The smallest urban transit bus typically falls into the 25-29 passenger range – that’s true today and was also true during the pre and post-WWII period. Here’s a bus that tried to change that – and like all of those that came after it, really didn’t find much success in the market.
In the decade of the 40’s and 50’s, most mass transportation operators that needed a smaller low-cost vehicle for cross-town or low usage routes had two choices. One was the short wheelbase conventional “school bus” type, or two; a “stretchout” – a normal sedan with an added passenger section in the middle. But both of those had limitations with regards to standardization and efficient use of space.
ACF-Brill, one of the major urban transit bus manufacturers of the day, had its smallest model, the C-27 (twenty-seven passenger), but based on feedback from customers decided to test the market for an even more compact bus – the C-10.
1948 Willys Delivery Van
C-10
Rather than build its own, Brill used a Willys 2WD three-quarter ton delivery van chassis to underpin its mostly aluminum and steel body. The only engine available was the four cylinder “Go-Devil” flathead, famed for use in the military MB Jeep. Three rows of seats on one side and two on the other gave it its 10 passenger capacity. Atlanta purchased a few as in-town circulators but other orders failed to appear – after a year and only twenty-five models going down the production line, Brill pulled the plug.
The Flxible Flxette was a later, similar attempt at a small bus that did somewhat better being built over thirteen years but mostly in small numbers.
Today, at least in North America, the ubiquitous “cut-a-way” rules the roost when it comes to smaller buses.
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I knew about the Flxette but didn’t know there was a similar but much shorter transit bus.
Short standard school buses are still a thing – common for transporting kids to both advanced/magnet or special-needs schools or classes, and the latter use has unfortunately resulted in “shortbuses” being stigmatized amongst schoolkids.
It’s amazing that almost nobody thought to build a modern-style van for 8 to 15 person passenger loads until the 1960s, and didn’t get them right until the ’70s.
Another great topic, and research. Thank you, Jim.
I’ve always been attracted to small buses. As Ottawa’s suburbs expanded dramatically in the early 1970s, the local public transit had to make some tough decisions, what minibus they’d employ for their new suburban telebus service. Experimenting for several years, with different manufacturer’s proposed solutions. I rode each of these examples as a kid. The Mercedes bus, probably my favourite. The mobile home-like Rek-Vee Industries Club Car, co-developed by the Ontario provincial government, the most unusual.
OC Transpo’s ultimate decision by the late ’70’s, was to go with a fleet of regularly scheduled service 30 ft. Orion I buses, built by Ontario Bus Industries.
Interesting – thanks for the additional info Daniel.
The first bus is a Twin Coach TC-25. The Twin Coach was the only Dial-a-bus vehicle, that offered the convenience of rear exit doors. OC Transpo ran twenty-two of the RV-like Club Cars, that offered seating for seventeen. Nine of the nineteen-seat Mercedes buses were operated between 1976 and 1979.
The Orion I first entered service in 1978.
More on the last bus to carry the Twin Coach name:
https://www.curbsideclassic.com/bus-stop-classic/bus-stop-classics-1968-75-highway-products-twin-coach-tc-25-29-the-last-bus-to-carry-the-storied-twin-coach-name/
Interior view of the Rek Vee minibus, with seating more comfortable than usual public transit.
I had never really thought about a bus of this class, but it kind of makes sense (though in real life it really didn’t).
Cute, and unknown to me, not surprisingly. And modestly powered, but adequate for the intended use.
Atlantic City has been running jitney bus service for over 100 years and in the 50s they bought a number of International Metro van-based compact buses.
When I arrived in San Diego in 1976, they had a fleet of Mercedes compact buses they were running on the less dense routes. But they eventually gave them up. It’s just much more flxible to stick to one or two sizes of bigger buses which can run on any route.
Had never seen those IH van/buses before – thanks.
I love the GMC shorty ! would make a nifty camper or service truck .
-Nate
The new “Jeep Grand Cherokee’s” appear to be near the size of some of these “transporters”.
(at least , when looking out from my small car)
Divco got into the game too. Birmingham Transit had two units that served as railcrew shuttles from the long-gone downtown terminal station to Irondale’s Norris Yard. Late fifties, or early sixties.