Modern Amenities..

Vintage Style…

Restoration Projects

1987 Motor Coach Industries MC-9B Jersey Cruiser #5064 "The General"
2008 Motor Coach Industries D4500CT 45ft Coach #9401 "Big Boy"
1994 Flxible Metro D #1426 "Queen Mary"
1994 Flxible Metro D #1410 "Brutus"

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Vintage Coach Restoration

Restoring vintage coaches and bringing them back to life.
Vintage Trips/ Excursions

Coming Soon…
Coach Retrofits

Anything from sign upgrades to LED Lighting upgrades.
Advice & Consulting

Tutorials on Vintage bus ownership and useful tips and tricks. Posting on youtube & facebook. Also Via Email
Vintage Rescue Missions

Finding vintage rescue finds and bringing them back to life. Buses that have been neglected forgotten and lost in time

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About Me

My name is Armond Mcfadden and I am the Owner/CEO of General Vintage Coachworks. I have always loved buses since a young age and growing up I have always been around buses. Growing up I started off as metrotransitvids on youtube getting into bus photography / videography from middle school and as I became an adult the hobby stuck with me. I got my Commercial License at 21 Years of age and began driving buses in passenger service for 7 years. I then decided to purchase my first bus a 1994 Flxible Metro D Suburban #1426 at auction in 2019. From there I started taking my hobby to new heights and restored it with some friends to her former glory. I later brought my dream bus a 1987 MCI MC-9B #5064 Former NJT Atlantic city Jersey Cruiser (With Lavatory Retrofit) which I found in a junkyard in the South Bronx. From there I restored him myself and put him in motion pictures such as (NBC New Amsterdam) (Fugue Apple TV) (Saint X Hulu). I took this bus and turned my hobby into a business in 2021 to show the pride and craftsmanship that I have put into these buses.

Introducing“Big Boy”

Powertrain

Detroit Diesel Series 60EGR (DDEC 6) with Engine Brake

Allison B500

Former Shortline #70413

Coachworks Newest project “Big Boy” a 2008 MCI D4500CT #70413 Former Coach USA Shortline bus. Its not the typical restoration project this bus will symbolize the first branch out of the brand. Its fully loaded a Lavatory, Frameless Windows, Flat Screen TV’s, AM/FM Radio,Suburban Seating. He will be ready soon so be on the lookout. This bus is a rare gem indeed as you do not find many CT models with a Detroit Diesel Series 60 EGR Motor coupled to an Allison B500 and Engine Brake. Never thought I would own one but here we are. He made the 120 mile trek from Chester NY to his new home with “The General”. This bus is currently sold to a new owner and will live its life in passenger service in the Tri-State area. Marking another successful coachworks restoration project.

In service photos credit to Original Photographers.

Top: December 2022

Bottom: August 2017

Purchase Day 11/2023… Before

The finished product freshly buffed and the paint restored

Saving “The General”

Powertrain

Detroit Diesel 6V-92 DDEC-1

Allison ATEC HT-748 with Retarder

Former New Jersey Transit (Market Street,Egg Harbor Garage)

Ever since I was little I always wanted a 1987 MCI MC-9B.The signature hammerhead box for the destination sign is a unique giveaway for this rare piece of NJ & MCI’S History. Fully Electronic engine & transmission control for 1987 was a big deal. In 2020 during the pandemic I was able to find one sitting in a junkyard in the South Bronx. 5064 Was packed to the doors with junk and spare parts which were later removed prior to picking him up. I had a vision from the moment i saw this bus and then to find out that he had a Lavatory installed in the 1990’s for Atlantic city service (Only about 20 out of 414 were converted) I knew he had potential. Needless to say he drove out the lot from sitting over 15 years on his OWN power. TLC Some minor fuel issues and a nice restoration and he is a completely different bus. I upgraded him with a Luminator Titan sign setup 24x200 since I wanted him to be unique. I then later painted him and applied some modern graphics to replicate if he were still in passenger service. I then took him 6 months later out to Hershey PA to The Museum of Bus Transportation ( 426 mi) so he could be put on display. This is no MCI MC9B on the planet that is as unique as #5064 especially since he was given the nickname “The General” after my Late father General Mcfadden which drove these in service. This project was personal for me because I had a vision for him and I succeeded even when people did not see the potential. Since his restoration he has appeared on the big screen 4 times (NBC New Amsterdam, Fugue Apple TV, Saint X Hulu TV). The whole reason I started my company is because of this bus and my uncle Ralph Garcia. “The General” has never left me stranded and always got the job done safely. The General is now restored in his OEM Disco stripe scheme to pay homage to his original days back in 1987. Which the help of Brian Nelson and Dashawn Pretlow I was able to complete the project.

