Blue Bird Ultra LF

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Blue Bird Ultra LF
Blue Bird Ultra LF
Years of manufacture 2003 to 2009
Length 30 or 35 feet
Width 102 inches
Power/Fuel Diesel or CNG
Blue Bird Ultra LF CNG

The Blue Bird Ultra LF is a low floor bus produced for transit and shuttle applications. It was available in two lengths: 30 and 35 feet. NABI acquired the Ultra LF along with Blue Bird's transit segment in 2006. Production of the Ultra LF was idled in 2009 and never resumed.

Design history

The Ultra LF was designed in the United Kingdom by Plaxton, which along with Blue Bird in the 1990s, had become part of Henlys Group. Plaxton developed a concept bus body called Bus 2000 which included a left-hand drive variant on a chassis built by Blue Bird in the United States. The right-hand drive variant was built on the Volvo Buses B6BLE chassis.

The very early Ultra LF buses had a front fascia that closer resembled the right-hand drive Bus 2000 prototypes. The bumper was more flush with the body and came in three pieces. Two pieces wrapped around the front quarters under the headlights, and one piece was incorporated into the centre panel. The headlight bezels tapered around the front quarter panels. Production Ultra LF buses would incorporate more American components which included a one-piece front bumper and new headlight assemblies.

Specifications

Operators

Canada Flag of Canada.png

United States Flag of the United States.png

Demonstrators and engineering units

Below is a ist of known demonstrator and engineering buses.

Fleet
number
Thumbnail Year VIN Engine Transmission Notes
2003 1BAGJBPA93F209609
  • 30'
  • Integrated front bumper
2003 1BAGHBPA53F211157 Cummins Westport B Gas Plus Allison B300R
  • 35'
  • CNG-powered
  • Submitted for Altoona test April 2005
2003 1BAGHBPA03F211213 Cummins ISB Allison B300R
  • 35'
  • Submitted for Altoona Test March 2003
2005 Cummins ISB Allison B300R
  • 35'
  • Red with white decals.
  • Shown at CUTA Trans-Expo 2006.

References

Blue Bird Ultra LF Specs
Personal notes & sightings