Flxible New Look bus
Encyclopedia
The Flxible New Look bus is a transit bus
introduced in 1960 by The Flxible Company
, and produced from 1960 until 1978, when the New Look was replaced by the "870" Advanced Design Bus
. Over its 17-year production run 13,121 Flxible New Look buses were manufactured.
6V-71 (6-cylinder) / 8V-71 (8-cylinder) diesel engine
(however, 150 propane fueled Flxible New Looks were built for the Chicago Transit Authority
in the mid-1960s, Detroit Diesel 4-71 (4-cylinder) diesel engines were available for some models in the mid-1960s, and Cummins
165-285 and 903 8-cylinder diesel engines were available until 1973 as an alternative to the Detroit Diesel engines). Originally, the Flxible New Look was only available in lengths of 35 and 40 feet (12.2 m) and widths of 96 or 102 inches (2.6 m), however 31 and 33 feet (10.1 m) models later became available. Until 1963, these buses carried both the Flxible and the Twin nameplates, with the Twin name located in a small oval beneath the Flxible shield on the front of the buses (Twin Coach
had been a manufacturer of transit buses as early as 1927 and sold its transit bus product line to Flxible in 1953). In 1964 and 1965 Flxible produced a suburban model meant for longer distance highway routes, and these buses were equipped with all forward-facing high-backed seats and overhead luggage racks, but lacked a rear exit door and standee windows. Air conditioning
was an available option on all models, and in most cases was identifiable by a bulge above the rear window where the roof-mounted condenser and cooling fan were located (some buses were built with under-floor air conditioning). Air-ride suspension
was standard on all models.
, and a majority of the New Looks continued to be built here during the life of the New Look's production run.
In 1963, Flxible started building a line of shorter buses at the former Southern Coach factory in Evergreen, Alabama
. These buses came in lengths of 31, 33, and 35 feet (10.7 m), and were all 96 inches (2.4 m) wide. The buses built in Evergreen where generally identical in appearance to those built in Loudonville, except that the Evergreen buses had only two headlights, while the Loudonville buses had four. The Evergreen buses were available with either the 4-71 (4-cylinder) or 6V-71 (6-cylinder) Detroit Diesel engine. Production in Evergreen stopped in 1966.
In 1965, Flxible licensed their New Look design to Canadair Ltd.
, an aircraft manufacturer in Ville St-Laurent, Quebec. All were 40 feet (12.2 m) long and 102 inches (2.6 m) wide, and carried both the Flxible and Canadair nameplates. The intent of this licensing venture was to enter the Canadian bus market, however production stopped in 1966 after just one order for Montreal.
In 1970, Flxible was purchased by Rohr Industries
, and in 1974 a new factory and corporate headquarters were opened in Delaware, Ohio
. Final assembly of all New Looks was moved to Delaware, with the Loudonville factory still being used for the manufacture of sub-assemblies and parts. Also in 1974, a 31 feet (9.4 m), 96 inches (2,438.4 mm) model became available and was built in Loudonville/Delaware. It was only available with the 6V-71 (6-cylinder) Detroit Diesel engine.
, and in fact Flxible New Looks were commonly equipped with GM engines. This was due largely to the consent decree resulting from the 1956 anti-trust
case United States v. General Motors Corp. which mandated that GM's bus components, engines, and transmissions be made available for sale to other manufacturers, free of royalties. However, it should also be noted that prior to the consent decree a small number of earlier model (pre-New Look) Flxible buses were built with GM engines, at the same time that GM vice president Charles F. Kettering
was also chairman of the board at Flxible. It has been suggested that prior to the consent decree GM may have made its diesel engines available to Flxible in order to reduce the criticisms of GM's business practices that some felt were monopolistic
Another area of competition between the two manufacturers, but where Flxible had an advantage, was the market for 35 feet (10.7 m) long buses equipped with 8-cylinder diesel engines. In 1966 GM began offering its Detroit Diesel 8V-71 8-cylinder diesel engine on its 40 feet (12.2 m) New Look transit buses; however GM would not equip its 35 feet (10.7 m) models with anything larger than the 6V-71 6-cylinder diesel engine. In response to the desire by some transit agencies for a shorter bus with a larger engine (mainly for hilly routes, freeway driving, or to provide extra power for air conditioning equipped buses), Flxible offered its 35 feet (10.7 m) New Look with the Detroit Diesel 8V-71, the Cummins 165-285, and the Cummins 903 8-cylinder diesel engines.
