(first posted 3/7/2016) If you grew up on the West Coast of the USA, in particular California, and more specifically Los Angeles, the picture above no doubt brings back a flood of memories…because if you took a bus to school, you most likely rode in a Crown Coach.
Crown Body and Coach Corporation of Los Angeles was one of the most unique, prolific, and successful bus, truck, and fire apparatus manufacturers in the western US from the 1930’s to the early 90’s.
The company began as the “Crown Carriage Company” in 1904, incorporated at the corner of 6th and Los Angeles St., in a no doubt much less crowded downtown LA.
They made their first motorized vehicle in 1916, and in 1920, their first school buses using Reo, Diamond T and Moreland truck chassis (1927 model pictured).
Throughout the 1930’s and 1940’s the company produced an evolutionary series of school bus designs.
The pinnacle of this evolution, and its signature model, was the Super Coach introduced in 1949. This was a fully modern coach with an under-floor engine in the middle of the chassis. Width was 96 inches and lengths came in 35 or 40 ft, for a max seating of 72 students.
1952 model
1977 model
So good was this initial design, that while modified and improved, it maintained the same general appearance for over 40 years.
What made Crowns so special? In a word – toughness – these buses were legendary for their strength, robust construction, and longevity. While most of Crown’s competitors used 45,000 psi steel, Crown’s floor-pan and framework were constructed of 90,000 psi ultra high tensile steel sheathed with heat-treated aluminum bodywork. The Super Coach’s double-walled steel body structure was both bolted and welded to outriggers on the main chassis which was built using nested channel frame rails and cross-members.
Multiple body posts protected both ends of the coach and the roof of the 35’ model was made up of 22 roll bars spaced 17 ½” apart. The 40’ Super Coach used 26 roll bars, all constructed of the firm’s 90K psi 12 gauge steel.
Yes, this was one tough bus…and Crown backed that up with an unprecedented 20-year/100,000 warranty on all of their coach bodies (later increased to 20-years/150,000 miles).
In addition to single axle models, Crown also built larger tandem axle versions that could seat up to 97 students.
Super Coaches were mid-engined and used horizontal Hall-Scott 779 cu in gasoline or Cummins 743 cu in NHH “pancake” diesel engines. Later versions used mostly Cummins NHH 855 cu in diesels. The Hall-Scott engines, though offering poor gas mileage, gave these buses good power.
The Super Coach chassis was also used for an intercity model.
Crown built other vehicles also – their fire apparatus arm was perhaps just as widely known.
Maybe more so as one of its models had a starring role in a certain 1970s Jack Webb produced TV show…
If you were in Southern California in the 60’s – 90’s, you likely encountered a Crown product……(hopefully not this one)…
Maybe the Library…
Or Post Office…
And if you weren’t in California, you may have ridden in one at another location, such as a national park.
Similar to Flxible Corporation, the company produced one-off and specialized models such as touring coaches for entertainers…(brownie points to anyone other than Paul or I who can remember Gene Autry).
And special models such as this “bruck”, a combination bus and truck.
So what became of the company? Sadly, it closed its doors in 1991 – cheaper (and less robust) competitors emerged and the company was slow to adopt to a changing market. Both Crown and Gillig, based in San Francisco (which Paul did an excellent post on here), gradually lost the west coast school bus market to these less expensive competitors. The fire apparatus arm, though still selling well, was not sufficient to sustain the company.
I grew up in the mid-west, so while I was aware of the company, I never had the opportunity to ride in one of their buses until a military tour took me to Hawaii in the mid-80’s – where several older Crowns were still operating as tour coaches. There were newer MCI units in service, but I always tried to see if I could catch a tour using one of the older Crowns – they had a distinct “solid” feel to them, and the Hall-Scott gasoline engines had a unique “deep baritone” engine note.
Though their numbers are slowly dwindling, you can still see examples of these tough coaches in service on the west coast, testament to a great company and a great product…and a unique part of California history.
