Linda L Metler

Sedan Buses Linda L Metler

This book contains photos of dozens of sedan buses, van buses and other unusual vehicles. Beginning in the 1930s bus builders stretched regular sedans by adding rows of passenger seating. Early sedan buses had no front entrance door or center aisle. Passengers had to enter through doors at each seating row. One of the first manufacturers specializing only in sedan buses was the Armbruster Company. The Fitzjohn Body Company probably built the most stretched sedan buses. In 1936 Glacier National Park put 36 sightseeing buses ("The Little Reds") in service. Yellowstone National Park also had a fleet of the same White Model 706s. During World War II Fitzjohn built sedan buses to transport workers to and from defense plants. The first sedan buses in southern New England operated over short-line railroad routes. The success of the German Volkswagen bus in 1950 led to changes. Checker Motors Corporation built the Aerobus based on its Marathon station wagon. Even a few "truck buses" are pictured that had added passenger seating behind the driver. Greyhound Lines converted some of its Scenicruisers to passenger/package express vehicles.