General Motors PD-4501 Scenicruiser
General Motors PD-4501 Scenicruiser | |
---|---|
Years of manufacture | 1954 to 1956 |
Length | 40 feet |
Width | 96 inches |
Power/Fuel | Diesel |
The General Motors PD-4501 Scenicruiser was a 43 passenger Parlor series coach built from 1954 to 1956 in the United States. All 1000 were built exclusively for Greyhound. Power was provided by two Detroit Diesel 4-71 engines driving through a fluid coupling. This configuration proved to be unsuccessful and the 979 remaining buses were rebuilt with Detroit Diesel 8V71 engines and 4-speed manual Spicer transmissions during 1961 and 1962 by the Marmon-Herrington Corporation.
The PD-4501 Scenicruiser was the result of five years of effort based on a design by Raymond Loewy. Originally conceived of as a 35 foot bus, Greyhound used a tandem-axle, 40 foot prototype called the GX-2 to successfully lobby for the lifting of restrictions against operation of 40 foot buses.
Originally, the design prototype for the Scenicruiser was a double decker, with access from the first level; and the driver would look to the road from the second level. However, it was soon decided that it would be a split-level instead, with a lower level containing the driving console and 10 seats behind it, and the upper level containing 33 seats. This arrangement also allowed a baggage compartment underneath the second level, while providing 360-degree view for the upper level. A lavatory was located on the rear of the first level. The Scenicruiser was equipped with air-ride suspension and was air conditioned.
Specifications
Engine:
- 2 - Detroit Diesel 4-71 (originally)
- Detroit Diesel 8V71N (After repowering)
Transmission:
Wheelbase:
- 261"
Operators
United States
Preserved Coaches
Year | Thumbnail | Serial | Original Owner | Fleet Number | Current Owner |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1954 | 001 | Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines | P5446 | Greyhound (as fleet number 1954) | |
1954 | 054 | Capitol Greyhound Lines | B9231 | Private owner | |
1954 | 104 | Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines | P5463 | Private owner | |
1954 | 112 | Southwestern Greyhound Lines | S115 | Private owner | |
1955 | 304 | New England Greyhound Lines | E5500 | Private owner | |
1955 | 516 | Overland Greyhound Lines | O1755 | Private owner | |
1955 | 731 | Southwestern Greyhound Lines | S175 | Red Bull | |
1955 | 733 | Southwestern Greyhound Lines | S177 | Private owner | |
1956 | 739 | Pacific Greyhound Lines | K2302 | Minnesota Transportation Museum | |
1956 | 759 | Pacific Greyhound Lines | K2322 | Sean Keating | |
1956 | 771 | Overland Greyhound Lines | O1773 | Private owner | |
1956 | 822 | Florida Greyhound Lines | F742 | Private owner | |
1956 | 883 | Eastern Greyhound Lines | E1175 | Atop the Bobby Hotel, Nashville, Tennessee | |
? | 932 | Eastern Greyhound Lines | E5626 | ABC Companies, Florida |