Freedom rides 50 years ago

[desi arnaz]

I was watching Oprah today and the show was about the freedom riders of 1961 they said when the kkk took over the bus and set it a fire that a fuel tank in the rear exploded.?
What kind of bus is this? Looks like a 4106,but I have no idea. Would diesel explode.?
They also said it was from the rear, but on the gmc busses it is right behind the front tires.

http://www.google.com/search?q=freedom+riders&hl=en&client=safari&prmd=ivnsub&tbm=isch&tbo=u&source=univ&sa=X&ei=QejCTZfsK9H3gAe4hdHdAQ&ved=0CEcQsAQ&biw=536&bih=362

[Len Silva]

The bus that burned was a 4104.  The 4106 would have been brand new in 1961 and they would not have assigned it to such a risky trip.

[desi arnaz]

What exploded? The smoke plume looked like it was from the front door.

[Len Silva]

The bus was firebombed, Most likely a "Molotov Cocktail".

[happycamperbrat]

Yup http://www.oprah.com/oprahshow/Oprah-Honors-Freedom-Riders/4

[desi arnaz]

The riders were saying that the gas tank exploded.    This looks like a good watch!!

[gus]

The burned out shell in the lower photo is a 4104, easy to tell because it only has two headlights.

The 4104 has a 24 gl gas tank for the air conditioner Continental gas engine.

[roadrunnertex]

The Greyhound PD-4104's did not have the gasoline Continental engine.
Greyhound 4104's had a small 4 cylinder diesel engine driving the A/C compressor so the coach was all diesel.
The 1957 Greyhound PD-4104 that was burned was serial number PD4104-2683 Southeastern Greyhound Lines M-1189.
Those were some bad times back then.
My daddy was a driver for Southeastern Greyhound Lines in that era.
I look back and I do not ever recall of him having any problems in that era on his regular trips from St Petersburg,Florida to Tallahassee,Florida and return the next day.
50 years have gone by and I look back and ask where has the time gone.
jlv

 

[Len Silva]

John,

It's rare that I can contradict you as I have long considered you the authority on early GM buses.

However, my 1955 PD4104 most definitely came with a Continental Gas engine.  I understand that they changed to diesel in later years, though I don't know when.

[roadrunnertex]

Len,
You have a 1955 PD-4104 what is the serial number?
The reason I ask for the serial number is to see who received your PD-4104 new from GMC Truck and Coach.
It is a known fact that Greyhound did not receive any PD-4104's from GMC when the PD-4501 Scenicruisers were in production from mid 1954,1955, early1956.
According to my serial number list Greyhound PD-4104-1265 went to Pennsylvania Greyhound Lines 06/1954 and the next Greyhound PD-4104 received was serial number PD-4104-2366 04/1957 and it went to Southwestern Greyhound Lines.
jlv

[gus]

First I ever heard about Greyhound diesels but my 4104 was a Trailways so it must be so.