The other distinctive CA school bus: CC Gillig Transit Coach – Built Like A Tank PN
Another rear-engined bus: CC 1957 Blue Bird All American PN
This coach is AVAILABLE…see on SkoolieLivin web site. I am a senior and just can’t drive it or work on it anymore… 8>( Really a great coach and priced to sell. Needs work.
I have always lived in the Midwest and had never seen or heard of these until a trip to LA in 1994. I kept seeing these school busses and couldn’t figure why they were still using 1940’s busses. When I got home I did a little research and learned the truth. Wow!
Living in Stanwood Washington school district in the 80s-90s, I rode a Crown bus now and then. But, most of the old round buses we had were Gilligs. I became infatuated with them in 3rd grade or so, and I’d often fantasize about buying one and converting it to a motorhome/party bus. I wanted my record player right behind the driver seat. I was a kid outta time.
By 1992, they were being phased out in favor of newer Thomas and BlueBird buses. Bluebird being the only bus manufacturer I recognized when we moved down south.
Well I only went to school, in Southern California, for grades 8-12 in Catholic schools so no bus ride to school ever. Back east for grades 1-7 also Catholic schools. So I have never ridden a school bus to school.
I think these have earned the honor of a second life of sorts. What would be super cool is if someone is crazy enough (hello Jay Leno I’m talking to you) and loaded enough to fund the cost of converting half a dozen busses to electric. It could be tag team effort of sorts, involving high school students, technical college students and one or two of the first electric car conversion companies in California. Maybe even Tesla could donate some parts. After all they have received millions in tax breaks from the state. Conversion of ICE cars into electric is still relatively small but it’s likely to become much larger. This could give many students exposure to being a part of this new area. Perhaps most important would be the pride of having their own little story, and being able to point to a bus they helped convert driving around for another 20-30 years.
It would be great to see these buses tooling around again. I think it is too late already, as most of them have been purged from the fleets. It wouldn’t be the same without the huge growl from the old-time engines. It would be like watching an aerial dogfight or air show fly-by without the sound.
Retooling these buses as electric would be like reconfiguring old DC-3s with modern controls and engines. Who wouldn’t love that?
Great information! Thanks.
Posted a shot of this before and didn’t hear anything from anyone. Thought the renewed interest might allow somebody at least a grin. Have had her since ’94, when she was still yellow with all seats and windows. This is the result of a phase 2 remake in 2019. Gotta love a huge woody!She’s been turbo’d, and tranny switched to 10 sp. from 5. 465 r22 tires and alcoas just for the higher rolling speed. Enjoy!
*VERY* pretty ! .
-Nate
Love it! Good job.
+10!
Gorgeous! I’ll be picking up my 83 Crown tandem in LA next month. It’s got a Cummins 855 Big Cam with 5 speed manual and straight pipes. Can’t wait! I noticed the motorcycle rack in your previous pic. I’m a rider myself if you don’t mind sharing how that works on the back of your Crown…
I had a 1955 crown bus about 30 years ago. The previous owner had cut out the trunk sheet-metal and made it so the strip of metal between the rear window and the trunk doors would open with the doors. That way the whole back end would open up and you could drive your bike right inside the bus with the help of a ramp. I’m currently buying a 40 footer double axle and I will be doing this with it. Hopefully there will be enough room to accommodate a Harley with a sidecar. I plan on doing air bags so I can put it on the ground to load and unload the bike.
This is the 1972 Crown that serves the Wandering Troubadours of Finland team as crew bus in the Great Race every year.
Whoops, I thought I had successfully attached a photo to that last post.
As I was told, the plural of bus is spelled buses in order to distinguish it from busses, the plural of buss (kiss).
Prior to high school, I was a “walker”. During the 1975-79 years that I rode the bus, out district had one like the lead in pic. All the others were the traditional school bus with the engine bay extending out in front.
Noticed, come the 1990’s, about all the buses looked the one in the lead pic.Not sure what years those “white” (some light emitting) roofs became the norm.
Does anyone know where I can find a operator manual or any manuals for an 88 SuperCoach? We are in Maryland so we have very little resources for Crown Coaches back east.
Try Paul Politis Auto Literature, politpaul@yahoo.com .