Text by Robert Lubinski
See Also
- A History of the GM/MCI/Nova Buses
- The GM Old Look Buses
- The GM New Look “Fishbowl” Buses
- GM’s New Look Articulated Buses
- The NovaBus LFS
- The NovaBus RTS
- The NovaBus LFS Articulated Buses
Tried and True
Many Canadian properties did not wish to purchase the RTS model which was being offered in the United States, therefore in 1981 GM produced an updated prototype New Look with a new flat front end and larger window configuration, as well as a restyled back end. The engineering changes made to the buses could be considered ‘evolutionary’ rather than ‘revolutionary’, therefore GM decided to call this updated version the ‘Classic’.
In 1987 GM sold its bus building business to MCI, best known for building highway coaches. Classics were constructed at the former GM plant in St. Eustache, Quebec. MCI later sold this business to NovaBus of Quebec. NovaBus continued building Classics for several Canadian and US systems, and produced the last Classic for STO in Hull, Quebec in 1996.
In 1987 TTC took delivery of 84 ‘Classics’. Originally these buses were distributed across several divisions with 10-15 buses at each garage. By 2002, the Classics were consolidated into two garages, Eglinton and Birchmount. These buses were retrofitted with UWE connectors for outside storage. The Classics were rebuilt in 2000-2001 and were retired from revenue service by February 2009, except for two, 6221 and 6223, which were used for Toronto Island service until 2010 when they were stored at Mount Dennis until they were removed off the roster in early 2012 and sold to Belka in 2013.
The TTC had attempted to purchase 50 Classics from MCI in 1990, but the deal fell through when New Flyer offered 79 D-40 high floor buses in the similar price. By 1995, the TTC nearly attempted to acquire 135 Classics from Nova Bus; however this order was as part of an agreement to save Orion Bus Industries. Instead, the Ontario government required that bus orders from Ontario systems would go to Orion and, as a result, the TTC acquired 135 Orion V buses instead (7000 - 7134).
Condensed Classic Roster:
- Fleet Numbers: 6210 - 6293 - TC 40102N - Delivered 1987; Withdrawn 2011
GM Classic Image Archive
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TTC GM Classic bus #6086 waits at Scarborough Centre station in service on 43 KENNEDY in the mid 1980s. The photographer is unknown; this picture was donated by Pete Coulman. |
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TTC GM Classic #6244 operates on 5 AVENUE ROAD outside one of Toronto's famous landmarks, Queen's Park, in the summer of 2000. Photo by Rob Hutchinson. |
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TTC GM Classic 6247 departs Warden Subway Station on a 68 WARDEN run, on a sunny May 30th 2006 afternoon. Photo copyright Dan Dell'Unto. |
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Saturday December 3rd, 1988, GMC Classic 6220 poses at at Otter Loop, during a joint TTS/UCRS Christmas charter. The 99 DOWNTOWN EXPRESS Downtown/Castle Frank Stn. exposure was actually installed into a number of buses, even though the route never actually made it into existence. Dave Smith photo, Alan Gryfe collection. |
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TTC GM Classic bus #6220 pauses on Front Street east of Bay Street in 6C BAY Queen's Quay shuttle service during HARBOURFRONT LRT construction. This photo was taken by Jeffrey Kay on November 16, 1987. |
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TTC GM Classic bus #6220 pauses at Otter Loop during a charter on December 3, 1988, bearing a 99 DOWNTOWN EXPRESS rollsign. This photo was taken by Jeffrey Kay. |
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TTC GM Classic #6220 poses in front of Queen's Park (the provincial legislature, not the station) on a charter, bearing a 99 DOWNTOWN EXPRESS rollsign (for a route that never materialized). This photo was taken by Jeffrey Kay on December 3, 1988. |
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During the same charter on December 3, 1988, GM Classic bus #6220 paused at Agincourt Yard in northeastern Scarborough. Jeffrey Kay took this photo of it bearing a 320A YONGE NIGHT rollsign. |
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TTC GM Classic #6221 heads northbound on Spadina in an Enbridge advertising wrap, having passed Queen in 510 SPADINA bus substitution service. Jeffrey Kay snapped this photograph on August 15, 2000. |
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TTC GM Classic bus #6223, bearing a Sympatico ad wrap, runs northbound through Spadina Circle during 510 SPADINA bus shuttle service. This photo was taken by Jeffrey Kay on December 2, 1999. |
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TTC GM Classic bus #6223 is seen here bearing a Sympatico High Speed Internet wrap at King and Parliament loop on Saturday, July 22, 2000, the last day of 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE service. Photo by Rob Hutchinson. |
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TTC GM Classic #6229 is vacuumed at Lansdowne garage in the early 1990s shot, while wearing a 79 SCARLETT ROAD sign. The photographer is unknown. |
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TTC GM "Classic" 6230 pauses in an Eglinton station bus bay, in service on 32 EGLINTON WEST in this 2001 shot. The reflection of the bus ahead can be seen in its windshield. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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TTC GM Classic 6236 in one of the bus bays at Eglinton station in this 2000 shot. The bus is in service on 32 EGLINTON WEST. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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TTC GM Classic 6237 operates westbound on 54 LAWRENCE EAST service, about to cross Midland Avenue enroute to Eglinton station in this 2002 shot. Note that since being rebuilt, this GM is sporting the MCI logo. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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TTC GM Classic bus #6237 prepares to turn from westbound Front onto southbound Spadina, in service on the 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE route. It's July 2000, and the route is days from ending. Photo by Rob Hutchinson. |
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TTC GM Classic bus #6238 in 112 WEST MALL service pauses beside GM New Look 8913 in 32 EGLINTON WEST service at Renforth Loop. This photo was taken by Jeffrey Kay on December 2, 1989. |
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TTC GM Classic 6242 picks up passengers at Kennedy station in this 2001 shot. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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Well, it's eye-catching, but... TTC GM Classic 6242 slinks out of Eglinton station in its pink advertising wrap. Photo by David Cavlovic. |
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TTC GMC Classic bus #6248 picks up passengers at Main Street station, in service on 62 MORTIMER on August 9, 1987. Photo by Russ Hilder, courtesy the William Paul collection. |
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TTC GMC "Classic" bus #6249 prepares to pull out of Parliament Loop at the east end of the 121 FRONT-ESPLANADE bus on June 22, 2000, wearing a wrap for Apple's new iMacs. This photograph was taken by John F. Bromley and is courtesy the John Knight collection. |
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TTC GM Classic 6292 operates on top of the streetcar tracks at Bathurst Station while it fills in for the 511 BATHURST streetcar in this 2000 shot. Photo by Derek Chak. |
References
- Bus World Encyclopedia of Buses, Stauss Publications, Woodland Hills (California), 1988.
- Diesel City Bus, Toronto Transit Commission, Toronto (Ontario), 1991.
- Toronto Transit Commission 7200-7251, Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board Wiki, Website.
- Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board Wiki
