| Author |
Message |
Jayjay (207.30.115.168)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, January 30, 2002 - 10:50 pm: | |
Yes A. specifically the A in GMC's 4095's,4108's etc. I heard another spirited discussion about it again today.I have heard, and seen printed:
1)Automatic Transmission
2)Air Conditioned ( my vote)
3)A,B,C etc. This became Series 1,2,3 etc. up until they brought out the HD Models. Maybe RJ or John V. or Fred Rayman can give us a written text reference to stop these knock-down-drag-outs. Heck, it even happened at the Arcadia Bash. Straghten this one out, then I'll ask about PD,P7M,P8M,HD8, etc. Tahnks, and Cheers...JJ |
RJ Long (24.127.8.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 3:34 am: | |
OK, JJ, here goes:
Using my coach as an example first (PD4106-2784):
P = Parlor coach - from the railroad industry, to denote a more luxurious interior than a regualr "day" coach (or, in our case, transit bus).
D = Diesel engine.
41 = number of seated passengers w/o the optional restroom.
06 = sixth design of the 41 passenger series.
2784 = sequential production number, starting with 001.
For whatever reason, GM changed the nomenclature slightly in 1972 with the 4108/4905 Buffalos. For example, P8M4905A - 1470, which was originally sold to Orange Belt Stage of Visalia, CA in October of 1976:
P = Parlor, unchanged.
8 = Number of engine cylinders.
M = Manual Gearbox (altho there were some Buffalos delivered from the factory with automatics, this "M" designation wasn't changed, TTBOMK.)
49 = number of seated passengers w/o restroom.
05 = fifth design of the 49 passenger series.
A = Air Conditioned - NOT Automatic Transmission. GM denoted automatics as "H", for hydraulic. See the next post regarding transits for more on this. . .
1470 = Sequential Production number.
Starting in 1979, GM again changed the nomenclature, to (according to Larry Plachno of National Bus Trader), more closely follow the modular designation of the RTS series of Transit Buses. Thus, the 4905 became H8H649, which breaks down as follows for VIN H8H649A-233:
H = Highway coach, as opposed to a transit.
8 = Number of engine cylinders, (unchanged)
H = Length. A little confusing, but each letter of the alphabet equaled a five-foot module (taken from the RTS - I know the 4905 is not built with modular construction). Since H is the eighth letter of the alpabet, it means a 40-foot coach (8x5 = 40).
6 = Width in inches, in this case, 96.
49 = Number of seated passengers - unchanged.
A = Air Conditioned. This is a little off, as the first 125 "H8H" Buffalos were built w/o the A in their VIN.
233 = Sequential Production Number - again, unchanged. (233, BTW, was the last Buffalo built.)
The most common place nowdays to find this information is in Larry Plachno's excellent book "Modern Intercity Coaches". (http://www.busmag.com)
I've picked up a lot of this info a long time ago from a good friend's father, who used to be the GMC warranty service rep for GMC Truck & Coach.
See the next Post for some additonal nomenclature info, primarily the transits (Fishbowls!).
RJ |
RJ Long (24.127.8.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 3:42 am: | |
More Nomenclature:
T = Transit body with two doors.
S = Suburban transit body with a single front door.
M = Manual transmission.
H = Hydraulic (automatic) transmission.
So an SDM4512-xxx would be a Suburban with a diesel engine and manual gearbox, seating 45 passengers, and the 12th revision of the original design.
A TDH4512-xxx would be a two-door transit bus with an automatic transmission.
All this went out the window somewhat in 1981, when the Feds required a 17 digit VIN. I haven't kept up with it since that change-over, but the RTS folk know how to break them down.
HTH,
RJ |
Bill Butler (65.58.221.16)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Thursday, January 31, 2002 - 10:33 am: | |
I have noticed that some are researching the history of their buses. Could someone tell me
how to go about that?
Thanks. |
Jayjay (207.30.115.132)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 01, 2002 - 12:36 am: | |
Hey RJ, what do you mean HTH? It's fantastic, all I ever wanted to know and more. I certainly appreciate the time it took to write that long, informative post. Thanks, and Cheers...JJ |
RJ Long (24.127.8.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 01, 2002 - 1:53 am: | |
You're welcome, glad I could help.
Think maybe for next year's Arcadia party I should send a flyer to be handed out at the registration desk explaining all this stuff??
LOL. . . 8^)
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
RJ Long (24.127.8.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, February 01, 2002 - 2:23 am: | |
Bill -
Here are a couple of suggestions for you:
Pick up a copy of "Modern Intercity Coaches" by Larry Plachno of National Bus Trader magazine. Excellent reference source. http://www.busmag.com
If you have a GMC highway coach, send me the VIN and I can check my roster to see who originally purchased it.
GMC transit delivery lists are available on the web, at: http://www.geocities.com/MotorCity/Downs/9036/GM_Delivery.html
HTH,
RJ Long
PD4106-2784
"The Giant Greenbrier"
Fresno CA |
Jayjay (207.30.115.23)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, February 02, 2002 - 12:00 am: | |
Arcadia? Next year? Why not just show up? Jack and Paula (Paula & Jack) would probably be proud to have you give a short bus-history seminar, and they serve a mean chicken barbecue. ...JJ |
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