The Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company (later Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company, informally Yellow Coach) was an early manufacturer of passenger buses in the United States. It was founded in Chicago as a subsidiary of the Yellow Cab Company in 1923 by John D. Hertz. General Motors purchased a majority stake in 1925, changing its name to 'Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company. They then bought the company outright in 1943 merging it into their GM Truck Division to form GM Truck & Coach Division. During its twenty-year existence, Yellow Coach built transit buses, electric-powered trolley buses, and parlor coaches.
Its car rental subsidiary (known both as 'Hertz Drivurself Corp' or 'Yellow Drive-It-Yourself') was purchased back by John Hertz in 1953 through The Omnibus Corporation and floated the following year as The Hertz Corporation.
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Yellow Coach Manufacturing Co was founded in 1923 as a subsidiary of the Yellow Cab Company.[1]
G.J. Rackham, whose career had commenced with the London General Omnibus Company after the First World War, spent four years in the U.S. from 1922–1926 and recognised the advantage of low swept chassis frame for bus development whilst employed by Yellow Coach in Chicago. It is likely that he was 'headhunted' by Hertz to help start up the bus building business. In 1926, he returned to England to join Leyland Motors as Chief Engineer and was responsible for the groundbreaking Titan and Tiger models.
General Motors purchased a majority stake in the company in 1925 and changed the name to the Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company.[2]
GM purchased the business outright in 1943 merging it into their GM Truck Division to form GM Truck & Coach Division.[1]
Although GM continued with the Yellow Coach product line, the Yellow Coach badge gave way to the GM Coach or just GM nameplate in 1944. GMC badges did not appear until 1968.
The company owned a subsidiary, known as either Hertz 'Drivurself Corp' or 'Yellow Drive-It-Yourself' which was sold with Yellow Coach to General Motors and eventual purchased back by Hertz in 1953 with The Omnibus Corporation[3] which was the renamed The Hertz Corporation the following year.[4]
Model | Seats | Engine | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
U-models (1928-1935) | ||||
U-16 | 16 | front | transit or parlor coach | |
U-29 | 29 | front | transit or parlor coach | |
V-models (1930-1936) | ||||
V-29 | 29 | front | parlor coach | |
V-225 | 29 | front | transit or parlor coach | |
V-A-634 | front | parlor coach | ||
VR-819 | front | parlor coach | ||
W-models (1928-1935) | ||||
W-21 | 18-21 | front | transit or parlor coach | |
X-models (1924-1928) | ||||
X-21 | 17-21 | front | parlor coach | |
Y-models (1924-1932) | ||||
Y-29 | 29 | front | parlor coach | |
Y-Z-227 | ||||
Y-Z-229 | ||||
Y-O-254 | ||||
Y-U-316 | ||||
Z-models (1923-1936) | ||||
Z-29 | 29 | front | transit | |
Z-63 | front | transit | open-top double-decker | |
Z-66 | front | transit | semi-enclosed double-decker | |
Z-67 | front | transit | open-top double-decker | |
Z-200/Z-230 | front | transit | open-top double-decker | |
Z-230-W-8 | 33 | front | transit | |
Z-225 | front | parlor coach | ||
Z-250 | 33 | front | parlor coach | |
Z-240 | gdx | front | transit | |
Z-255 | 33 | front | parlor coach | |
Z-A-199 | front | transit | double-decker | |
Z-AAAM | front | transit | open-top double-decker | |
Z-AL-265 | front | transit | "All Service Vehicle" (combination bus/trolleybus) | |
Z-AQ-273 | ||||
Z-BI-610 | 32 | front | parlor coach | |
Z-BP-620 | 38 | front | transit | |
Z-BR-602 | 62 | front | transit | double-decker |
Z-C-201 | 66 | front | transit | double-decker |
Z-CT-843 | ||||
Z-E-203 | front | transit | open-top double-decker | |
ZBQ-621 | front | transit | gas-electric double-decker | |
Model | Seats | Engine | Type | Notes |
All models are 96 in (2.4 m) wide single-deck buses, except as noted.[5]
Model | Built | Qty | Seats | Wheelbase | Engine | Mounted | Type | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
700 | 1932 | 5 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | built for Houston Electric Company |
701 | 1931 | 12 | 44 | 213 in (5.4 m) | 600 VDC | rear | trolley coach | built for Wisconsin Gas & Electric Co. (Kenosha, WI) |
702 | 1931 | 0 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | experimental specifications; replaced by model 705 |
703 | 1931 | 1 | 44 | 213 in (5.4 m) | 600 VDC | rear | transit | trolley coach demonstrator |
704 | 1932 | 19 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | |
705 | 1932 | 24 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | replaced by model 708 |
706 | 1933 | 1 | 72 | 212 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | "Queen Mary" double-deck prototype; built for Chicago Motor Coach Company; replaced by model 720 |
707 | 1931–1934 | GM series 707 6 cyl. gas | poppet valve engine; no other details | |||||
708 | 1933–1934 | 27 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | replaced by model 718 |
709 | 1933–1934 | 63 | 18 | 146 in (3.72 m) 1⁄2 | GM series 257 6 cyl. gas | forward | transit | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; replaced by model 714 |
