Product Details
Rapid Transit Series Buses: General Motors and Beyond (An Enthusiast's Reference)

Rapid Transit Series Buses: General Motors and Beyond (An Enthusiast's Reference)
By Evan T. McCausland

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Product Description

General Motors wanted to revolutionize transit bus design after having success with their New Look Bus through the 1960s. Being protagonists for progress, GM's engineers created a prototype coach that would address all of the New Look's shortcomings. This RTX (Rapid Transit Experimental) was a shock to the transit industry, and it wasn't until 1977 when the better-developed RTS bus became part of  the Advanced Design Bus project and was the descendant of GMC's entry in the U.S. DOT's 'Transbus' project. The RTS is notable for its curved body and window panels and has become recognized as a timeless design just like the GM New Look was. In 1987 the RTS patents were sold to Transportation Manufacturing Corporation (TMC) and then they sold the rights to NovaBus in 1994 who left the U.S. market in 2002. However, Millennium Transit Services has since revived the RTS in 2006. Here it is, the only book with the full in-depth history that  is also well illustrated with time-period photography and a color section.

Product Details

  • Amazon Sales Rank: #599579 in Books
  • Published on: 2008-05-15
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Binding: Paperback
  • 160 pages

Features

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

The son of a former GMC engineer, Evan McCausland grew up admiring the various shapes, sizes and styles of trucks produced by General Motors. As a fan of automotive history, He began volunteering at the Walter P. Chrysler Museum in high school, is a member of the Society of Automotive Historians and a student member of the Society of Automotive Engineers.

Customer Reviews

Bus Review from a American Bus Enthusiast5
First of all, let me say I have considerable knowledge of the history of American buses as I have been following them for year and a special interest on the RTS bus, one of my all time favorite buses.

I have not finished this truly encyclopedic book, only starting to read the Production charts. But, I have to say it is a fantastic book and many thanks to the author, Evan McCausland, for writing it. Its BETTER than any other bus book of an American Bus I have ever read. Its styled like the New Look fishbowl book that came out last year (2007), but even more detailed. It talks about each stage of the RTS development and goes into history of other transit buses, including the Transbus project, that evolved into the RTS bus for GM/GMC. It has a detailed Production chart/manufacturer deliveries list and a color section of buses at the last section. An all around FANTASTIC book and I cannot sing enough praise on it. Someone who knows this author should tell him to write another one. I will be one of the first in line to buy his next bus book. Bravo to Evan T. McCausland for sending a treasure to the very small market of bus history. We American bus fans truly appreciate it!!!

The Definitive RTS Bus History5
This book not only chronicles the General Motors RTS transit coach's development in great detail, but also covers the political climate that helped create it in the first place. Well illustraited and complete in every detail, this book is a must for any public transit enthusiast.

RTS Book5
Lots of Pictures, interesting history regarding RTS buses.

Written by a true bus enthusiast.