Unitrans 4509-4510
Encyclopedia
Unitrans 4509 & 4510 were two General Motors New Look buses
operated in regular service by Unitrans
in Davis, California
. They had been owned by a previous operator(s) prior to their service with Unitrans.
4509 was one of a fleet of 15 identical buses built between 1960 and 1962 that were operated in Sacramento, CA by the Sacramento Transit Authority. While at Unitrans, 4509 was painted in the standard 1980s Unitrans paint scheme (a white lower-half and a black upper-half, with red and blue stripes running just below the point where the upper and lower halves meet).
4510 was repainted in the late-1980s with an experimental paint scheme that featured a wide blue band around the mid-section of the bus, topped by a narrow red pin-strip, over a white base (blue for the rear face of the bus). Due to the relatively large amount of blue paint in this color scheme, 4510 was affectionately known as the "Smurf Bus". 4510 was also a relatively old bus; it was built in 1959, the first year of production for the GM New Look bus.
Having been sold, they are no longer part of the Unitrans fleet.
Model: TDH-4517 New Look
Date built: June, 1961 (4509), 1959 (4510)
Engine: Detroit Diesel
6V-71 diesel
with an Allison
VH 2-speed automatic transmission
.
Length: 35 feet
Width: 8 feet
Seating capacity: 45
Original operator: Sacramento Transit Authority until 1973, Sacramento Regional Transit District
after 1973 (4509)
Original fleet number: 140 (4509)
Date acquired by Unitrans: Early 1980s
Current status: 4509 was retired and sold between 1998 and 2000 to a private party in the Sacramento area who has since converted it to an RV. 4510 was retired and sold in late 1996.
GM 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...
operated in regular service by Unitrans
Unitrans
Unitrans is the name for the transit system which operates in Davis, California. It takes its name from an abbreviation of the words "University Transport". Excepting several managerial and maintenance positions, Unitrans is managed and operated entirely by students of the University of...
in Davis, California
Davis, California
Davis is a city in Yolo County, California, United States. It is part of the Sacramento–Arden-Arcade–Roseville Metropolitan Statistical Area...
. They had been owned by a previous operator(s) prior to their service with Unitrans.
4509 was one of a fleet of 15 identical buses built between 1960 and 1962 that were operated in Sacramento, CA by the Sacramento Transit Authority. While at Unitrans, 4509 was painted in the standard 1980s Unitrans paint scheme (a white lower-half and a black upper-half, with red and blue stripes running just below the point where the upper and lower halves meet).
4510 was repainted in the late-1980s with an experimental paint scheme that featured a wide blue band around the mid-section of the bus, topped by a narrow red pin-strip, over a white base (blue for the rear face of the bus). Due to the relatively large amount of blue paint in this color scheme, 4510 was affectionately known as the "Smurf Bus". 4510 was also a relatively old bus; it was built in 1959, the first year of production for the GM New Look bus.
Having been sold, they are no longer part of the Unitrans fleet.
Technical specifications
Manufacturer: General Motors Corporation, Truck & Coach DivisionGMC (General Motors division)
GMC is a manufacturer of trucks, vans, military vehicles, and SUVs marketed in North America and the Middle East by General Motors Company. In January 2007, GMC was GM's second-largest-selling North American vehicle division after Chevrolet, ahead of Pontiac....
Model: TDH-4517 New Look
GM 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...
Date built: June, 1961 (4509), 1959 (4510)
Engine: Detroit Diesel
Detroit 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 diesel
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...
with an Allison
Allison Transmission
Allison Transmission is an American manufacturer of commercial duty automatic transmissions and hybrid propulsion systems. Allison products are specified by over 250 of the world’s leading vehicle manufacturers and are used in many market sectors including bus, refuse, fire, construction,...
VH 2-speed automatic transmission
Automatic transmission
An automatic transmission is one type of motor vehicle transmission that can automatically change gear ratios as the vehicle moves, freeing the driver from having to shift gears manually...
.
Length: 35 feet
Width: 8 feet
Seating capacity: 45
Original operator: Sacramento Transit Authority until 1973, Sacramento Regional Transit District
Sacramento Regional Transit District
The Sacramento Regional Transit District, commonly referred to as RT, is the agency responsible for public transportation in the Sacramento, California area. It was established on April 1, 1973, as a result of the acquisition of the Sacramento Transit Authority...
after 1973 (4509)
Original fleet number: 140 (4509)
Date acquired by Unitrans: Early 1980s
Current status: 4509 was retired and sold between 1998 and 2000 to a private party in the Sacramento area who has since converted it to an RV. 4510 was retired and sold in late 1996.