710 | 1934 | 1 | 22 | 180 in (4.6 m) | GM series 331 6 cyl. gas | forward | transit | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow body demonstrator; rebuilt into a model 713 |
711 | 1933–1934 | 131 | 30 | 178 in (4.54 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 400 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | 104-inch (2.6 m) wide version also built[6]; replaced by model 717 |
712 | 1933–1934 | 185 | 21 | 165 in (4.2 m) | GM series 257 6 cyl. gas | forward | transit | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow body model; replaced by model 715 |
713 | 1934 | 2 | 24 | 175 in (4.4 m) | GM series 331 6 cyl. gas | forward | transit | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow body demonstrators; replaced by model 716 |
714 | 1934 | 25 | 18 | 160 in (4.1 m) | GM series 257 6 cyl. gas | forward | transit | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; revised model 711 with streamlining; replaced by model 733 |
715 | 1934 | 400 | 21 | 160 in (4.1 m) | GM series 257 6 cyl. gas | forward | transit | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; revised model 712 with streamlining; replaced by model 733 |
716 | 1934–1937 | 183 | 23 | 179 in (4.5 m) | GM series 331 6 cyl. gas | forward | transit | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; revised model 713 with streamlining; replaced by model 739 |
717 | 1934–1936 | 122 | 30 | 178 in (4.54 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 400 6 cyl. gas | transit | revised model 711 with streamlining; 104-inch (2.6 m) wide version offered but not built[6]; replaced by model 728 | |
718 Series 1 |
1934–1935 | 125 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | replaced model 708[7] |
718 Series 2 |
1935 | 50 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | built for New York City Omnibus Corporation |
718 Series 3 |
1935–1936 | 221 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | revised rear end and other general improvements; built for New York City Omnibus Corp. |
718 Series 4 |
none built | 0 | no details | |||||
718 Series 5 |
1936–1937 | 22 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | left side emergency door; built for Pacific Electric Railway Co. |
718 Series 6 |
1936 | 6 | 40 | 213 in (5.4 m) | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | 44 in (110 cm) wide entrance, no center exit, left side emergency door; built for Pacific Electric Railway Co. and Los Angeles Railway Corp.; replaced by model 740 |
719 Ser. "EXP" |
1934 | 3 | 37 | 243 in (6.2 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | interurban | streamlined prototypes; built for Greyhound Lines |
719 | 1935–1936 | 329 | 36 | 245 in (6.2 m) | GM series 707 6 cyl. gas | rear | interurban | streamlined; built for Greyhound; replaced by model 743 |
720 Series 1 |
1934 | 1 | 72 | 217 in (5.5 m) | GM series 707 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | 12 ft 10 1⁄2 in (3.9 m) high double-decker; prototype; built for New York City Omnibus Corp. |
720 Series 2 |
1936 | 100 | 72 | 217 in (5.5 m) | GM series 707 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | built for Chicago Motor Coach Co. |
720 Series 3 |
1936 | 25 | 72 | 217 in (5.5 m) | GM series 707 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | built for New York City Omnibus Corp. |
720 Series 4 |
1938 | 40 | 217 in (5.5 m) | GM series 707 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | new fuel tank and battery location to eliminate fire hazards; built for Chicago Motor Coach Co. | |
720 Series 5 |
1938 | 35 | 72 | 217 in (5.5 m) | GM series 707 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | new fuel tank and battery location to eliminate fire hazards; built for New York City Omnibus Corp. |
721 | 1934 | 4 | 30 | 178 in (4.54 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | 104 in (2.6 m) wide body; replaced model 711; built for The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; replaced by model 1208 |
722 | 1934–1937 | 123 | 21 | 179 in (4.5 m) | GM series 400 6 cyl. gas | front | parlor | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow streamlined body; replaced by model 738 |
723 | 1934 | 14 | 21 | 179 in (4.5 m) | GM series 331 6 cyl. gas | forward | parlor | 84 in (2.1 m) narrow streamlined body; similar to model 722 except for drive train; replaced by model 738 |
724 | 1934 | 4 | 28 | 178 in (4.54 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 400 6 cyl. gas | rear | parlor | streamlined; replaced model 717; replaced by model PG-29 |
725 | 1934 | 4 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | streamlined; Banker automatic transmission; total includes one experimental unit; replaced by model 728 |
726 | none | 0 | 41 | 232 in (5.91 m) 1⁄2 | GM series 616 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | streamlined; replaced model 718 incorporating model 725 type body construction |
727 | 1934 | 10 | 36 | 214.625 in (5.4515 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | streamlined; replaced model 725; total includes one experimental unit; replaced by model 721 |
728 Series 1 |
1935 | 100 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | replaced model 717[6]; 24 built with straight frame, 76 built with bottle-neck frame |
728 Series 2 |
1935 | 165 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | bottle-neck frame |
728 Series 3 |
