About Fun Fleet Bus #5050
Some Specs
#5050
Vin: TDH-5303-124
Built September 1971 for Golden Gate Transit, CA
Second generation
102 inches wide/40 feet long, two door
6V71 Detroit/Alison VH-2 transmission
51 seats, American seats
Added to the Fun Fleet
This bus was purchased from SCRTD, Los Angeles. Again, I was so lucky to get this bus. It was on a list to be sold and then it was taken off because of the upcoming '84 Olympics in Los Angeles. I asked to buy it outright because it was in an accident. The Purchasing Department clerk failed to see the notice to not sell it and I paid for it and ran out the door.
On "bat wings"
And while it was in a minor accident, they didn't seem to realize it was such an easy fix. I went to Vernon Yards and started it up and drove it home. the damage to the bus was just behind the rear door. I repaired the damage and it ran great for years. Scott Richards and I were in Kansas City and discovered they had bat wings (side advertising signs above the windows). Several were in a junk yard and Scott and I removed a set. When we got back to California we installed them on #5050...just like it had before they were removed years earlier. We all loved this bus with its inside air vents and dip shift transmission; a true Hooverliner.
When and Where Did it Go?
The bus was later sold to Frank Gonzalez. I thought he was a bus fan and would preserve it. Turns out he wanted it for a movie shoot and painted it wrong. Later they blew the engine, and the bat wings were removed and placed on another bus. This was disgusting as it was the only 5000 that had bad wings at that date. I regretted selling it to him.
Some 5050 History
Okay, let's talk about these buses. In 1963 LAMTA discontinued streetcar and trolley bus operations. they needed 30 buses to do this. They had ordered 200 from flexible and because they couldn't provide enough buses, they ordered 100 5303s. Now George Powell, famous superintendent of maintenance, was never happy with GM and he really raised hell with them over these buses. First, he wanted them to continue using the dip shift control of the VH transmission; GM refused.
Air Intake Inside?
He has a list of modifications to these buses. Air intakes at the rear of these buses had to be on the inside. Also, all the side windows were to be screwed in with plastic screws and no hinges. Only buses built this way. George Powell also told GM "we will no longer be busying buses unless they are equipped with v8 engines".
Some 5050 History
The GM people laughed and said the New Look was not designed for that and they would not do it. In 1965 SCRTD (Replaced LAMTA) ordered over 100 buses from Flexible which were delivered with Cummins V8 engines. Story is that GM engineers flew to Los Angeles and were met at the airport and given a demonstration ride on the new Flexibles...that could run 70 MPH on the freeway. Needless to say, the GM engineers were devastated.
"Stop the Line!"
to think that Flexible could beat them with a V8. The story goes that the GM people few back to Pontiac and ordered the next bus off the line be set up with a V8 engine. This bus was TDH05303-4581 (I also purchased that bus). It was one of a kind as GM actually had to lower the engine cradle to make it fit. check out Fun Fleet Bus #625 for details.
Go Get Unhinged
Now these 5000 series were some of my favorite New Looks. When delivered at Division 2 in Los Angeles, they were met by the California CHP which wanted to not allow these buses to be in service because the windows were not hinged. George immediately came over and had a mechanic kick the window out. It fell right out so the CHP allowed them to be in service.
And Still More About Fun Fleet Bus #5050
"Like an old Hoover vacuum cleaner"
Another cool thing about these buses as they and the mufflers mounted behind the rear bulkhead and the old oil bath air filters which gave them the best sound of all fishbowls. We used to call them "Hooverliners" because they sounded like an old Hoover vacuum cleaner. Also, George being upset with GM because they insisted on the new power shift for the VH transmission. George had the shop convert all 100 buses back to the dip shift type used on 5301s. He claimed it made the high gear clutches last longer. These buses were so unique. Famous bus driver, Tom Helliwell of SCRTD loved these buses and insisted on driving them every day which created great controversy with the management. Now that's ANOTHER STORY