Rare 1937 White 706 "Red Jammer" Pops Up for Sale With Original Engine

3 Monate, 2 Wochen her - 2 Februar 2025, autoevolution

In January 2022, a 1936 White Model 706 tour bus hit the auction block with a high estimate of $500,000. Unexpectedly, the vehicle changed hands for a whopping $1.3 million. Three years later, a 1937 example is about to cross the block for what could be a new world record.

One of 500 trucks delivered to the National Park Service from 1935 to 1939, this wonderfully restored White Model 706 is scheduled to go under the hammer at Mecum's Glendale 2025 auction in March. Restored by the Historic Flight Foundation and Glenn Vaughn Car Restorations, the bus covered only 250 miles since then, primarily at parades and vintage vehicle events.

The 706 sports the Ripe Mountain Ash Berry paint scheme that was applied to the stock buses in service in Glacier Park, Montana. The latter is one of seven parks that got the White 706 back in the day. The list also includes Grand Canyon, Yellowstone, Yosemite, and Mount Rainier. Glacier Park got 35 of the 500 trucks. According to existing records, this rig is one of 11 that were delivered to Glacier Park in 1937.

According to the seller, the truck was restored "with attention to factory details." This is a big deal because the parks upgraded their 706 fleets over the years. In 1989, most vehicles were retrofitted with automatic transmissions, power steering, power brakes, and fuel-injected engines.

The Glacier fleet, for instance, was modified between 2000 and 2002 by Ford and Transglobal to run on propane or gas. The bodies were fitted to stretched E-Series van chassis, while the original inline-six engines were replaced by 5.4-liter V8 units. This truck not only retains the original 318-cubic-inch (5.2-liter) White 16A inline-six, which has been rebuilt, but also features a four-speed manual gearbox. The latter is responsible for the "Red Jammer" nickname applied to these trucks.

Originally rated at 94 horsepower, the 706 could reach speeds of up to 45 mph (72 kph). The Glacier trucks were designed to accommodate 17 passengers, and access was via four doors on the right-hand side. The Yellowstone buses provided seating for 14 people, with the rearmost bench seat removed for extra luggage room.

Most Glacier trucks are still in operation today, making them part of the world's oldest touring fleet of vehicles. This also means the rig you see here is one of very few in private hands.

Mecum doesn't provide a pricing estimate for the "Red Jammer," but these trucks are estimated to be worth between $250,000 and $500,000, depending on their condition and originality. This truck should fetch more than a half million bucks, but it could also exceed the $1-million mark and set a new record. We'll know for sure when the gavel falls on March 22, 2025.