1935–1936 | 177 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | four different clutch and shift (air or manual) versions offered |
728 Series 4 |
1936 | 150 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | 18 built with flat floor, 132 built with floor ramped to rear |
728 Series 5 |
1936 | 50 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | strengthened frame; all with ramped floor |
728 Series 6 |
1936–1938 | 392 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | modified rear end for easier engine access; one rebuilt to series 6A prototype |
728 Series 6A |
1937–1938 | 92 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 479 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | same as series 6 except for engine |
728 Series 6B |
none | 0 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 479 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | same as series 6A but with improved interior lighting |
728 Series 7 |
1938–1939 | 31 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 479 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | rear end modified to accept either 479 or 529 engine; improved interior lighting; replaced by model TG-3201 |
729 Series 1 |
1935 | 61 | 36 | 213 in (5.43 m) 7⁄8 | GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric | rear | transit | "All Service Vehicle"; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport (Newark, NJ) |
729 Series 2 |
1936 | 25 | 36 | 213 in (5.43 m) 7⁄8 | GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric | rear | transit | improved front and rear ends; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport |
729 Series 3 |
1936 | 74 | 36 | 213 in (5.43 m) 7⁄8 | GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric | rear | transit | relocated electrical controller; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport |
729 Series 4 |
1936 | 1 | 36 | 213 in (5.43 m) 7⁄8 | Hercules 474 c.i.d. 4 cyl. oil-electric | rear | transit | similar to series 3 but with diesel-electric propulsion; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport |
729 Series 5 |
1937 | 195 | 36 | 213 in (5.43 m) 7⁄8 | GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric | rear | transit | similar to series 3 but with improved chassis and drop-sash windows; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport |
729 Series 6 |
1938 | 1 | 36 | 213 in (5.43 m) 7⁄8 | GM series 529 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric | rear | transit | simplified version of series 5; built for Baltimore Transit Company |
730 | none | 0 | 32 | 184 in (4.7 m) | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | streamlined; intended to replace model 728; replaced by model 728 series 2 |
731 Series 1 |
1935 | 10 | 36 | 214 in (5.45 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | built for St. Louis Public Service Company |
731 Series 2 |
1935 | 23 | 36 | 214 in (5.45 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | interchangeable frame for air or manual shift; 5 built with flat floor, 18 built with floor ramped to rear |
731 Series 3 |
1936 | 50 | 36 | 214 in (5.45 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | strengthened frame; all with ramped floor |
731 Series 4 |
1936 | 100 | 36 | 214 in (5.45 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | modified rear axle |
732 Series 5 |
1936–1938 | 161 | 36 | 214 in (5.45 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 450 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | modified rear end for easier drive-train access |
732 Series 5A |
1937–1939 | 42 | 36 | 214 in (5.45 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 529 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | same as series 5 except for engine |
732 Series 6 |
1937–1939 | 158 | 36 | 214 in (5.45 m) 5⁄8 | GM series 529 6 cyl. gas | rear | transit | streamlined; improved interior lighting; replaced by model TG-3601 |
733 | front | transit | ||||||
734 | rear | suburban | ||||||
735 | rear | transit | double-decker | |||||
736 | diesel | rear | ||||||
738 | rear | small parlor | ||||||
739 | rear | small transit | ||||||
740 | rear | transit | ||||||
741 | gas-electric | rear | transit | "All Service Vehicle" | ||||
742 | 1937–1939 | 172 | 37 | rear | suburban | replaced by model 1210[8] | ||
743 | rear | parlor | built exclusively for Greyhound and affiliates | |||||
744 | 36 | rear | transit | |||||
745 | rear | sleeper coach | ||||||
746 | diesel-electric | rear | transit | "All Service Vehicle" | ||||
Model | Built | Qty | Seats | Wheelbase | Engine | Mounted | Type | Notes |
Model | Seats | Type | Engine | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|
1203 | transit | |||
1204 | 24 | transit | rear | produced 1938-1940; replaced by model TG-2401[9] |
1208 | 41 | transit | trolleybus | 40 units built in 1938 for The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; last YC trolleybuses[10] |
1209 | 25 | parlor | rear | "Cruiserette"; replaced by model PG-2501[11] |
1210 | 37 | parlor | rear | 46 units produced in 1939; replaced by models PG-3701 and PD-3701[12] |
1213 | 29 | parlor | rear | replaced model 724; replaced by model PG-2901 without change |
All models were transit buses. TD models were diesel powered; TDE used diesel-electric propulsion; TG models had gasoline engines. Note that Yellow Coach realigned all models to series 05 in 1941.
