About Fun Fleet Bus #5302

Some Specs

#5302

Vin: TDH-5301-475

Built December 1959 for LAMTA, Los Angeles

First generation

102 inches wide/40 feet long, Two door

6V71 Detroit/Allison VH-1 transmission

49 seats, American seats

Added to Fun Fleet

This bus was purchased from a private party. I was driving down Highway 74 in Perris and noticed 3 buses parked alongside the road. I inquired and was able to buy all of them. Of course, they all had problems but they were only a mile away so I towed them over to my yard.

An Engine Change

This bus had a blown engine, so I changed out the entire powerplant. I didn't like the engine for this bus, so I changed it out again about a year later. I then decided to paint it back to the green LAMTA paint scheme.

When and Where Did it Go?

I ran this bus for many years in the Fun Fleet then sold it to Frank Gonzales of All Cities Tours. I thought he was a bus fan and would preserve this bus, but he only wanted it for movie production work. His maintenance is very poor, and the bus now has a blown engine and will probably never be repaired. What a shame.

Breaking Up

These were the first fishbowls produced, and they made a big hit when new. As could be expected, they had their problems too. first, the back ends were breaking up. GM had to send crews to upgrade them. Originally, they had no support from the rear axle to the engine. they had to add steel plates from the rear axle to the back of the bus on both sides to correct this.

"Stop Thieves!"

Also, the power plant supports were cracking and allowing the engines to sag down. George Powell, superintendent of maintenance for LAMTA, made many upgrades to these buses, including remounting the rear shock absorbers to the middle of the supports over the rear axle. GM actually stole the idea, and Powell was furious at them it. GM was notorious for stealing upgrades made by Powell.

Some Early Changes

These uses also has some small differences. The driver's window was able to swing out to push more air into the bus. This option was quickly removed. Additionally, the run switch and defroster dials were plastic. Shortly after, GM went to metal dials.