The original Eagles bus is still atop a business in Wissinoming, but now local football fans have a new ride to the game.
Charlie Garuffe has been an Eagles season ticket-holder since 1963, and likes to arrive at the stadium in style.
Back in 1971, the veteran businessman bought a bus from a Presbyterian church in Huntingdon Valley for $225 to take fellow fans to the new Veterans Stadium.
Sure, the bus broke down a few miles from the church lot and had to be towed, but after a fresh paint job and some body, automotive and upholstery work, it was almost as good as new.
The bus, a white 1954 Ford with green Eagles wings, made its way back and forth to Broad and Pattison for a decade until it was time for a road trip. New Orleans, January 1981, site of Super Bowl XV. Garuffe was among 13 people making the trip.
“It was the Dirty Dozen plus one,” he recalled.
The bus got as far as Blacksburg, South Carolina before breaking down. The Dirty Dozen made it to The Big Easy by rental car or plane, only to see the Eagles lose to the Oakland Raiders.
The bus was retired, placed on top of Garuffe’s business — Paintarama — at 5223 Torresdale Ave. in Wissinoming. Paintarama and another Garuffe business, the popular former Thee Bus Stop bar, are no longer there, but the bus remains. Now, it’s a blue food truck.
The original bus still holds fond memories for Garuffe, who lives on Magee Avenue in West Mayfair.
“For $3, we had all kinds of sandwiches and a complete open bar,” he said.
“It was the highlight of the fellas’ week,” said Mary Ann Garuffe, Charlie’s wife.
In 1981, Garuffe bought his second bus. It was a 1971 International, green with silver wings, that lasted for a quarter-century.
The highlight of its existence was a 2005 trip to Jacksonville for Super Bowl XXXIX. Again, the Eagles lost, this time to the New England Patriots.
Garuffe tried to cheer up the other guys on the bus ride home.
“I started singing Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah,” he said.
That bus lasted until 2006, when it went to a scrap yard.
The current bus, a green 1992 International, was bought later in ’06. Last year, a corporation called OEB 1971 — an acronym for “Original Eagles Bus” and the year the first bus was bought — purchased the bus.
The corporation is made up of business partners who manage the Ashburner Inn in Holmesburg. The bus will be parked outside the Ashburner, at Torresdale Avenue and Ashburner Street, for every home game, including Sunday against the New York Giants, departing 2½ hours before kickoff.
“I’m excited. I love it. It’s such a good time,” said part-owner Jim Harvey.
Sponsors of the bus are the Ashburner, Philadelphia Federal Credit Union, Armor Concrete, Aztec Signs and Coca-Cola.
Like in past years, the bus will find a good parking spot on “Charlie Garuffe’s Island,” close to Lincoln Financial Field.
The bus is luxurious inside, with comfortable seating (including two seats from the Vet) for 25, three televisions, a bar, tables, carpeting, green and white lights and a urinal.
“It’s not like a school bus,” Harvey said.
Inside, there are pictures and letters thanking Garuffe for his support from former coach Dick Vermeil, former owner Norman Braman and current owner Jeffrey Lurie. There’s even a picture of Pope John Paul II with an Eagles emblem on his robe.
Outside, there’s an Eagles license plate on the front, along with various team logos, pictures of cheerleaders and the American flag, blown-up ticket stubs from the Super Bowl games and the initials “JJ,” in memory of former defensive coordinator Jim Johnson.
The bus is adorned with slogans such as, “We’re on Our Way to the Super Bowl,” “Go Get ’Em Eagles” and “Either Way, We Can’t Lose,” a belief among the fans that they’ll have a good time, win or lose.
“We tailgate on the way down and tailgate on the way back,” Harvey said.
Harvey remembers the first bus, and gives all the props to Garuffe and his pals.
“They were the original tailgaters,” he said.
Garuffe, who has been to 23 Super Bowls, remembers when tickets at Franklin Field cost $18 — for the whole season.
The memories are priceless. In fact, the words, “Welcome to Thee Bus Load of Memories” can be seen when boarding the bus.
“We had a million good times,” he said.
Garuffe remembers the buses being parked outside Tony’s Place, Chickie’s & Pete’s, Thee Bus Stop and now the Ashburner on game days. One bus was blessed by the Rev. Joe Campellone, former president of Father Judge High School.
Once, the bus traveled to the Eagles’ former training camp site at West Chester University, where the players had a beer party on board.
The bus has also made its way to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, a few Super Bowls that didn’t involve the Eagles, some Phillies games and Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel concerts. It’s been used for bachelor parties and birthday parties. It’ll be used by two wedding parties in the near future.
Garuffe’s son, Chaz, has been riding the bus to games since he was 5.
“He’s 46 now,” his dad said.
Garuffe still has his season tickets in section 111, but prefers to watch from the comfort of his home with his wife.
If the Eagles make the Super Bowl, though, he’d be up for a road trip on the bus. He’s seen the Eagles lose twice in the Super Bowl and was in the U.S. Air Force, stationed in North Africa, when the Eagles won the 1960 NFL championship.
“I’m still wishing,” he said. “That would be my ideal thing, one more time, as long as they win.” ••
To rent the bus, call 215–622–5170.
