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1959 Chevrolet Viking Short Bus Converted Into A Mobile Bedroom

This post was updated on March 19th, 2024

It’s not every day that you come across a 1959 Chevrolet Viking Short Bus, much less one converted into a spectacular RV.

A client asked Will Winkelman of Winkelman Architecture to build a custom camper from this old Viking Short Bus found sitting in a field.

Winkelman VIking short bus restoration

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The client wanted to use the bus for camping trips and as an extra bedroom for his home.

Unlike modern buses, many vintage models have a gorgeous curved body. While the curved body looks beautiful from the outside, it can be a bear of a job to make custom-fitted cabinets and furniture for the interior.

Winkelman had a bodyshop remove the frame and restore the bus to its original condition.

Rebuilding a vintage bus into a motorhome

Designing an interior to fit the curves of the old bus wasn’t easy.

Restoring a vintage short bus

Winkelman said,

To transform the vehicle into a camper, we turned to the custom boat-building trade—an obvious source for beautifully crafted, uniquely shaped, and highly fitted work that is accustomed to utilizing every inch.

The architect had to draw up plans as best he could.

Plans to remodel the short bus

And design custom furniture for the curved space.

Short bus remodel

Winkelman’s client wanted a “funky, hippy, moroccan vibe” theme.

Front door to the VIking bus

Front door to bus

The renovation turned out wonderfully.

Inside the finished bus

Sofa inside bus

Vintage lamp

Two sofas in the center of the bus fold down and can be used as double twin beds or pushed together to form a single queen bed.

Looking toward the back

Inside the bus

Completed bus renovation

The bus can travel with up to twelve passengers, and also features a sink, washroom, and 120 V and 12 V electric.

You can see more pictures at Winkelman’s short bus project page or read an interview with him at Maine Home Design.

More resources:

More bus renovations:

4 thoughts on “1959 Chevrolet Viking Short Bus Converted Into A Mobile Bedroom”

  1. Beautiful bus! What a transformation, I was wondering if you have any suggestions as to where to find a vintage short bus. I have loved school buses my entire life the older ones had so much more character than the modern ones of today.

  2. I just purchased a bus that has already been converted to a living space many years ago. Someone had sent this link to me and I was so excited to see that what I was thinking could actually be done. I have a question though. I do not see any visible support for the queen sized bed in the back. Could you enlighten me on how that was done please?
    S. Campbell

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