After years of neglect, the Grateful Dead’s original tour bus has been restored and placed on display at the Volo Auto Museum in Volo, IL.
"She was the sound bus, the caboose, number five in a caravan and unofficially the party bus where the guys relaxed with their friends after the show," said Butch Patrick, owner of the bus and former child actor best remembered as Eddie Munster on television’s "The Munsters."
Jerry Garcia and his band mates called the 1965 Gillig bus "Sugar Magnolia" and used it to tour the country from 1967 to 1985.
All of the original furnishings and decor have been preserved. The ceiling is lined with hundreds of vintage rock posters featuring The Beatles, Jimi Hendrix, Janice Joplin and others who visited the bus.
As is the case with most of the cars at the Volo Auto Museum, the bus is for sale. The asking price is $200,000, Patrick said.
The museum is home to the world’s largest collection of muscle cars and The George Barris TV & Movie Car Collection, featuring Grandpa Munster’s Drag-U-La, the original Batmobile, General Lee and other famous cars.
The museum is located in Volo, IL, and open seven days a week from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Adult admission is $7.95. Special rates are available for children, seniors, active military and veterans. Visit www.volocars.com or call (815) 385-3644 for more information.