Preserving ” Queen Mary”

Queen Mary was my first bus and first step into bus ownership and I couldn’t have asked for a better bus. I always wanted a Flxible Metro since I was little and my brother bought me my first Road Champs HO Scale model bus. I always loved the look and growing up I would ride flxibles and that famous lean. I would watch videos of 1401 which growing up was my dream bus and had my favorite powertrain Series 50/ ZF 5HP-590 Transmission and always thought in school man it would be nice to own one. Fast forward to my adult life I was always searching for one but never thought I had the chance since they are so rare. In 2019 I stumbled upon an auction from (CARTA) Charleston Area Rapid Transit Authority and they started selling off sister buses they had from the Golden Gate Transit they purchased 2nd hand. It was a dream come true I bid on 1426 sight unseen and took a chance and flew down there with my buddy and there she was fresh out of service. A/C was still cold all the wifi equipment was still hooked up and they told me she had been retired 2 months before. I drove her 801 miles from Charleston, SC to Orange County ,NY where she made it with no issued and only had to fill up once 26.gal which is amazing for a bus going 801 miles.I later got a group of friends and worked on the paint to bring her back to her former glory and 2 years later we wrapped her in the current Golden Gate Scheme. I then fitted her with a luminator horizon sign to really give her the modern touch to go with the LED Headlights and interior reading lights installed. 3 Years and I only had to change an air compressor and air dryer and she remained trouble free. I completed this project and decided to put for for sale where she found a great home in Jacksonville, FL where she made the 920 mile trip with no issues. Though she is no longer with us she no doubt turns heads and was well taken care of and is my first mechanical project that I gained mechanical Independence on a Diesel bus .If it wasn’t for working on Queen Mary and taking the time to teach myself and learn not to be afraid to use your hands and unlock my potential and really use that hidden talent I had but didn’t use much because I drove them for a living. The name “Queen Mary” Came after my Late GrandMother where she is always watching over me and I felt like it fit her well.

Saving “Brutus”

Powertrain

Detroit Diesel Series 50 (DDEC 3)

ZF-5HP590 (5 SPEED Transmission)

Original to Golden Gate Transit/ Retired by (CARTA) Charleston Area Rapid Transit Authority

1410 Is a recent acquisition formerly “no name bus” was owned by Demetrius McCalman. It was a true to surprise to end up with it but the Coachworks way was to bring some new life back into him since he had so much potential.1410 & 1426 drove up from Charleston SC To NYC together and made it with no issues.I had a vison for this us as well a different take than Queen Mary. I used the left over vinyl from Mary and got to work in restoring him in his original scheme that he was delivered in. I painted the bus and then me and my brother wrapped the bus in his stripes. He was named “Brutus” because he is the opposite of Queen Mary loud and muscular sounding thanks to his exhaust leak. I then decided to base his scheme off of an older fishbowl from Golden Gate Transit #502 which was the only bus to feature the hunter green side skirts and rims. I applied this to 1410 and needless to say he looks killer and was well received. I took him to the FNJHTC Bus Bash in 2022 at Starr Tours and people love dhis restoration which I was more than glad people loved him as I worked hard on him in a short period of time. This bus is also different because it has (ABS Anti Lock Brakes) which had to be experimental at the time. He was a fine addition to the fleet and was a successful restoration project. He has been relocated to a new owner and currently resides in the DMV area. His legacy will continue and we cant wait to see what’s next for the new owner and brutus.