Front engine
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Rear engine "old-look"
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All models are 96-inch (2.4 m) wide rear-engine parlor coaches.[13][14][15]
Model | Built | Quantity | Seats | Length | Engine | Notes |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
PG-2501 | 1939–1940 | 8 | 25 | 30 ft 1 in (9.2 m) | GMC 248 6 cyl. gas | Replaced model 1209 (1st series) without change. |
PG-2502 | 1939–1940 | 66 | GMC 308 6 cyl. gas | Raised rear end with different fan, radiator arrangement and transmission than PG-2501. | ||
PG-2503 | 1941 | 4 | GMC 248 6 cyl. gas | Same as PG-2501 with-two rod transmission shift, improved frame, improved engine mounts, conventional clutch pedal and sealed beam headlights; also includes appearance changes as listed under PG-2505. | ||
PG-2504 | 1940–1941 | 70 | GMC 308 6 cyl. gas | Same as PG-2502 with two-rod transmission shift, improved frame, improved engine mounts, conventional clutch pedal and sealed beam headlights. | ||
PG-2505 | 1941–1942 | 118 | GMC 308 6 cyl. gas | Same as PG-2504 with improved interior appearance and numerous special items now incorporated as standard. | ||
PG-2901 | 1939–1940 | 50 | 29 | 33 ft 0 in (10.1 m) | GMC 426 6 cyl. gas | "Cruiserette"[11]; replaced model 1213 without change. |
PD-2901 | 1939–1940 | 16 | GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel | "Cruiserette" | ||
PG-2902 | 1940–1941 | 56 | GMC 426 6 cyl. gas | "Cruiserette"; same as PG-2901 with two-rod transmission shift, and sealed beam headlights, double-wrapped spring eyes and improved double-drag steering link. | ||
PD-2902 | 1941–1942 | 249 | GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel | "Cruiserette"; same as PD-2901 with improved interior appearance and numerous special items now incorporated as standard. | ||
PG-2903 | 1941–1942 | 304 | GMC 426 6 cyl. gas | "Cruiserette"; same as PG-2902 with improved interior appearance and numerous special items now incorporated as standard. | ||
PD-3301 | 1942 | 115 | 33 | 33 ft 0 in (10.1 m) | GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel | Construction and appearance similar to PG-2900s. |
PG-3301 | 1942–1943 | 49 | GMC 477 6 cyl. gas | |||
PD-3701 | 1940–1941 | 59 | 37 | 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m) | GMC 6-71 6 cyl. diesel | "Silversides"[12] |
PDG-3701 | 1940–1941 | 240 | GMC 6-71 6 cyl. diesel | Greyhound version of the PD-3701. | ||
PG-3701 | 1940–1941 | 70 | GMC 707 6 cyl. gas | |||
PGG-3701 | 1940–1941 | 91 | GMC 707 6 cyl. gas | Greyhound version of the PG-3701. | ||
PDA-3701 | 1942–1943 | 185 | GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel | Construction and appearance similar to PG-2900s. | ||
PGA-3701 | 1942–1943 | 51 | GMC 477 6 cyl. gas | |||
PDG-4101 | 1940–1941 | 224 | 41 | 35 ft 0 in (10.7 m) | GMC 6-71 6 cyl. diesel | 1940 Greyhound specifications. |
PGG-4101 | 1940–1941 | 35 | GMC 707 6 cyl. gas | 1940 Greyhound specifications. |
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