Who all makes 45' coaches/buses?

Scott & Heather · September 22, 2013, 04:08:43 AM

I know Prevost makes 45 footers and MCI as well. I'm trying to figure out when the earliest 45 foot coaches came out.
1. When did Prevost first come out with 45'?
2. When did MCI first come out with 45'?
3. Did anyone else in the past make 45' coaches besides Newell?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Clumsy fingers may contribute to mistakes.

B_K · September 22, 2013, 08:04:19 AM

MCI had a few DL3's built in '93.
Setra was already selling them in Europe before '93 but started importing '94 models to the US in '93.
The first Prevost 45'r I have ever seen was a '95. (not saying it's the 1st, just the 1st I seen!)
Van Drools started importing the 45's in '95 also.
Neoplans were either '95 or '96. (I've had conflicting stories, but the earliest I've seen was a '96)

This is just what I found when we were searching long and hard for our first "affordable" (for poor folk) 45'r in 2004-05!

BK

luvrbus · September 22, 2013, 08:10:41 AM

Eagle had 45 foot coaches in 1994 with series 60 engines

B_K · September 22, 2013, 08:18:14 AM

OH yes SORRY I forgot about the EAGLES! Yes we did look at a couple, but most were WAY out of our price range back then. (we did almost buy one out of Bowling Green, KY but it was bought out from under us as we were in route *with cash in hand*, and then the buyer tried to "resell" it to us a week later @ double the $! I heard he "got stuck with it and dumped several yrs later for less than he paid for it!)

BK

Jon · September 22, 2013, 11:35:53 AM

Prevost came out with the first 45 footer in 1994 but I don't know if it was a 94 or 95 chassis. It was the first of theirs to use the Series 60 which they could not fit in the 40 footer without the 6 speed Allison due to the combined length. I believe the first 45 footers used the 5 speed Allison because the extra length beyond the tag axle made it possible. As soon as the 6 speed Allison was available the series 60 was used across the board.

wg4t50 · September 22, 2013, 12:48:08 PM

Just for Ho Ho's. Newell Coach did build 2, 46' RV's a few years ago, they claim "never again"
It is funny MCI 6 was 102" wide, long before it was legal.

akroyaleagle · September 22, 2013, 12:51:52 PM

Here's a link to more bus history than most.

The link takes you to the Silver/Golden Eagle. You can simply click the name you wish in the long index at the top of the page.

It shows '88 45' Eagles.

http://www.hottransport.net/category/eagle-silver-or-golden/

niles500 · September 22, 2013, 06:06:05 PM

Whatever was the final deal with Silver Eagle Bus Mfg after the move to TN ?

wg4t50 · September 23, 2013, 01:00:56 AM

To my eyes, the 45' Senicrusier that was at Arcadia last year is by far the finest body work I have ever seen.. And with the DDC 60 Series, just great overall. Lots of money, skill, time and desire, once you have seen it, you will not forget it. MO

Scott & Heather · September 23, 2013, 07:10:33 PM

So eagle made a 45 footer in '88!?

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Clumsy fingers may contribute to mistakes.

RJ · September 23, 2013, 07:45:19 PM

Quote from: Scott Bennett on September 23, 2013, 07:10:33 PM
So eagle made a 45 footer in '88!?

Scott -

Yup! Here's a pic of the 2nd 45-foot Eagle built. Taken in Fresno, CA in January of 1989 at 6:15 am, parked in front of the downtown Hilton Hotel. After I took the photo, I called the Eagle factory to ask them when they started building 45-foot Eagles. They denied it vehemently, until I told them that I took a photo of one in Fresno. Then, after several transfers, I talked to somebody who told me that they were custom ordered for the Hemphill Bros out of FL, who specialized in entertainer cars. (I think it was Hemphill - help me out, Clifford!) Anyway, they were the first ones "in revenue service," both Prevost & MCI came along just a few months later.

luvrbus · September 23, 2013, 08:24:32 PM

RJ, it was the Calhoun Bros same as the Florida Coach group now

B_K · September 24, 2013, 06:29:32 AM

RJ & Clifford are both highly knowledgeable busnuts and when they say it's '88 or '89!

But in my research the earliest I ever found were 1993 models.
FWIW I found 2 Eagles w/8V92's, 3 MCI DL3's, and 1 Prevost.
All other 45'rs I have seen had 60 Series, Cat's, or Cum-aparts in them! (or maybe an occasional MAN in a VanDrool)

BK

luvrbus · September 24, 2013, 06:40:40 AM

You got it BK they went on the public market 93-94 for Eagles and the series 60,6V92 and the 8v92 was offered,the 2 Calhoun buses were listed as demo units to get around the legal limit so I was told I have friend that owns 1 of those buses FWIW you will find some 90 models that were made for Greyhound of Mexico they had 8v92 with a 7 speed

Scott & Heather · September 24, 2013, 07:41:27 AM

Very interesting reading all of this. Very cool pic too RJ. One in a million.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk. Clumsy fingers may contribute to mistakes.