Classic (transit bus)

Classic (transit bus)
MCI Classic TC40-102A configured for commuter service
Overview
Manufacturer	General Motors Diesel (1982-1987) Motor Coach Industries (1987-1993) Nova Bus (1993-1997)
Production	1982–1997
Assembly	Saint-Eustache, Quebec Niskayuna, New York
Body and chassis
Class	Transit bus
Body style	Single-deck bus
Doors	1 or 2
Powertrain
Engine	Detroit Diesel 6V71/8V71 Detroit Diesel 6V92/8V92 Cummins C8.3 Detroit Diesel Series 50
Transmission	Allison, ZF or Voith
Dimensions
Length	40 ft (12.19 m) (16 60 ft (18.29 m) units produced)
Width	102 in (2.59 m)
Chronology
Predecessor	GM New Look
Successor	Nova Bus LFS

The Classic was a single-deck bus developed by General Motors Diesel from its previous-generation New Look design. The "Classic" was nearly identical to the New Look from the belt rail up, but sported a new front which allowed for a wider front door. The design was originally intended solely for the Canadian market as an alternative to the unpopular Rapid Transit Series (RTS) but ultimately the Classic, produced from 1982 to 1997, met with widespread success in both Canada and the United States. It was available primarily as a 40-foot (12.19 m) long, 102-inch (2.59 m) wide coach, although 16 60-foot (18.29 m) long articulated Classics were manufactured. The design was fairly conservative, yet contemporary and less controversial than the RTS.

When GMC in the United States decided to replace the New Look with the RTS II series in 1977, they hoped that they would win over operators in both the US and Canada. But the design and the futuristic look turned off most Canadian transit operators. In 1979, GM Canada's Transit division decided to continue producing New Looks until 1982, when it unveiled the Classic. Several orders for New Looks were still accepted, built and delivered until 1986 for U.S. properties, although the buses were made in Canada.

The Classic proved to be a popular in the U.S. as well, where the Utah Transit Authority would be the first American operator, in 1984, to order the buses, which was later followed by orders from DDOT (Detroit), Grand Rapids, Connecticut Transit, Big Blue Bus (Santa Monica), and the contract bus operators serving the New York City metropolitan area (who used single-door Classics for commuter routes).

In 1987 GM sold the transit bus division to Motor Coach Industries (MCI). By 1993 the bus division had changed hands again, this time going to NovaBus. During the two transitions the Classic continued to be built until NovaBus discontinued the model in 1997, as most agencies preferred the new low-floor LFS design. The last Classics were built in 1997, for the Société de transport de l'Outaouais (STO) of Gatineau, Quebec. At the same time the RTS model was discontinued, leaving the LFS and its derivatives as the only bus available from NovaBus.