This vehicle came to us as a recently retired transportation bus from a senior citizens center. We needed to make it usable for a customer who auctions salvage cars and trucks. Aboard the bus during the auction, there would be an auctioneer, a secretary and a driver. The bus would drive down the neat rows of vehicles to be auctioned, and the buyers and bus would stop in front of the
individual vehicles and the auction would take place. when the bidding was finished, the bus would slowly move toward the next vehicle for auction, and the process would be repeated. What makes this "auction bus" different is the on-board computers that broadcast the auction on the internet, in real-time, to interested buyers anywhere in the world. There is a camera mounted on the roof of the bus, which shows images of the vehicles to the internet audience, as well as the auctioneer's "calling".
Since the auction bus is a diesel vehicle, the customer wanted to redirect the exhaust away from the bidding area. We did this with the rear mounted exhaust stack pictured here.
On top of the bus you can see the camera that will broadcast the video of the auction over the internet to on-line bidders. Also on the roof is the loudspeaker for the PA system, and the special antenna for wireless data transmission.
This device is called and invertor. It provides power for the computers by changing the bus's battery power into 110volts AC power.
This is the inside of the auction bus. The auctioneer will sit at the counter along with the secretary, facing out. The window will be open so the auctioneer can make eye contact with the bidders,
while he conducts business. The red handle releases the window to swing upward. (inset)
A typical mini-bus that is used to transport people usually has emergency exit windows that unlock and flip up to let
occupants out. This bus had 2 of them , and me moved them from the rear, to the front left side. Then we joined them together and added gas-springs (like on a hatchback car) to hold the window open . In the above photo, you can see the window open and the side-flaps locked
in. We made the side flaps because auctioneering will take place in all weather conditions.
THE AUCTION BUS
