A ride aboard a former Spokane Transit Authority - STA 1974 GMC Fishbowl New Look model T6H-4523A

A ride aboard this beautifully preserved and privately owned 1974 GMC Fishbowl model T6H-4523A numbered and painted as Milwaukee Transit #1942. Bus is powered by the two stroke Detroit Diesel 6V71N engine and the Allison VS2-6 transmission.

Category:

Autos & Vehicles

Tags:

• Spokane
• Transit
• Authority
• STA
• KC
• Metro
• Preserved
• restored
• GMC
• Fishbowl
• New
• Look
• Detroit
• Diesel
• 6V71N
• allison
• VS2-6
• transmission
• two
• stroke
• Milwaukee
• Wisconsin
• historical

[elevatortraction]

They ride nicer and handle nicer than the new crap buses of today. I know... I drive the newer stuff for a living and we still have lots of these old GM buses in service and I highly doubt anything of today will last 30+ years of service compared!

[TC40102N]

Do you mind elaborating why you would hate to drive one of these old buses?

[Mob1006]

That just sounds magical! I wish we had stuff like this in Australia! Shame the box Flares in to top gear though :-(

[justdoitasshole]

Listen to that old Detroit Diesel....there's a reason they were nicknamed "the screamin' demon!"

[busrailfan]

@coreyprkr2005 - Some did have power steering depending on the transit system. All of Calgary's remaining GMC New Looks are power steering equipped.

[coreyprkr2005]

dont get me wrong, i do miss these buses from bak n da day, but i like new buses better cuz GMC fishbowls didnt have no power steering

[coreyprkr2005]

wat new buses yall got?

[Dogfart7]

Because they are not meant for use in todays world. Today, time points are tight, loads are big, traffic is thick and passengers sue if they fall because the bus driver couldn't pull up to the curb as well in an old bus and they fall. The new buses (though not all) are quicker on the take off, have bigger windows and mirrors for safety and quickly identifying things so you can take off quicker, they are easier to maneuver through cars and snug up to the curb. Not to mention wheelchair ramps!

[ClassicTVMan81]

What I mean is why don't you like buses like this.

[Dogfart7]

Yeah, but our schedualls are so tight we wouldn't get any breaks.

[busrailfan]

OK. I drive for a Transit System where many of these buses still run and we are paid by the minute, so I guess I never worried about it that much. Either way, I used to get both newer Low Floors and the old Fishbowls on a run that I used to drive late last yuear and I always still got back to the garage at the same time regardless of the vehicle type I had on that run.

[Dogfart7]

OK, maybe one would be fun to drive but, the safety and efficiency of the newer ones is much better. Though, I have to agree on the part where the new ones will not last near as long. Some of the older ones did have a better ride but, here is where I come from : Our transit gives us such tight time points and no breaks that if we are to get a break at all, we got to be able to swoop in grab the turds, floor it and stay a consistent 10 mph over the speed limit. The newer ones do this better.