MCI 102B3 Designation?

MCI-RICK · February 18, 2011, 06:58:00 AM

Anyone know something about this designation? It's a 1992 MCI 102 B3. I've seen 102A3 and 102C3 before but not 102 B3.

bevans6 · February 18, 2011, 07:00:51 AM

1990

MCI introduced the "B" model coach. Other than the appearance, it was very similar to the "A" model. The main difference is that it had fully painted smooth siding all the way down the body. It was only offered as a 3-axle coach, called the 102B3 (102/B3).

From Google, http://busesandmore.com/mci-buses/MCI-history.shtml

Brian

MCI-RICK · February 18, 2011, 07:14:48 AM

Brian,

The one I'm looking at does not have painted sides. I took a look at the site you posted and didn't see any other info. The only difference mentioned was the painted sides. So the bus I'm looking at is basically a 102A3? I thought there would be a more significant reason for MCI to give a bus a different designation.

luvrbus · February 18, 2011, 07:31:04 AM

The main difference on a B is they had a destination sign built in ,spiral stairs most had Cummins or Cat engines main buyer was the Trailways operators when Greyhound owned Eagle and Trailways and all I have been around have the S/S siding

good luck

TomC · February 18, 2011, 07:38:42 AM

Rick-interesting to see you have a MCI Classic. Did you know your bus started out as an AMGeneral 10240? AMGeneral made buses from '75-'79 when they dropped the bus line in favor of making the Hummer? The AMGeneral was a copy of the Flyer D800 from Canada. Except the Flyer D800 had a regular T drive, but all transits in the U.S of the time were using V drives, so AMGeneral switched to the V drive. The V drive was a headache because of the off center weight in the rear of the bus and caused cracking. That was all fixed with the B model (like I have). GM bought the right to make the bus, then was passed to MCI. If you look at the back part of the bus you can definitely see the family resemblance from the AMGeneral to the MCI Classic. The last MCI Classic I think was made around '92. Santa Monica, Ca bus lines still has some that are T drives using the Detroit Series 50 and 6 spd Allison automatic. I was going to switch my bus over if it were not for my now truck project. Maybe look at those buses as a engine/transmission transplant-since all you'd basically have to do is to swap the complete engine cradle. Good Luck, TomC

bevans6 · February 18, 2011, 07:46:59 AM

Somewhere in there it said that SS siding was an option, so that explains that, maybe.

Brian

rwc · February 18, 2011, 04:57:11 PM

102B3 could be bought with SS sides. Greyhound in Texas used them. I talked to one of then drivers stopped in Navasota and asked him about the bus because it has SS and I thought it was a 102A3. He explained that the b3 could be either painted on SS same as the C3. Rod.

buswarrior · February 18, 2011, 07:29:38 PM

I concur, fluted stainless remained an option on the B and C and there have been some D coaches so equipped.

Rare, as owners caught on that flat painted panels can be quickly and easily filled with body filler, painted and out the door.

And fluted panels meant old bus, same as hump in roof, 96 wide, and whatever other visual cues the market used to id an old bus.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

rwc · February 19, 2011, 04:16:22 AM

My D3 has the fluted SS panels. I might not have bought it if it had been smooth sided. Rod

bevans6 · February 19, 2011, 08:41:04 AM

Funny how now, in our use and ownership, fluted stainless steel sides are to many a must-have, a definition of "our" type of bus. Certainly is in my case. Yet when they were new, usage and maintenance dictated smooth side, less durable, less advantagous for the long haul, but more expedient to repair and make look good.

Brian

belfert · February 19, 2011, 08:53:00 AM

I wasn't necessarily looking for flat or SS when I bought my bus. 5 years later I have decided I really like the flat sides on my bus. I do like the polished look, but that would be a lot of work to keep up. Almost no charter operators polish their SS and man do they look bad. The buses look old and dated.

I hit an immoveable object in a parking lot on the way to Arcadia this winter. It will be a lot easier to repair my flat aluminim sides than to rivit on a new SS side.

buswarrior · February 19, 2011, 06:34:06 PM

Stainless sides are in the hands of the second and third tier operators now.

They only buy fuel for the coach, and only because there is no choice in that matter.

They won't wash the coach, never mind polish it.

happy coaching!
buswarrior

bevans6 · February 20, 2011, 04:32:13 AM

I was watching American Idol last night, replay of last weeks show, and the shot they had of the bus they were using to move the contestants around was a stainless sided MCI coach. Kind of fun to see, since we're talking about that!

Brian

oex18 · February 20, 2011, 07:27:11 AM

One difference between the 102B3 and the 102C3 is the B is 3" less in height at 133" and the C is 136" or 139" Regards Steve

MCI-RICK · February 22, 2011, 01:57:15 PM

TomC

Cool info. I didn't know that about am general.

I like the ss on the 102B3 vs the painted sides.

Are the 3" of extra height of the 102C3 really worth the extra bucks?

Lots of you guys out there have the mc9s, is the height a major issue?

Or just a preference?