 pm

Holy smokes talk about a power thread! Took me to the peak of threadstacy in just a few hours! Cool story and a great bus.
It could very well be the exact bus. I can't imagine there being more than one needed back then. The flight schedule would have to exceed the "laps" required by the buses in order to require more than one.

Thu Jun 16, 2016 6:36 pm

It looks like the top words are Holiday Airlines on the hatch. And I spot another bus hiding behind a tug to the right of the ladder, looks like a Mango. Rad rad stuff folks! 8)

Fri Jun 17, 2016 8:03 am

whats the M-Code tag say for the delivery code? I'd bet UF

I'd be willing to bet you found your bus in that picture - that's awesome. Since you are not from the area, I'll mention that San Jose and Oakland airport would have only been a 30-45 minute drive in the 60's. Oakland to South lake tahoe would have been about a 3 and a half hour drive, so your bus could have been at any or all of those airports

Fri Jun 17, 2016 11:35 am

cheers, really happy I found that photo.

The m plate is missing, so not sure. I have sent off for the birth certificate, just waiting for it to come back.

It came with a Washington number plate, the previous owner in the uk thought it was the original plate.
On the surround it says 'Spokane' and 'Tom Price'

Have had a search and believe it is a large car dealer.

Is it possible to search registration plates?

Fri Jun 17, 2016 1:55 pm

Cropped it for you:

Fri Jun 17, 2016 4:53 pm

Maybe "Tourlines Sacramento to Lake Tahoe"