Transit bus
A transit bus , also known as a commuter bus, city bus, or public bus, is a bus used for short-distance public transport purposes...
introduced in 1960 by The Flxible Company
Flxible
The Flxible Co. was a motorcycle sidecar, funeral car, ambulance, intercity coach and transit bus manufacturing company based in the United States that was founded in 1913, and which closed in 1996.-History:In 1913, Hugo H. Young and Carl F...
, and produced from 1960 until 1978, when the New Look was replaced by the "870" Advanced Design Bus
Flxible Metro
The Flxible Metro is a transit bus that was manufactured by the Flxible Corporation from 1978 until 1996. From 1978 until 1983, when Flxible was owned by Grumman, the model was known as the Grumman 870, with a Grumman nameplate.-History:...
. Over its 17-year production run 13,121 Flxible New Look buses were manufactured.
Design
The Flxible New Look bus shares many design features with the GM New Look bus that was introduced in 1959. Both buses featured large 6-piece "fishbowl" windshields, forward-slanting side windows, fluted aluminum siding, and slide/glide front passenger doors. Both buses were also equipped with the same engine: the Detroit DieselDetroit Diesel
As a corporation, Daimler Trucks North America has decided to rename the company "DETROIT".Detroit Diesel Corporation is an American-based diesel engine producer headquartered in Detroit, Michigan, USA...
6V-71 (6-cylinder) / 8V-71 (8-cylinder) diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
(however, 150 propane fueled Flxible New Looks were built for the Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority
Chicago Transit Authority, also known as CTA, is the operator of mass transit within the City of Chicago, Illinois and some of its surrounding suburbs....
in the mid-1960s, Detroit Diesel 4-71 (4-cylinder) diesel engines were available for some models in the mid-1960s, and Cummins
Cummins
Cummins Inc. is a Fortune 500 corporation that designs, manufactures, distributes and services engines and related technologies, including fuel systems, controls, air handling, filtration, emission control and electrical power generation systems...
165-285 and 903 8-cylinder diesel engines were available until 1973 as an alternative to the Detroit Diesel engines). Originally, the Flxible New Look was only available in lengths of 35 and 40 feet (12.2 m) and widths of 96 or 102 inches (2.6 m), however 31 and 33 feet (10.1 m) models later became available. Until 1963, these buses carried both the Flxible and the Twin nameplates, with the Twin name located in a small oval beneath the Flxible shield on the front of the buses (Twin Coach
Twin Coach
Twin Coach was an American vehicle manufacturing company from 1927 to 1955, based in Kent, Ohio, and a maker of marine engines and airplane parts until the 1960s. It was formed by brothers Frank and William Fageol when they left the Fageol Motor Company in 1927. They established the company in...
had been a manufacturer of transit buses as early as 1927 and sold its transit bus product line to Flxible in 1953). In 1964 and 1965 Flxible produced a suburban model meant for longer distance highway routes, and these buses were equipped with all forward-facing high-backed seats and overhead luggage racks, but lacked a rear exit door and standee windows. Air conditioning
Air conditioning
An air conditioner is a home appliance, system, or mechanism designed to dehumidify and extract heat from an area. The cooling is done using a simple refrigeration cycle...
was an available option on all models, and in most cases was identifiable by a bulge above the rear window where the roof-mounted condenser and cooling fan were located (some buses were built with under-floor air conditioning). Air-ride suspension
Air suspension
Air suspension is a type of vehicle suspension powered by an engine driven or electric air pump or compressor. This pump pressurizes the air, using compressed air as a spring. Air suspension replaces conventional steel springs. If the engine is left off for an extended period, the car will settle...
was standard on all models.
Manufacture
At the start of production all New Looks were built at the Flxible factory in Loudonville, OhioLoudonville, Ohio
Loudonville is a village in Ashland and Holmes counties in the U.S. state of Ohio. The population was 2,906 at the 2000 census. Loudonville is nicknamed the "Canoe Capital of Ohio" for the many canoe liveries along the Mohican River...
