Owned by Spinnenweber Builders, Inc., the two parties agreed on the sale and the bus headed south to warmer weather. SBI bought the bus in England in 1983, had it delivered to the east coast, drove it a quarter of the length of the United States to the village and parked it in the parking lot between The Strand and the Mariemont Inn. The idea was use the vehicle’s intrigue, size and color as a bulletin board, or as an instrument to promote area business and stir interest.

That type of advertisement, though, is not allowed within the village.

Once in Florida, the bus needed to undergo some surgery. It needed new batteries; the fuel pump and brakes needed upgrades and much electrical work was necessary.

The bus’ top deck lost the windshield during transport and there were numerous exterior leaks that were patched.

Now that the bus is running like a well-oiled machine, the new owners believe there is still a couple years of touring left in the engine. The bus has already been heavily used during holidays giving Pensacola residents and visitors rides throughout the city and beach-side. It has even made the trip to Louisiana for Mardi Gras and traveled in parades.

When the new owners feel the bus can no longer be useful for transportation, they said they might gut the inside and renovate the vehicle into a food service or restaurant on wheels.