I had a series of health issues this summer so when I received this email I wasn't too interested: Dear Jim, I saw a picture of your beautiful 1954 School Bus on the Stovebolt website ( http://stovebolt.com/gallery/lee_jim_1954.html ) and was wondering if you still have it.
I am working on a television commercial for McDonalds in the Chicago area this month and we are looking for a bus from that era. The commercial is a period piece and will be shot on July 27th at the original McDonalds in DesPlaines, IL.
If you still have the bus and think you might be interested in having in a commercial, please let me know. We would be happy to pay a rental fee of course and cover any transportation and accommodation costs.

I emailed the guy back and told him thanks for the interest I really didn't feel up to hauling the bus from Springfield MO to Chicago and back.

My brother Tom and son told me to go for it, especially since the original McDonald's was on Lee Street.

I decided if my brother Tom could go with me I'd do it.

Plans were made, Tom had to back out so I loaded the bus on his flatbed behind my Suburban and, with my two grandsons (Trey 13 and Austin 11), headed off to Chicago in late July.

Here are some photos:

http://bus-plunge.blogspot.com/2011/07/going-to-chicago-for-mcdonalds.html

http://bus-plunge.blogspot.com/2011/09/british-mcdonalds-commercial-featuring.html

We had a grand time.

And thanks to Stovebolt for playing a part in the whole process!

Jim Lee

Last edited by Jim Lee; 09/23/2011 5:35 PM.
Here is a link to some stuff about my brothers and I
http://bus-plunge.blogspot.com/search?q=hemmings