Busette
| Wayne Busette | |
|---|---|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Wayne Corporation |
| Model years | 1973-1990 |
| Assembly |
Richmond, Indiana Windsor, Ontario, Canada |
| Designer | Wayne Corporation |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Type A (cutaway van) |
| Body style |
School bus Shuttle bus |
| Layout | Dual rear wheel 4x2 |
| Platform |
Dodge Tradesman/Ram Van Chevrolet Van/GMC Vandura Ford Econoline |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | Gasoline Diesel |
| Transmission | Automatic |
| Chronology | |
| Successor | Wayne Chaperone/Chaperone II Mid Bus Guide |
The Wayne Busette is a minibus that was assembled by Wayne Corporation from 1973 to 1990. During its production, many examples of the Busette were produced as school buses. One of the first examples produced with a cutaway van chassis, the Busette mated a purpose-built school bus body with a dual rear-wheel van chassis. In North America, this configuration is now preferred by manufacturers for many other types of minibuses in addition to school buses.
Based on General Motors, Ford, and Dodge van chassis, the Wayne Busette was assembled in Richmond, Indiana alongside the Wayne Lifeguard and Wayne Lifestar.
From the 1950s to the 1960s, advances in chassis design allowed for school buses to grow in size, with the average conventional-style school bus growing to a seating capacity of 60 passengers. As certain school bus routes remained in need of smaller vehicles, operators sought smaller vehicles. To accommodate this need, some manufacturers began conversions of passenger vehicles, including the Chevrolet/GMC Suburban and International Harvester Travelall. As domestic manufacturers began production of passenger vans, Ford, General Motors, and Dodge vans were converted into small school buses. While painted school bus yellow alongside a full-size school bus, converted school buses saw few changes from those sold to retail customers.
In 1971, Chrysler introduced the Maxiwagon variant of the Dodge Sportsman and Plymouth Voyager, becoming the first 15-passenger vans sold commercially in North America. Following the introduction of the Maxiwagon, Ford and General Motors would eventually introduce their own 15-passenger vans.
From 1971 to 1975, all three American major automotive manufacturers ("Big Three") would completely redesign their full-size van product lines, introducing heavier-duty chassis and higher payload capacity, with all three designs moving the engine forward of the driver. The latter move drew the interest of recreational vehicle and delivery truck manufacturers, leading to a new derivative of full-size vans, the cutaway van chassis.
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