Double The Fun

It seems crazy to some, but perfectly acceptable to others, but the owner of this patina Panel sold a full on show Bus to buy it. We totally get it though

- Mark Walker

It’s funny how some people change their ride almost as often as they change their socks, while other’s seem to build a Bus and stick with it. Rolando Alvarado definitely falls into the latter category and, having covered the miles and been seen with his old 13-window all across California, there is no doubt in many people’s minds that the 13-window will always be ‘Rolando’s Bus’, no matter who owns it now or in the future.

It came as a bit of a surprise, then, when he sold the 13-window a couple of years ago and picked up a fairly rough looking (at the time) Dove Blue 1960 Double Door Panel. I think, even in this day and age, it’s quite surprising to see someone selling what basically constituted a show quality Bus to go down the patina route.

Many people are waking up and seeing the light when it comes to patina and how genuine, honest and characterful it is and it’s refreshing to see. Let’s hear it from the man himself: “I like this Patina thing; I can drive it every day, without ever having to worry about it”.

Of course, the Panel didn’t stay looking rough for long. Following Rolando’s progress pics on social media, it quickly became apparent that he wasn’t hanging around and that this project was going to be pretty much completed in short order. Within a couple of weeks, the original L31 Dove Blue paint was machine buffed to a brilliant shine and a set of original early pressed bumpers had been fitted. Rolando’s reasoning for this was simple; he’d always wanted a pressed bumper Bus, but when the Double Door ’60 came along it was at a good price and the body was in such decent shape, that it would have been a shame to pass it up.