Moab Tour Bus - Lin Ottinger

[wythac]

Did a search and didn't see this posted here anywhere. I'm sure the Kustom Coach Weeks folks have the work documented on their site. I remember seeing a few of these still in operation by Lin Ottinger back in the day...I always figured he had just used em up!

http://www.moabtimes.com/view/full_story/27194217/...eft_column

[kombisutra]

Incredible for me to hear of the fate of the Moab buses. I was lucky enough (or cursed enough : ) to see them myself back in the late 90s returning from the east coast and completing my enlistment in the Marine Corps. I passed through Moab on my old BMW from 30 days of terminal leave I'd built up, and remember them well. I remember going on a horseback ride while I was there too. The buses, though, they remained in my mind for years and years -even recently wondering where they may have gone. Comrades would say this or that about them, but I never did know. So good to hear the old man has kept them, and that John Jones was so properly privileged to bring us the story. Twenty years wondering about the buses, thank you for the article.

[plane_ben]

Yes. the whole refurbishing of one bus is on the KCW site. There are some links to some interesting stories about Lin as well. Quite a few pictures from the past as well. Nice way to waste a few hours.
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I'm at the age were "fuck off", "fuck you", and "fuck it" answer most questions.

[BulliBill]

While on vacation with my wife and passing through Moab about 6 or 7 years ago, we dropped into the Rock shop (wife is a jewelery artist and was looking for cool stones for use in jewelery), saw a photo in a news clipping hanging on the wall of one of the Tour Deluxes on top of an natural arch and put two and two together. Back then I was writing the monthly "Transporter Talk" column at the time for Hot VWs and later that day got to visit with Lin's son who gave me the tour of the warehouse and all of those Buses in storage. I heard many, many tales and stories that day of their adventures (and mis-adventures), and ended up writing a three-part story with photos about the history of his Canyonland Tours operation in my column. Can't recall what year issues it was in, but there were some great stories in those columns from Lin and his son. It was just a fluke that I stumbled into the right place at the right time and got to check it all out! Cool characters those two!

Bill Bowman
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[plane_ben]

Cool story Bullibill. Here is a link to KCW thread.

http://www.kustomcoachwerks.com/forums//viewtopic.php?f=13&t=8571
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[MicBergsma]

So awesome!
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[wythac]

I'm sure it was a big deal locally to see this bus show up at Moab's big car show in April. Kudos to Mr. Ottinger for keeping them intact and not parting them out.

Thanks for the link to the KCW build thread. I purposefully avoided looking for it when I posted this because as you pointed out, it takes some time commitment!

[Nubby]

It was such a cool trip! A few of us cruised down to meet the KCW crew and caravaned from GJ to Moab to deliver the bus. Lots of fun sitting around the fire and listening to stories about the tours. Here is Lin driving away after checking the bus out. It was really cool for JJ to set it up and let us be a part of it.

[Stocknazi]

Love the tires on that bus.
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58 Westfalia cabinet knobs (3 needed), roof rack, and (7) privy tent poles (silver painted).

"When the people are afraid of the government, that's tyranny. But when the government is afraid of the people, that's liberty."
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[Malokin Martin]

Mr Ottinger made the BBC today

http://www.bbc.com/travel/story/20170310-the-dinosaur-hunter-of-moab

[BarryL]

Is that snorkel the air intake? If so, good idea for all the dusty conditions he would constantly be driving.

[velvetgreen]

another story

https://www.hagerty.com/articles-videos/articles/2..._August_27

[blitzkrieg59]

I wrote the Hagerty piece. Hope you cats dig it. It was a ton of fun to work on. Lin is probably the most interesting guy I've ever met. I had to leave out so much interesting stuff about him to meet my 5000 word cut-off. Would love to do a piece on him as a pioneer of the American West in the 20th century for a history-oriented publication.
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SST X, XI, XII
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'65 Riviera Camper

[zuggbug]

[tasb]

I passed by the Rock Shop in 1992 on our honeymoon. We went to the Four Corners and explored Anasazi cliff dwellings both on and off the map. I remember passing by the shop with one of the Buses parked out front. We were on too tight of a time line though. We also stopped briefly at Tom Tom's VW Museum in Moab.
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1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

[dschup]

Very cool article, thanks for writing and sharing!