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83gmcwayne
New Member
United States
9 Posts |
 Posted - 08/08/2007 : 10:30:06 PM
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Ok, I am 31 years of age and I graduated from Center Point-Urbana High School in 1994 in Center Point Iowa and rode the bus from 1990 until 1994. The bus I rode was (if I remember).
1983 (I think cause it said 83 for bus number and all others said 901, 891, so forth)
1983 GMC Wayne, 65 passenger, 366 v-8 or 350 v-8 gas and a unruly 4+2 speed manual.
The bus was a basic piece of crap but nothing compared to this one I am trying to remember.
Back in 1991 when Urbana had some high school events (track, football ect), the newest bus was a 1991 model and the other 2 were the 83 and this one numbered 3-78, they took 901 and 83 for events and left us (83) with 3-78.
3-78, from what i can remember was a Ford, before the new cowl style (1980) and had a terrible shifting automatic.
The body style however is weird. It's not a Superior, Wayne, Ward, Wayne, Bluebird or Thomas, cause they all had labels on the bodies.
This one didn't, the only thing i seen was it said N.A. about where the Bluebird bird emblem starts on the top above the door.
It looks like those obsolete Delmar Keys but had some funny windows in the back, like an octagon like shape behind the last rear window but like katty cornered between the last window and the back door window panes.
I have searched all over the net and nothing I have found remotley looks like it. Noone liked driving the bus cause it was so ugly, uglier than the Delmar Keys bodies.
Back when I graduated, it was still there as a spare (used as a spare for the 91-92 year replaced by the districts FIRST ever diesel International Thomas)
They had some buses, like a 1976 Dodge Superior and an old Ford Bluebird (1974) and my old favorite was the old 1983 GMC Superior that puffed blue smoke when accelerating and deaccelerating.
Ok, thats enough, anyone have any ideas, post here.
Sorry for the bad grammar and lengthy post |
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BlueBirdMan
Senior Member
193 Posts |
Posted - 08/08/2007 : 10:38:35 PM
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I have no idea what it could be but sounds like an interesting mystery. I hope somebody can figure it out and post a picture of this bus.
Welcome to the forum 83gmcwayne |
Bring back the "backing" sign! |
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Jared
Top Member
USA
1865 Posts |
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Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 04:00:34 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Jared
was it one of these never spotted before Northern Air's?
http://rides.webshots.com/photo/2971569070096596221DpybmQ
[credit to Rich/School Bus Central for this image]
Might be one of those; no idea.
Welcome to the forums 
-Jake |
Yellow & Black
A new forum community dedicated to school bus driving, operations, maintenance and enthusiasts!
Come join the discussion! |
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83gmcwayne
New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 05:04:22 AM
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Thank you so much Jared and 92WardSenatorFE, that indeed is the one! I had thought of calling the school but I figured by now the old dinosaur was probably a camper/rv or in the scrap yard and they wouldn't know what the heck I was talking about.
After reading the article, explains why it was bought for the Center Point-Urbana school district, for the cold Iowa winters, which I do remember now that in the winter, it was warmer than ol 83 was!
At that time in 1978, Urbana hadn't consolidated with Center Point, not until 1989-1990 school year and maybe thats why Urbana went with a weird looking bus body and by the article, was expensive as well.
I wonder how long thse 'things' were in production? Don't matter, cause old 3-78 was the only one I ever seen.
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NWCROWN
Advanced Member
USA
461 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 11:11:50 AM
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My memory is fuzzy, but around 1980 (when in first grade) Danbury Local Schools in Lakeside, Ohio bought two new buses which I always thought were Wayne Internationals, but possibly could have been these. The roofcaps are very similar, and I do not vividly remember a Wayne emblem on these buses like there were on their older Ford Waynes. Ohio can get some pretty cold winters, so It is entirely possible. At the time Danbury had a mix of Ford Waynes, a couple Dodge Superiors, a few other Fords which may have been Blue Bird or wayne (didn't ride these much) and a couple late 60s Dodges (which these new buses replaced)
I am curious about the history of this company. |
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SuperiorGMC1963
Top Member
USA
1079 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 2:24:47 PM
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Northern Air buses were featured or mentioned in School Bus Fleet for only o few years, the late 70's. It seems the bus in question, as Jared already highlighted, would have to be a Northern Air. I've never seen one on a Ford chassis. They were made for northern climates and sold only in northern states. You have a great memory...and welcome to the forums!! |
Ted
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83gmcwayne
New Member
United States
9 Posts |
Posted - 08/09/2007 : 2:43:16 PM
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Thanks Superior!!
To be on a Ford chassis is kinda weird. That was the only one I had ever seen, and I am sure if someone has one, it could/would be a collectors item.
NWCrown,
Seems like those Dodge School buses were more common than I had thought. I thought those were pretty weird too when I first came onto the web and looking for Dodge chassis's and not finding hardly any at all, and I haven't found any interior shots of any as well.
As for the rest of the fleet in my school at the time of graduation, it was somewhat like this: (s) = spare
912 - 1991 international Thomas - 65 pass - 7.3 diesel?? Auto
911 - 1991 GMC Ward - 65 pass - 366 gas - auto
901 - 1990 Chevy Wayne - 65 pass - 366 gas - auto
891 - 1989 Chevy bluebird - 59 pass - 366 gas - auto
851 - 1985 Chevy carpenter - 54 pass - 366 gas - auto
841 - 1984 GMC Bluebird - 59 pass - 366 gas - auto
832 - 1983 Chevy Superior - 59 pass - 366 gas - 4 spd manual
831 - 1983 GMC Superior - 60 pass - 366 gas - 4 spd manual (s)
83 - 1983 GMC Wayne - 65 pass - 366 gas - 4+2 spd manual
791 - 1979 Ford Superior - 60 pass - 370 gas - manual (s)
3-78 - 1978 Ford North Air - 65 pass - gas - auto (s)
761 - 1976 Dodge Superior - 60 pass - gas - ????? (s)
75 - 1975 Ford Bluebird - 65 pass - gas - 4 or 5 spd manual (s)
I rode on them all except for 832, 791 and 761. There might have been a new one for 1993-1994 year, but don't remember . I know now they had a couple Amtran FE's, but haven't seen the fleet since 1995. Next time I am up by there I'll see, they are parked on the street and maybe try and get a photo, especially if that Dodge is still around. |
Edited by - 83gmcwayne on 08/09/2007 2:46:11 PM |
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Question about a school bus body
