The Twelfth UltraVan

On that day, 3 weeks after my birth, when Ray Page laid off the Motor Coach Division employees, told them to pick up their final paychecks at Prescolite headquarters in San Leandro, and locked up the old wooden warehouse at 366 8th Avenue for the last time, there was one partially constructed coach left derelict on the shop floor.

But Dave Peterson retained the rights to his design, and his tooling, and his lease; and this remnant of the first failed attempt at production would soon become a springboard for Dave's new vision. He wasted little time rebooting his dream, placing a new advertisement in the June 1964 issue of Family Motor Coaching magazine, and restarting production.

The twelfth UltraVan was the last 24 foot long coach built in Oakland. In most ways it was a throwback to the coaches that preceded Prescolite's innovations, with built-up front body corners, split Chevy Pickup bumpers, Ford Econoline headlights, 13 inch ornamental dually wheels, and a 1963 Corvair drivetrain with 102 horsepower engine.

The front slider window profile was returned to the original position below the beltline, but the sheet metal camouflaging the the upper corners of the bedroom windows was gone for good. The kitchen window was lowered back down to the beltline as well, although this would change once again a few years later.

Two major innovations were introduced that would set the standard for the next seven years. A new taillight configuration was developed with large round fixtures faired vertically into the rear corners, using Trail-Lite/Bargman no. 98 "wedding cake" lenses. And a new serial numbering scheme was introduced, starting with #201.

UltraVan #201 passed through its first three owners rather quickly. It was originally sold in 1964 to Courtney Q. Nelson of Chattanooga TN. He sold to Lloyd L. Hamilton of Miami Springs FL, who bought #456 new in February 1969 and subsequently listed #201 in the 4/21/69 Miami Herald at $5,900. James I. Minix of Homestead FL was the third owner, selling to Albert Austin of Brookville FL for $2,500.

Albert & his wife Elinor owned the coach for at least twenty years, 1973-1993 - though it wasn't until 1977 that they joined the UVMCC. Eventually Albert passed away and Elinor listed the coach in the 9/19/92 Tampa Bay Times for $3,000. Bob & Rachelle Ennis of Soddy-Daisy TN became the fifth owners in 1994, selling to the current owners Jim & Ann Guider of Chattanooga TN in 1996.

Jim & Ann have since moved to Rossville GA, replaced the tired 102 hp engine with a refreshed 110 hp engine, and gradually stripped the faded and chalky paint from the coach. They often use the coach in parades and as a support vehicle for their local Corvair club. 

Note: Top photo from 1967 courtesy of John and Kathy Acosta.

A small collection of photos of #201 can be seen here:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/8769347@N03/albums/72157716509475133