Wayne 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 commercial 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 was the first small school bus designed on a cutaway van chassis. A product of Wayne Corporation of Richmond, Indiana, first developed in 1972, the Busette utilized a van chassis equipped with dual rear wheels. With a low center of gravity, Busette provided the combination of increased seating capacity and handling stability over a Chevy Suburban, conventional vans, and van conversions.
By the early 1970s, Chrysler Corporation, Ford Motor Company, and General Motors were all manufacturing many models of passenger vans. Chrysler's Dodge Ram Wagon and Plymouth Voyager each had a maximum seating capacity of 14 persons plus a driver; these came to be commonly known as 15-passenger vans, eventually joined by similar models by the other manufacturers. Conversions of full-size vans into personal motor homes became very popular, drawing the interest of recreational vehicle manufacturers.
In the early 1970s, the so-called "Big Three" (Chrysler, Ford, and General Motors) began working on higher-capacity models of their popular full-size vans; these heavy-duty chassis were intended for commercial use by second stage manufacturers. Second stage manufacturers build such products as bus and truck bodies, motor homes, and other specialized vehicles. Neither their product, nor the first stage portion, called an incomplete motor vehicle, are fully compliant with requirements for a complete motor vehicle. Neither portion can be licensed or operated lawfully without the other.
Featuring a van front end and cab design, the bodywork ended immediately behind the driver and front passenger seats; for shipment, it was usually covered by temporary plywood or heavy cardboard material. It was soon known by the name cutaway van chassis in recognition of this feature.
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