Ward / Amtran / IC Bus (Part 2)
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
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As I mentioned in Part I, Ward Mfg. Bus. renamed in 1981 to form the American Transportation Corporation. The company started business as Amtran Corporation. However, Ward brand was retained by the new owners because of its prestige in school buses.
introduced to market the Vanguard. This model was considered by the company "the largest compact school buses." Had capacity up to 23 passengers. Platform was made on Chevrolet.
In 1983, the Harmon brothers bought the assets of the Amtran. In this year marks 50 years of the company.
In that same 1983, Amtran introduced its second new model, the Patriot. For the first time in decades was introduced a brand new school bus. Its all-new front allowed for greater visibility compared with convensional models and greater capacity seats (63 to 78 passengers). It also highlighted the large panoramic windshield and a more compact box section. The hall ceiling was increased to a standard height of 78 ". In windows padlocks adapted unique in the industry.
Photo taken from the School Bus Fleet magazine
ad appears in the following model and shield Patriot commemorative 50 th anniversary of the company and the brand Ward.
mid 1980's AmtTran assembled four models of school buses, in addition to the aforementioned Vanguard and Patriot , models were and Minuteman Volunteer .
Volunteer model was described by the company as the classic school bus product engineering and safety technology of the mid-twentieth century. Had a capacity of 29 to 77 passengers and its safety features contributed to improvements in the federal standards. Platform was available in Navistar and Ford. The hall was 74 "tall.
Minuteman model, the smallest Amtran family was designed for groups of 16 or fewer people.
In 1987 the company
International Harvester (IH) which produced the right time for bus platforms (among others) became Navistar .
Navistar in 1991 bought a part of the American Transportation Corporation. The era of mergers and acquisitions among manufacturers of platforms and bodies had then begun. Navistar International had acquired a third of the assets of the Corporation Amtran.
Even before he made school bus platforms. Loadstar series was made by IH from 1962 to 1979. Was used in trucks, school buses and fire trucks.
Bus International Harvester Loadstar Egged Museum at the Museum, of Holon, Israel
Another series of platforms built by IH was International S "Schoolmaster" it was for Type C buses ( conventional). It was introduced in 1979 as the replacement of the platform Loadstar, was also used both for commercial applications. In 1989, he was replaced by the International 3800; both platforms were offered that year. The Schoolmaster was the last platform designated by International Harvester.
Bus school-S-Series with Blue Bird Body
was launched in 1990 to market the Senator. This model had category D, with seating from 54 to 84 passengers. He had some unique features, including windshields completely thawed in four parts across the width, window operator with own defroster, adjustable driver seat 6-way position, heater, front 78 000 BTU standard, more or heating for operator with 15 000 BTU capacity, aisle height of 74 "(with option up to 78") and warranty and 5 years or 100 thousand miles. It was available in a variety of platforms specially designed Navistar including the 3900 FC.
In early 1992, Amtran eliminated the use of the Ward brand school buses, many product lines Ward continued in production under the brand Amtran. Senator model change to Genesis, a name which remained until 1997.
In April 1995, Navistar also obtained an option that allowed him to buy the other two thirds of Amtran. Navistar exercised the option in that year.
In 1996, Amtran ended school bus production to concentrate Type in full-size school buses, becoming the first major manufacturer to produce exclusively for these buses. In the same year was introduced to the market Amtran RE, rear engine bus type D. Also in the Genesis the front door was relocated closer to the front bumper.
In 1997, the Volunteer was called back CS model after changes in the front of the body that led to replace the control panels and the front door.
In 1998, the Genesis was called back Amtran FE after a redesign in the front, the grid was reduced in size, and Use front headlights were replaced by simple double
Photo taken from http://www.schoolbus.lunarpages.com/Pictures/IC/IC002-01.jpg
in 1999 announced plans Amtran to build a plant in Tulsa, Oklahoma to employ 1200 people. This plant was built in 1941 by the U.S. Air Force, where he built the B-24 bombers. It covers 115 acres. The first bus assembly in this plant came on line April 11, 2001.
Navistar In March 2000, beginning the use of the mark Conventional Integrated International (CI) for the products of the company. CS's Chest is redesigned and Recall as Amtran IC.
conventional buses (International IC) are built in the new plant and plant in Conway, Arkansas continued the production of buses with rear engine (RE International ") and motor Front (International FE). The plant in Conway, Arkansas is an area of \u200b\u200b183 acres.
In 2002 the company changed its name to IC Corporation.
So far the second half. The data shown in this study were taken from the network and several copies of the magazine School Bus Fleet, which were provided by Robert L. Smith. With some exceptions Photos were taken of these specimens. José Ramírez Lozano
Monterrey, NL, Mexico.
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