PD2903

[Don Fairchild]

Does any one have any info on the bus PD2903-204 Is this a gas engine or a diesel.

Thanks

Don

[Just Dallas]

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[mikelutestanski]

Hello:     
   From the bus trader book about buses   Yellow coach started this and was bought out by GM   in 1943:::
        PD 2903      P = parlor coach    D= diesel  vs G for gas     A or G as a third letter is A = a modification from a previous series and G = greyhound order
      2903     29 is nominal passenger capacity   03 is series designation.   produced from 1944 to 1949  GMs answer to the flexible clipper 29 passenger coach.
    most produced between 45-47 because then the 33,37 and 41 pass models were introduced and superceded sales of the 2903
       Hope  this helps
   Regard and happy bussin    mike

[Just Dallas]

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[Don Fairchild]

Thanks  Guys

Don

[RJ]

Don, Dallas & Mike -

Here's the response I posted over on the GMC Yahell busnuts group to an inquiry about PD2903-284:

PD2903-284 was delivered new in October of 1947 to HJ Gongaware & Sons, based in Irwin, PA.  It was one of two ordered by them, the other being unit 285.  No fleet number is listed in my delivery roster.

400 of this model were built/delivered from November of 1947 thru June of 1949.

They look a lot like a Flxible Clipper from the rear. . . but are obviously GMCs from the front.

During the same period, GM also built the PG-2904, a gas engine version, of which 200 were produced.


Now, if Don's OP was accurate, and not a typo about the VIN, then:

PD2903-204 was delivered new as fleet number 340, also in October of 1947, to The Short Line, based in Providence, RI.


This information comes from the same GM Coach Parlor Car Delivery List that JL Vickers & myself have been using for over 10 years, and we've found it to be 99% accurate, as long as we're given the correct VIN to begin with.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Just Dallas]

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[RJ]

I'm still wondering about the discrepancy between the other books and my OEM parts manual.

Dallas -

I think the difference is that you're working off the parts manual, and JLV & I are working off the delivery roster - the month/year the coach was actually delivered to it's first owner. 

None of the delivery info actually corresponds to the actual build date - as you see from your book, production started in 1946 on the 2903.  Now, according to my roster, the first PD2903s delivered (004 - 016) were in November.  Units 001 - 003 were delivered a month later, in December. 

There's actually lots of incidents throughout my roster where deliveries did not take place in sequential order, for whatever reason.

Go figure, eh?


OK, now to further cornfuzzle the troops: 

The PG2903 was the predecessor to the PD2903, and they were built/delivered from March of 1941 thru August of 1942.

After the war, GM gave the gas version of the 2903 a different nomenclature, now calling it a PG2904.  These were built right alongside the Diesel versions, being delivered from October of 1946 thru September of 1948, except for one stray (Unit 197).  The stray was hung on to by GM Coach Sales until later being sold in July of 1949, shortly after all 2903/4 production was halted.

It's all good, the more historical background info we can come up with, the better!!  I certainly enjoy this part of the hobby!

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Don Fairchild]

Rj; Dallas

Info is good the more the better. Thanks guy's for your time to look up and post the info.

Don