, and a majority of the New Looks continued to be built here during the life of the New Look's production run.
In 1963, Flxible started building a line of shorter buses at the former Southern Coach factory in Evergreen, Alabama
Evergreen, Alabama
Evergreen is a city in Conecuh County, Alabama, United States. As of the 2010 census the population was 3,944. The city is the county seat of Conecuh County.-History:Early settlers to the area came from Georgia and South Carolina beginning in 1818...
. These buses came in lengths of 31, 33, and 35 feet (10.7 m), and were all 96 inches (2.4 m) wide. The buses built in Evergreen where generally identical in appearance to those built in Loudonville, except that the Evergreen buses had only two headlights, while the Loudonville buses had four. The Evergreen buses were available with either the 4-71 (4-cylinder) or 6V-71 (6-cylinder) Detroit Diesel engine. Production in Evergreen stopped in 1966.
In 1965, Flxible licensed their New Look design to Canadair Ltd.
Canadair
Canadair Ltd. was a civil and military aircraft manufacturer in Canada. It was a subsidiary of other aircraft manufacturers, then a nationalized corporation until privatized in 1986, and became the core of Bombardier Aerospace....
, an aircraft manufacturer in Ville St-Laurent, Quebec. All were 40 feet (12.2 m) long and 102 inches (2.6 m) wide, and carried both the Flxible and Canadair nameplates. The intent of this licensing venture was to enter the Canadian bus market, however production stopped in 1966 after just one order for Montreal.
In 1970, Flxible was purchased by Rohr Industries
Rohr, Inc.
Goodrich Aerostructures Group, formerly Rohr, Inc., is an aerospace manufacturing company based in Chula Vista, California, south of San Diego...
, and in 1974 a new factory and corporate headquarters were opened in Delaware, Ohio
Delaware, Ohio
The City of Delaware is a city in and the county seat of Delaware County in the United States state of Ohio. Delaware was founded in 1808 and was incorporated in 1816. It is located near the center of Ohio, is about north of Columbus, and is part of the Columbus, Ohio Metropolitan Area...
. Final assembly of all New Looks was moved to Delaware, with the Loudonville factory still being used for the manufacture of sub-assemblies and parts. Also in 1974, a 31 feet (9.4 m), 96 inches (2,438.4 mm) model became available and was built in Loudonville/Delaware. It was only available with the 6V-71 (6-cylinder) Detroit Diesel engine.
Competition with General Motors
During the 1960s, Flxible was the only large-production competitor to General Motors in the American transit bus market, although it was still a distant second with GM building more than twice as many buses. The Flxible New Look bus bears a close resemblance to the GM New Look busGM New Look (Fishbowl) Bus
The GM New Look bus, also commonly known by the nickname "Fishbowl" , is a transit bus introduced in 1959 by General Motors and produced until 1987. More than 44,000 New Look buses were built. Its high production figures and long service career made it an iconic North American transit bus. The...
, and in fact Flxible New Looks were commonly equipped with GM engines. This was due largely to the consent decree resulting from the 1956 anti-trust
Antitrust
The United States antitrust law is a body of laws that prohibits anti-competitive behavior and unfair business practices. Antitrust laws are intended to encourage competition in the marketplace. These competition laws make illegal certain practices deemed to hurt businesses or consumers or both,...
case United States v. General Motors Corp. which mandated that GM's bus components, engines, and transmissions be made available for sale to other manufacturers, free of royalties. However, it should also be noted that prior to the consent decree a small number of earlier model (pre-New Look) Flxible buses were built with GM engines, at the same time that GM vice president Charles F. Kettering
Charles Kettering
Charles Franklin Kettering was an American inventor, engineer, businessman, and the holder of 186 patents. He was a founder of Delco, and was head of research for General Motors for 27 years from 1920 to 1947. Among his most widely used automotive inventions were the electrical starting motor and...
was also chairman of the board at Flxible. It has been suggested that prior to the consent decree GM may have made its diesel engines available to Flxible in order to reduce the criticisms of GM's business practices that some felt were monopolistic
Monopoly
A monopoly exists when a specific person or enterprise is the only supplier of a particular commodity...
