Prevost Citadin
Recently the Editors of Vintage Motor Coach Magazine asked if I would author an article on Prevost’s urban transit coaches – specifically the “Citadin”, which we’ve covered here at CC. During that research, I came across two other Prevost urban transit models that are even more rare than the Citadin. As CC’s motto is every car (or bus) deserves its time in the spotlight, let’s look at these two little-known models, both of which were produced from 1961 – 67.
1961 Travel-Aire
1967 Flxible Flexette
First up is the “Travel-Aire”, a small front-engined bus designed for shuttle and paratransit service. What struck me initially was how similar it is to the later Flxible Flexette. It makes me wonder if Flx’s designers didn’t do some major cribbing. It came in 19 and 25 foot versions – and I couldn’t find any info on what engine it used.
Next is the larger S-Series, also called the “Panoramique Urbain”, which as you can see, seems like a top-half of a GM New Look grafted onto the bottom-half of a PD-4106. It was produced in 35 and 40 foot models and used mostly GM 6 and 8V-71 power plants. The picture above shows several of the five manufactured for BC Hydro Transit of Vancouver in 1965.
As we noted in the Citadin article, GM Canada had its London Ontario plant up and running in the early Sixties and was on its way to dominating the urban transit market, just as it had done south of the border. One on-line site says only eighty of these Prevost buses were made from 61-67. Post 1967, the company focused solely on its intercity and touring coaches.
If any of our Canadian readers have any experiences with these rare birds, please let us know in the comments below.
I’d also like to note a correction to the Citadin post (already corrected in the original) – I stated that the restored bus at the end of the article was part of Toronto Transit’s historical fleet. While referenced in several areas on-line, that was incorrect – the bus was meticulously restored over four years by a dedicated group of volunteers, many former Prevost employees, and the coach now resides with the Sainte Claire Township Historical Society.
Excellent finds, and research Jim, on these unique, early Prevost buses. Unfortunately, they were both before my time. I do recall popular Montreal-based tour and charter bus operator Murray Hill (seen in second photo), using various Prevost coaches. From the 1970’s, until today. With their memorable historical livery colour, being bright green. Though I don’t specifically recall, seeing the Murray Hill Travel-Aires. The later Travel-Aires, with their roof-mounted windows, seemed ideal for sightseeing.
I’ve attached a photo below of a Travel-Aire, in use in Downtown Montreal by Murray Hill, from June 17, 1975. The photo was taken by British-born Canadian bus photographer extraordinaire Paul A. Bateson.
Bateson has taken literally tens of thousands of bus photos, going back to the 1970’s. He has amassed a remarkable catalogue of bus pics. While also documenting pictorially, the history of many commercial bus operators. Well worth browsing, his massive Flickr collection of high quality photos. He also did a great job of detailing and documenting all his photos, with the particular bus models, locations, and dates. Well-organized, with many albums of bus photos, from around the world. With a focus on Canada, and the UK. A favourite site of mine.
https://www.flickr.com/photos/buses-international/albums/
Thanks Daniel – that’s a superb collection of photos.
I like the S-Series. It looks almost like a ‘severe-use’ version of the GMC New Look. More rugged, and battle-ready, for urban transit use.
Not familiar with the Prevost S-Series at all, thanks for the article. Very interesting bus. I wonder if it used the GM V-drive transmission arrangement.
Good question Robert – I couldn’t find any info on-line, but one commenter in the Citadin article mentioned he had driven one of these and it came with an 8V-71 with a 4-speed manual transmission, not the V-Drive automatic, so probably a longitudinal arrangement.
Good point, unless Prevost used the Spicer 4 speed/V-drive drivetrain out of a GM PD 4106, Suburban New Look, etc..
Jim, you continue to amaze me with your new additions, obscure as some of these are. That big S series is fascinating, as it has such a Prevost vibe in the lower half of the front, but then that Transit style window.
One has love old buses, that travel aire is special.
Attached is a picture of a Travel Aire (Murray Hill) in downtown Montreal. Murray Hill had the rights to transport people from Dorval airport to downtown Montreal, and maintained a fleet of buses (mostly all Prevost), current large sedan’s for the more affluent, and finally limo’s and executive cars for the business types. They had a monopoly on the rights over taxi drivers and other companies well into the 1970’s. I was able to roam their very large garage on Barre street in 1972, when the old man was attempting to buy a ’72 Laurentian for $2800. These were the large sedans used in the livery service that were about $4000 new, but Murray Hill would put about 30k in six months of hard Montreal miles on the units, which were then sold off. The manager gave us the extensive tour of the garage, and the number of buses was extraordinary. This is one place that I would love to re-visit if we ever invent time travel.
Another Murray Hill specialized tour bus cut down at their garage.
More
Outside Dorval airport. The ’58 Caddy limo is likely Murray Hill as well.
Dean, these are incredible photos, thank you! Murray HIll was probably the biggest tour and charter bus operator in Quebec and Southern Ontario at the time. They were everywhere. Along with Grey Coach!
Another photo by Paul A. Bateson, taken on May 22, 1976. Featuring the Prevost bus, with their panoramic windows.
Photo.
This one is one of my favourites…If ever there was a “Brougham” version of a bus, eh?
Great find! The designer obviously caught Olympics fever. I was always impressed that all vehicles in Murray Hill’s operational fleet, presented their best to the public. Every bus I saw, was very clean, with polite and professional drivers.
I took driver training at B.C. Hydro Transit in 1975. We spent a half day on these Prévost buses as they had a 4 speed manual transmission and a DD 8V-71. Ass backwards shift pattern 1st was where 4th normally is and 4th where 1st usually is….horrible bus to drive, I think they had 5 of them for the hill up to Simon Fraser university.