Needing Some Info On A Canuck 600 Bus

[luvrbus]

I went to help a widow start a bus today I have never saw one before and was looking for a little information on a Western Flyer Canuck 600  it is a intercity bus not a transit type

The bus looks identical to a MCI 5 except it is 38ft long it is has a 8v71 with a 4 speed manual, power steering and AC she says it is a 1967 model but the title says 1968 

They have owned the bus for 20 years her paper work is from Canada it has never been transferred from Carleton Bus Lines,the husband passed away 10 or 12 years ago and the bus has been sitting in his shop and she is moving from here and wants to sell it 

After freeing the rack and injectors it started on the second revolution I pushed the clutch down and it stuck to the floor but came back up when it started 

My question is did MCI manufacture the bus and make a 38 ft MCI 5 just for Western Flyer to brand I am going back Sat to try and move the bus here it is truly a remarkable bus I never saw one before have any of you guys ?

[Ed Hackenbruch]

Clifford,  "Originated in 1930 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, as Western Auto and Truck Body Works Limited, Western Flyer emerged after WW11 with intercity buses such as the T-28 an T-32 Standards and the Canuck. The Canuck 600 was the last intercity model built by Flyer before converting to transit bus production. A total of 693 intercity buses were delivered. By 1967 Flyer produced its first 40-foot transit bus which looked much like a GM new-look."  That is about all that my book says about them. From a small picture it looks a lot like a 5 but the side windows look to be on the exact same level as the window in the door and it looks like there are 2 small windows above each of the side windows. Also looks like it has 5 windows down each side instead of the 4 windows that the 5 series has. The windows in the 5 series are not quite on the same level as the door window but in fact are about 4 inches higher. Looking at a picture of a 5C however, it looks like all of the windows are at the same level......never noticed that before, but then again i can't remember if i have seen a 5C in person.  JC might be familiar with the Canucks and be able to shed more light on them.

[eagle19952]

heres one...
http://www.bargainbusnews.com/Buses/1548-1967WesternFlyerCanuck600/#imgiframediv



here's another...older 1962



a bit more...1958
http://www.angelfire.com/ca5/5ac12/58%20western.htm

but maybe you could call these people...
http://www.newflyer.com/index/timeline_with_copy_a

1964
Expanded into the new Fort Garry Winnipeg plant due to exceptional growth and in preparation for expansion into transit bus manufacturing.
Developed Canuck 500 intercity bus.
they are now called NEW FLYER still in business I guess.

[Ed Hackenbruch]

If you google  Western Flyer Canuck 600,  you can find some links with pictures and more info.

[Timkar]

I'll try to attach a couple of pics Clifford. Similar to the ones I learned to drive on , but they were 1950's models and had the 392 International with an electric solenoid for the clutch (button was on the shifter)  and a 4 spd. Always had a soft spot for them......

[bevans6]

Carleton was, historically, most of the surrounding suburbs of Ottawa, Ontario, capital city of Canada.  Now all have been amalgamated into the City of Ottawa.  The bus system there is known as OC Transpo, for Ottawa-Carleton Transportation.  Carleton Bus Lines operated commuter service in the surrounding area mostly south and west of Ottawa.  The latest thing I can find on them is 1995, I don't know what happened to them.  My Dad commuted into Ottawa on a bus after we moved to Nepean in 1967, it's possible he was taking a Carleton Bus Lines bus.  Here is their fleet:  http://www.cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=Carleton_Bus_Lines

Western Flyer got bought a few times, but has now transformed into New Flyer, still based out of Winnipeg, and is a large manufacturer of transit buses.  http://www.cptdb.ca/wiki/index.php?title=New_Flyer_Industries

Brian

[lostagain]

We had a couple of 1963 models of the Western Flyers at Brewster's in the '70s. Brewster's had bought them brand new from Winnipeg, with the sky-view windows. They had the International gas engines. They were used for local sightseeing tours, and to the ski hills in the winter.

JC