Another area of competition between the two manufacturers, but where Flxible had an advantage, was the market for 35 feet (10.7 m) long buses equipped with 8-cylinder diesel engines. In 1966 GM began offering its Detroit Diesel 8V-71 8-cylinder diesel engine on its 40 feet (12.2 m) New Look transit buses; however GM would not equip its 35 feet (10.7 m) models with anything larger than the 6V-71 6-cylinder diesel engine. In response to the desire by some transit agencies for a shorter bus with a larger engine (mainly for hilly routes, freeway driving, or to provide extra power for air conditioning equipped buses), Flxible offered its 35 feet (10.7 m) New Look with the Detroit Diesel 8V-71, the Cummins 165-285, and the Cummins 903 8-cylinder diesel engines.
Model designations
Several different variations of model designations were used for Flxible New Look buses, with changes being made over time and between the various manufacturing locations. The letters and numbers gave a basic description of the type of bus as follows:| First generation (1960-1968)1 | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Width | Fuel | Engine | Length | Engine mount | Configuration | Luggage | Air conditioning | |
| F2 = 102 in F = 96 in |
D = Diesel P = Propane |
47 = Detroit Diesel 4-71 6V = Detroit Diesel 6V71 6VT = Detroit Diesel 6V71: T-drive transmission 6V5 = Detroit Diesel 6V71: built in Evergreen V8C = Cummins 165-285
|
-31 = 31 sq ft (2.9 m²) -33 = 33 sq ft (3.1 m²) -35 = 35 sq ft (3.3 m²) -40 = 40 ft (12.2 m) |
1 = Transverse mount | -1 = Transit -7 = Suburban2 |
-UL = Under-floor luggage storage2
|
-AC = Air conditioning
|
|
| First generation - Canadair (1965-1966) | ||||||||
|
Société de transport de Montréal The Société de transport de Montréal is a public transport agency that operates transit bus, and rapid transit services in Montreal, Quebec, Canada... . |
||||||||
| Second generation (1966-1973) | ||||||||
| Build location | Type | Length | Width | Engine | Air conditioning | |||
| 1 = Loudonville, Ohio 4 = Evergreen, Alabama3 |
11 = Transit with a transversely mounted engine. | C = 40 ft D = 35 ft G = 33 ft H = 31 ft (9.4 m) |
C = 102 in D = 96 in |
-C1 = Cummins 165-285 -C3 = Cummins 903 -D1 = Detroit Diesel 4-71 -D4 = Detroit Diesel 6V71 -D5 = Detroit Diesel 6V71: V-drive transmission -D6 = Detroit Diesel 8V71 |
-1: Air conditioning
|
|||
| Third generation (1973-1978) | ||||||||
| Nominal seating capacity | Width | Engine | Air conditioning | |||||
| 35 = 31 ft 45 = 35 ft 53 = 40 ft (12.2 m) |
096 = 96 in 102 = 102 in |
-6 = Detroit Diesel 6V71 -8 = Detroit Diesel 8V71 |
-0 = No air conditioning -1 = Air conditioning |
|||||
Notes:
|
||||||||
- Two typical bus model designations of first-generation Flxible New Looks are F2D6V-401-1 and FD6V-401-7-UL-AC.
- Two typical bus model designations of second-generation Flxible New Looks are 111CC-C3-1 and 111DD-D5-1.
- Two typical bus model designations of third-generation Flxible New Looks are 45096-6-0 and 53102-8-1.
See also
- GM New Look bus - competing bus built by General Motors
- Flxible MetroFlxible MetroThe Flxible Metro is a transit bus that was manufactured by the Flxible Corporation from 1978 until 1996. From 1978 until 1983, when Flxible was owned by Grumman, the model was known as the Grumman 870, with a Grumman nameplate.-History:...
- originally the Grumman 870, the succeeding model - Flyer IndustriesNew Flyer IndustriesNew Flyer Industries Inc. is a bus manufacturer in North America, headquartered in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. It also has factories in Crookston and St. Cloud, Minnesota, USA.-History:...
D700A - bus shell design similar to the Flxible New Looks and marketed mostly in Canada