About Fun Fleet Bus #175
Some Specs
#175
Vin: SDM-4501-070
Built May 1961
First Generation (1959-1962)
96 inches wide/35 feet long
Single door Suburban with suburban seating
45 seats
Added to Fun Fleet
This bus was purchased from a private party but was originally built for AC Transit of Oakland, built in May 1961; original number "300"
This was a first generation SDM-4501 and had a 6V71 Detroit Diesel with a manual 4 speed Spicer transmission. The bus was odd in that AC Transit bought these with manual transmissions. I think they were intended for charter or special service.
Another oddity is AC Transit installed standee windows. Originally it came from the factory with the aluminum side trim as most Surburban models did. We don't know the reason they installed standee windows.
This represented the first generation; however, there were actually three phases of this generation. This was a second series in that it had the upgraded steel panels on both sides of the bus from the rear wheels to back of the bus. Also, it had bulkheads both rear and front that were made much stronger. Also, in this series they eliminated the opening driver window, and the plastic "run" and defroster switches with metal ones.
When and Where Did it Go?
This bus was sold to a private party. More to come on that.
