Unitrans 4528-4535

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

4529 pulling into the MU Terminal (photo taken in the early-mid 1990's)

Unitrans 4528-4535 were eight ex-San Diego Metropolitan Transit System, General Motors New Look buses operated in regular service by Unitrans in Davis, California. Originally, they were part of a fleet of 50 identical buses built in 1967 that operated in San Diego, CA.

These were the last General Motors buses purchased by Unitrans, and the last buses not be equipped with power steering to be purchased by Unitrans. In the early 1990s, all of these buses, except for 4533, were modified to add a wheelchair lift that was accessed via a third door that swung out from the bus when opened and was located between the front and rear passenger doors. The modification resulted in the removal of approximately 12-16 seats to make room for the wheelchair lift and wheelchair tie-downs. 4533 was not fitted with a wheelchair lift because its engine had been removed and it was no longer in service at the time the others were modified. Having been sold, they are no longer part of the Unitrans fleet.

[edit] Technical specifications

Manufacturer: General Motors Corporation, Truck & Coach Division

Model: TDH-4519 New Look

Date built: December, 1967

Engine: Detroit Diesel 6V-71 diesel with an Allison VS2 3-speed automatic transmission.

Length: 35 feet

Width: 8 feet

Seating capacity: 45 (this was reduced by 12-16 seats, varying by bus, when wheelchair lifts were added in the early-1990's)

Original operator: San Diego Metropolitan Transit System

Date acquired by Unitrans: Late-1980's

Current status: 4533 was removed from service prior to 1993. All were retired and sold to private parties in 2004. 4528 was originally sold to a Unitrans employee (a student living in Davis), 4534 was originally sold to a Davis resident, and 4535 was originally sold to a Sacramento resident.