BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Fri May 04, 2007 11:19 pm Post subject: GM 'Old Looks' from Russia?

I couldn't believe my eyes when I came upon a site (below) with pictures of what look to be almost exact replicas of GM old looks from the forties built in the Soviet Union!

It's really no big surprise to me though because the Russians were good at copying pretty much anything including our Packard and Cadillac limousines.

In fact, I caught sight of them 'removing' a 1961 Cadillac limo on board 'comrade' Khrushchev's private liner as he was hightailing it out of town after that famous shoe banging episode at the U.N.!

It wasn't long after that that Moscow was teaming with Cadillac look alikes!

As far as the buses are concerned, they must have gone to great lengths to create the exact stampings - they might just as well have bought them right off the GM assembly line!

Enjoy! http://www.classicbusdepot.com/bus-photos/59_0_1_0_C/

Mr. Linsky

"The Green Hornet"
Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

Cyberider · Joined: 27 Apr 2007 Posts: 501 Location: Tempe, AZ

I've seen pictures of similar Soviet buses but none as close to a real Old Look that this one is. Very interesting! Guess they knew a good thing when they saw it.

RailBus63 · Moderator Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 1063

Fascinating. The headlights strongly resemble a prewar Yellow Coach bus, which was the earliest version of the Old Look line. Is it possible one or more actual Yellow/GM buses were brought over to Europe during World War II and left behind?

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat May 05, 2007 10:59 pm Post subject:

Dieseljim

In material that I get from Australia from time to time, I notice that a number of their buses bear a striking resemblance to buses used here in the states. This is particularly true of some of the highway coaches used by Crisps Coaches, Brisbane Bus Lines, McCafferty-Greyhound to name a few and some of the transit buses used by Sydney buses. They even had some MCIs adapted to their driving on the opposite side of the road that we do.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 1:01 am Post subject:

D.J.,

The closest photo that I have in my file (see below) is a mid forties White built for Australia with right hand drive as can be detected by the placement of the emergency door which is always on the driver's side.

Also, if you peek through the rear windows you can see the rear door on the left side.

Photo courtesy of White Motor Company Export.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2009 2:17 am Post subject:

D.J.,

Here's another one I found in my files of a GM PD 4106 built for Australia.

Other than the lettering, you would think you're looking in your rear view mirror!

I'm wondering if the screen across the lower part of the windshield has something to do with insects?

Thanks to Colin Davison for the photo.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

ripta42 · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 8:06 am Post subject:

Interesting... it's right hand drive, but it appears the door is also on the right side. I guess Pioneer Tours didn't do much curbside dropoff!

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 4:24 pm Post subject:

Michael,

The problem with what you are seeing is the fact that the passenger door is so well fitted that it appears not to be a door at all!

The fact of the matter is that there is a passenger door on the left side.

Notice that there is a greater separation between the main front bumper and the small extension under the door so that the small extension can over-ride the bumper when the door is opened.

Also note on the Trailways 4106 below that there is an unbroken molding which surrounds the driver's window and the short angled window behind it which does not appear on the Australian model.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY

ripta42 · Posted: Sun Mar 08, 2009 7:35 pm Post subject:

So I see! Very clever design.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Fri Mar 13, 2009 12:37 pm Post subject:

While we're on the subject of right hand drive buses, here's a 'Bingham Class' C-50 Mack demonstrator built for Stockholm, Sweden back in the 50's.

It is said that there was a relationship between Mack and Swedish bus builder Scania-Vabis, and that they were instrumental in securing for Mack several hundred orders for C-41-DT's for South American operators in the late forties.

The C-50 demonstrator served only as a model from which Scania fashioned a series of buses for the City of Stockholm.

Despite the claim in the ad, no other C-50's went to Sweden.

Photo courtesy of Mack Marketing.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, NY