LEXINGTON — When Virginia salesman Ken Rudd needed a vehicle to help sell his model planes, he turned to online auctions.

        That's how he found and bought a 1988 Navistar Classic Yellow Bus on eBay.com.

        Once Mr. Rudd picks up the school bus — for which he paid $1,525 — he'll rip out the seats and paint the name of his store, RC Airworld, over the area where “Fayette County Schools” used to be.

        He then plans to haul his radio-controlled airplanes to exhibitions, jamborees and flea markets, where he hopes the big yellow bus will attract curious customers.

        “School buses are funny,” Mr. Rudd said.

        Thanks to eBay, anyone can drive away in their very own classic yellow dog if they have about $1,800, a commercial drivers license and the proper insurance.

        Fayette County Public Schools began selling surplus school buses on eBay in early May. So far seven buses have been sold, one is currently up for auction and as many as 15 more will be sold throughout the summer.

        During the regular school year, 200 buses transport Fayette County students to and from school. The surplus buses were bought new in 1988-89 for $28,000 each and were retired after they completed the mandated 12-year life cycle. The surplus buses each hold 65 passengers (40 adults) and have up to 200,000 miles on them.

        John Kiser, Fayette County's director of transportation, said the buses are in “pretty good shape.”

        The surplus buses have been sold for bids as low as $1,500 and as high as $2,800. One bus is offered a week at a time, and bidding starts at $1,000.

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