Impressive 1959 Chevrolet Viking Bus Gets An Extreme Makeover
Nowadays tiny homes aren’t just practical, they’re trendy! It’s common for people to want less space as opposed to more, and the ingenuity displayed in getting the most out of a small space can be truly incredible.
While a bus isn’t technically a house, we’ll show you how one can be used as a hotel or at least a guest room. If you love creative ideas applied to living spaces you won’t want to miss this one!
Upon first glance, most people wouldn’t consider this 1959 Chevrolet Viking to be an especially hospitable or inviting hotel on wheels. What one Portland, ME architect did see, however, was much potential.
Will Winkelman, the aforementioned architect, transformed this beautiful vintage bus into an extra room that has its own washroom facilities. The finished product is totally usable and completely original.
Online publication Remodelista reported that Winkelman was hired by the owners of the bus to revamp it into a camper, guest room, and transportation. Although no doubt a challenge, Winkelman had the expertise to bring his vision of the space to life.
According to his personal business website, Winkelman has 29 years of experience in design and is based in Portland, Maine. He opened his own business in 2007 with a focus on designing buildings that made use of sustainable materials and renewable energy sources. The principles Winkelman built his business on are clearly on display in the Viking bus as it can be used as a camper or transformed into guest quarters when visitors come by.
The transformation process started with the entire body of the bus being removed and tenderly restored to its former glory, albeit with some improvements. On some occasions, it was necessary for replacement parts to be fabricated or located and purchased on the internet.
The physical exterior is retro and classic, and the interior doesn’t miss a beat. Winkelman used the advice and expertise of the custom boat-building industry in creating the Viking’s interior. Every inch of space is practice and useable, yet also funky with a distinct Moroccan vibe.
It’s hard not to get a 1960s vibe upon entering the space, and the white oak that was used preserves the vintage feel of the bus while also brightening the space. As is commonly the case in small living spaces, the space underneath the benches was used for extra storage that keeps clutter out of sight
If you’re wondering where guests would sleep, look no further than the benches in the common area. The benches can be used separately for two individual sleeping spaces, or they can be pushed together to form one queen-sized bed.
After taking the virtual tour of this Viking bus, we’re confident that it’ll turn heads when it’s out on the roads or when guests come to stay. Vintage items are trending, and this bus was created to be so perfectly vintage. We can only hope this baby gets listed on Airbnb so we can stay for a night!
