Iconic 1953 Double-Decker Bus Was Converted Into a Splendid Tiny Home, It's Now for Sale

Meet Whit and "The Royal Scott," a 1953 double-decker bus measuring 28 feet (8.5 meters) in length. Before we go any further, I'd like to mention a slight difference to the campers I normally cover – this one, as you might've expected already, doesn't run anymore. Instead, it's been turned into a static tiny home on wheels.

The bus's history is quite rich. Initially, it was used in Manchester, United Kingdom, for public transport. Then, in the 80s, it was imported to San Francisco, and a few years later, it ended up in Mount Saint Helens, Washington, where it became a tour bus. Fast forward to the late 80s, and unfortunately, the bus's engine caught on fire, rendering it inoperable.

But wait, there's more. Somebody bought it with the intention of fixing the engine, but it ended up becoming a backyard jungle gym for children. And finally, it was sold yet again and became a dining spot for "The Grilled Cheese Grill" in Portland, Oregon. That's where it sat for nine years before Whit, the current owner, bought it off Craigslist for $8,000 (€7,364).

Whit had a completely different vision for the vehicle compared to what it was used for in the past – he wanted to turn it into an Airbnb vacation rental. He brought it to his backyard, and five months later, he completed the build I'm about to present to you.

As you can imagine, the bus was in quite bad shape, so there was a lot of work to do. Starting from the front, Whit left the driver's cabin as it was, rusty and dusty. It's cool to see the conditions in which double-decker drivers operated back in the day. You'll notice that comfort wasn't quite a priority, but things have changed since then. What's more, a nice detail is that the bus's wheels still turn if you move the steering wheel.

When Whit got his hands on the bus, one of the first things he did was sand it down, patch up all the holes, stop the windows from leaking, and paint it in a classic red-and-white combo. Unlike all the campers I've talked about, you won't notice any exterior accessories or compartments. The only notable features are a water connection and a shower power connection, enabling the rig to be used as a home.

To enter, you'll have to go to the rear, on the left side of the bus. The entryway used to be open so people could hop in while the bus was rolling, but the former owner fitted a door.

Even though the exterior was repaired and repainted, it still looks a bit old, which is completely normal, given the vehicle's age. But once you step inside, things look drastically different – you might not even tell you're in a 70-year-old bus.

It's clear Whit did a ton of work to completely refurbish the inside. One of the more significant changes he made was to remove the second floor at the bus's rear, allowing you to stand up straight after entering the rig.

Regarding aesthetics, Whit opted for a mid-century modern design, blending white walls with blue cabinetry and several wooden elements. One notable design touch is an artwork added by the former owner, which extends through several parts of the interior. Whit decided to keep it and restore it, and I believe it fits in perfectly. What's more, I love that Whit added lots of plants.

Step deeper inside the first floor, and you'll find the kitchen on the left side, which comes with all the essentials you'd expect. It features a sizeable countertop from Ikea, a deep black sink, a small fridge, an induction stove, a microwave, a toaster, and various cabinets and drawers. On the opposite side, Whit devised a large bench.

The next part of the first floor is a seating area. There are two chairs, as well as a large counter, perfect for enjoying a meal or working on your laptop.

At the front part of the first floor, right behind the driver's cabin, Whit devised the bathroom. It's equipped with a custom sliding door for privacy, a Nature's Head composting toilet, a large shower with white subway-tiled walls, a live-edge walnut counter, and one of the tiniest sinks you'll ever see.

And that's about it for the first floor. You'll discover the spiral staircase that leads to the second floor by the bus's entrance. I'm fond of the design Whit incorporated upstairs – there's a cedar wood ceiling paired with blue MDF panels. A lot of work had to be done to cover all the holes and to insulate this space, but it turned out amazing.

The second floor is very spacious. Its rear part was designed to be a seating area - even though it hasn't got chairs, there are some pillows you can sit on. I kind of see it as a playroom for kids. Moreover, the front part is occupied by the bedroom. It's quite straightforward, boasting a queen-size bed and two reading lights.

How much do you think this all cost to build? One advantage Whit had was not worrying about the mechanical side of stuff, as he had no intention of making it run again. Including the bus's $8K price tag, Whit invested a total of $22,000 (€20,251) to bring it to its current form. He did explain that he was able to keep costs to a minimum by being quite frugal with some of the materials he used.

All in all, it's a really cool and distinctive tiny home project. It looks fantastic, but, most importantly, you can actually live inside it.

You're probably curious about how much it costs to rent. Upon searching the Airbnb listing for this tiny home, I discovered that it's not available anymore. I did some further digging and found out that Whit listed the double-decker bus for sale about a year ago. Moreover, I also noticed, on Whit's social media posts, that he added a TV upstairs, making the bedroom the perfect spot to enjoy a movie night.

This double-decker bus could be yours if you're ready to pay $89,975 (€82,822). Of course, you have to tow it out of there. You can check out the FB Marketplace listing to learn more about this cozy tiny home.