Chris Pulley has Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA), a form of Muscular Dystrophy. But don’t think that’s stopped him from doing stuff he loves, including driving the wheels off his handicap-modified 2010 Dodge Challenger SRT.
And he wants other people with disabilities to realize they can do things like that, too. To that end, Chris built this 1957 Ford B500 bus as a rolling billboard for Beyond D.A. Bus, a nonprofit devoted to engaging people with any disability in activities they may have never imagined themselves doing. Two years in the making, the D.A. Bus will be on display in the TAMCO Paint booth at the 2019 SEMA Show. Summit Racing supported the build with parts including a Dakota Digital gauge cluster, TMI seats, steering column and linkage, and brake upgrades.
Nfamus Metal Fab in Cleburne, Texas handled the metal fabrication and suspension work.
Diesel Dynamics in Dallas rebuilt the 7.3L Power Stroke diesel and 4R100 four-speed automatic transmission pirated from a 2003 Ford E450 school bus. And
Forgotten Rides Garage in Houston is currently working on the paint, wiring and audio, and interior trimming.
The bus has a full complement of accommodations for Chris and his passengers including an access ramp at the rear door, a seat with a transfer base to easily accomodate any driver, and a track system in the floor to secure wheelchair passengers in place.
While the D.A. Bus is designed to inspire people with disabilities to take a chance and do things they’ve always wanted to do, it’s also a most excellent piece of car (bus?) crafting in its own right. Check it out at the TAMCO Paint booth and see if you don't agree.
Read more about the
Beyond D.A. Bus in this story and slide show posted at SummitRacing.com.
Photos credited to SummitRacing.com