Bus history

[Lin]

Can you tell some of the history of an MCI by its ID number.  If possible, mine is MC5a #26530.

[tekebird]

MCI may be able to...however they lost some data

[Gary '79 5C]

Lin,
I think that should be a four digit S/number, if it is a 2653 MCI 5 It was delivered to Western Grey Lines, Greyhound of Canada. It was part of a lot 2648 - 2658 delivered 3/1964. However this would indicate this was a MCI 5, not the 5A. (??)
This info was lifted from a site when I yahooed mci bus serial numbers.
I have a 79 Saudi, and its serial number is 14XXX, which I believe would preclude that there was a 26530, unless they truncated the last zero.
Hope this helps.

Gary

[Lin]

Gary,
     This does put a fly in the oil.  The number I used is the VIN number which I thought was the same as the serial number.  The manual and parts book both are for a MC5a and are accurate, but maybe the MCI 5 would have the same manual and even the same wire numbers.  The ID plate in the door frame is not the original since it was placed there when the coach was registered in California.  Where else could I find an original ID plate to confirm the number?

[Gary '79 5C]

Lin,
Not sure on yours, but my S/N plate is located above the engine comp. on the coolant tank.
Did you get to locate the listing I had referenced? I have traced some other 5's this way. Couple of units which were sold to a very small operator WV, were acurate.

Good Luck,

Gary

[Stan]

When the coach left the factory, there were two identical plates. One fastened to the wall above the driver's window and one on the wall above the engine. They will list the manufacturer as Motor Coach Industries and if the original buyer was in Canada it will say Made in Winnipeg, Manitoba.. If the original buyer was in the US, it will say Made in Pembina North Dakota.

After 1973 five digit numbers were used. Prior to that, there is a four digit Serial Number and a four digit Unit Number.  Buses coming off the assembly line had sequential Unit Numbers.

This site has a lot of information but it is not complete.
http://www.angelfire.com/ca/TORONTO/builders/mci5.html

[Lin]

The engine compartment tag was there.  It is a MC5a delivered to Greyhound East, Cleveland in Nov 1965.  I had assumed that the VIN # was the same as the serial #, but there is no apparent relationship between them.  Thanks for the help.

[buswarrior]

MCI of the older variety had a Serial number and Unit number.

No VIN, per se.

For maintenance manual purposes, the unit number is your friend.

For vehicle registration purposes, the serial number.

How's the story go? Serial number assigned when ordering, unit number as it was being built on the line?

happy coaching!
buswarrior

[Lin]

Now i have the factory unit and serial numbers, so that's of use.  The registration numbers are something else.  There was that 5 digit number that was listed as the VIN which seems to have nothing to do with the unit and serial numbers.  At some point, probably because CA wanted a longer number, they assigned a standard size VIN to it and mounted a CHP plate.  That was the number on the title when I went to register it.  However, for some reason, the DMV reverted to the old 5 digit number and dropped the new one from the registration and title.  I called to say that there must be a mistake, and they seemed not to understand what I was talking about.  I think I made sure to put both numbers on the insurance though.  Fortunately both numbers are also on the ID plate.

[tekebird]

good chance someone who didn;t know went to CADMV..and got a new number issued ( the CHP plate.)

if you wanted to spend the couple bucks you could have it corrected with the proper original numbers if you are anal about things like that.

[Stan]

Lin: Your DMV probably works like the one here. When you apply for a registration for a 1965 MCI MC-5A they punch MCI into there big computer and try to confirm the data you give them with the original factory data. In your case, it looks like when they found some numbers that matched, they threw out the rest.

As a side note, changing VIN and year of manufacture can get you into a mess of trouble because your old vehicle has to meet all the standards of the new year on your title.

[tekebird]

I wouldn;t change the year....but I would put it proper and get the "correct" numbers on there myself.