About Fun Fleet Bus #5510
Some Specs
#5510
Vin: TDH-5301-2158
Built in March 1961 for Los Angeles metropolitan Transit Authority
First generation
102 inches wide/40 feet long, Two door, 4-piecs type rear, treadles
V871 Detroit/Spicer 4 speed manual transmission
51 seats, American seats, all forward facing
Added to Fun Fleet
This bus was purchased from the southern California Rapid Transit district. Of course I had to have this bus. Very few 5301s were made with manual transmission. I was high bidder at the auction when, at the last minute, a company from mexico outbid me. Since this was sealed bid, I objected loudlya nd they agreed to let me have the b us. Now, for months before I had picked this one and was grooming it before the auction. Everything went well and it bacame mine and part of the Fun Fleet. Over the years it had routing meanenance and we drove it frequently.
When and Where Did it Go?
Fun Fleet bus #5510 was sold to a private party, Harry Gotwetter, who was a mechanic for SCRTD. He stored the bus in my yard, and it was rarely used. It developed a leak at the alternator, and he couldn't fix it, so he sold it back to me. I sold it to a tow company that was doing movie work in New York. I personally drove it back to Jew Jersey.
Some unique background on #5510
On seats and which way they should be mounted
These buses have a unique background. GM did not offer a bus with all forward-facing seats on a platform similar to the Suburban models. LAMTA insisted on all forward-facing seats on a platform, a wide body, and center doors. GM was reluctant to do this for only 30 buses, so LAMTA added 30 more, same bus but with automatic transmission (5225 - 5254). The reason LAMTA wanted a bus that did nto have side seat s was because these buses replaced the last Red Cars in Los Angeles which ran to Long beach. These were the only fishbowls made like that, GM finally agreed to do the same thing, only without a center door for Golden Gate transit in 1971. Thereafter it was offered baggage space. It was considerably cheaper than the Suburban models. It was also offered with a 96-inch-wide configuration.