Those were actually the D900 series, and King County Metro did order a bunch of those in 1979. The engine was turbocharged, and mated to the Allison V730 transmission. There is a full-length video of it (#1657) if you type "flyer 1657" in the search query.
Probably because it's a four-cycle V8, which it is. This is a Cummins V903 of 14.8 liters displacement, which seems rare among transit bus applications.
ClassicTVMan1981X The shifter looks sa bit similair to the allisons but different..I presume same positions, F,N,R, since those two, were only two speeds (pre-V730). Differen t engine and transmisisons!!
+Mark Del Monte Prior to the V903, Flxible New Looks with Cummins V8 power included the V8-190-265 for the large buses like this (look for "C1" at end of model designator), and the V8-185 ("C2") for the smaller buses.
I remember these in the SCRTD fleet. I believe they had 100 of these, mainly at El Monte Div 9. In the mid 70's, it was common to find them on Garvey and Valley local (into downtown). They did not have A/C, if I remember correctly.
Yeah they were rare. I only know of RTD and a few other agencies that had Cummins powered New Looks either Flxible or GMC. Flyer produced a few hundred D901's that had the Cummins 902 but they were mated with the Allison V731.
Never in my life have I heard something like that. It's even rarer because it DOESN'T have a Detroit diesel. I've never heard of this engine. Supernice growl, mated with that tranny, tells me she is a surprising adversary on the highway, even to a Detroit diesel.
A New Look with a four stroke is so strange! For over a generation, the DD two stroke was almost universal. Now everything is four stroke (by some mandate).
Wow that is exotic! Is the Spicer torque converter transmission a tough unit? Sounds like there is very little to them. Just a torque converter with lock up mechanism. Elegantly simple.
@ClassicTVMan81 - I rode many of Seattle Metro's Flyer D900's with the Cummins VTB-903 engines and they didn't sound a whole lot like this bus! This is sweet BTW! WOW! Sounds like she has the Spicer automatic transmission.
This has got to be the spicer due to the way it shifts. Also, I don't believe you could get the VS2 or a VH with the Cummins 903 at that time. Maybe someone will correct me on this.
WMATA METRO WASHINGTON DC NEED TO REBUILD FLXIBLE NEW LOOK BUSES FROM 1968-1969 SOME WAS DC TRANSIT AND SOME WAS WVM TRANSIT AND CREATED METROBUS AGAIN AND TAKE THE OLD FARE BOX OUT AND PUT THE NEW SMARTRIP BOX ON ALL OF THEM.
Those were actually the D900 series, and King County Metro did order a bunch of those in 1979. The engine was turbocharged, and mated to the Allison V730 transmission. There is a full-length video of it (#1657) if you type "flyer 1657" in the search query.
I've got to only experience a Cummins 903 for the first time on a Flyer D901 that was ran by Torrance Transit, and it was sick
Probably because it's a four-cycle V8, which it is. This is a Cummins V903 of 14.8 liters displacement, which seems rare among transit bus applications.
@AM458 - If you are referring to the Torrence Flyer D900's, those were more than likely Allison V730's as the D900's were V-drive configurations.
Hearing this 903, reminds me of the 1980-81Flyer D901's from Sam Trans and AC Transit!🏁🏁🏁🏁✊🏿🇺🇲🙏
Some had the Cummins VT903 and V730 transmission. But this one the engine is a T drive with a non turbo V903 and 2 speed Spicer transmission.
It's single speed! The shift is the lock up clutch taking over from the torque converter, eliminating slip.
It is the Spicer 184. The 183 was similar but for V-drive applications, including many Canadian-spec Flyer D700 and D800 buses.
+busrailfan
Yes, the transmission is a Spicer 183, also used in Flyer D700s and D800s in Canada.
ClassicTVMan1981X The shifter looks sa bit similair to the allisons but different..I presume same positions, F,N,R, since those two, were only two speeds (pre-V730). Differen t engine and transmisisons!!
Back in the 1980s Chicago had one Flyer D901 (#9844) equipped with a Cummins. It lasted several years but was later re equpped with a DD 6V92
That sounds very cool! It sounds like a school bus!
Yup, I agree.. Sort of like an old 7.3 IHC, 3208 Cat or 8.3L Dd that was put in many school buses. But double in size.
Man! that sounds wicked!!! :) Awesome sound! I never heard a transit bus sounding like this!
Finally a Cummins 903 great job man great catch thanks.
He said it was 1971..
+Mark Del Monte
Prior to the V903, Flxible New Looks with Cummins V8 power included the V8-190-265 for the large buses like this (look for "C1" at end of model designator), and the V8-185 ("C2") for the smaller buses.
Uh It's Southern California Rapid Tranist District! Not Regional.
Good looking bus
I know San Francisco's MUNI had ran 1969 model year Flxible New Looks with the same Cummins V903 engine and Spicer 184 transmission.
Sounds like a semi truck!!! Wow! I’m blown away!
This is in fact bus 7103 built in 1971 why has this never been corrected on the title?
I remember these in the SCRTD fleet. I believe they had 100 of these, mainly at El Monte Div 9. In the mid 70's, it was common to find them on Garvey and Valley local (into downtown). They did not have A/C, if I remember correctly.
Robt760 you must be thinking about the 6000 fleet identical motor different bus
@AM458 - Spicer transmission AFAIK.. I am sure you simply had a typo there.
@MAR1NAB5180
I agree with that....sounds just like a school bus, only with Jake Brakes....
Awesome!!
Yeah they were rare. I only know of RTD and a few other agencies that had Cummins powered New Looks either Flxible or GMC. Flyer produced a few hundred D901's that had the Cummins 902 but they were mated with the Allison V731.
Never in my life have I heard something like that. It's even rarer because it DOESN'T have a Detroit diesel. I've never heard of this engine. Supernice growl, mated with that tranny, tells me she is a surprising adversary on the highway, even to a Detroit diesel.
I've never heard a 903 before but it sounds so awesome in this bus. It sounds a bit like the International engines on school buses.
Thanks, always wondered what a Cummins engine sounded like. So few in NYC.
sounds like a school bus
Man! that sounds wicked! Is that how all the 7100 Flxibles in L.A. sounded like? Sounds awesome!
The Torrance Transit Flyer 903. Had the Spitor Transmission. If I remember right
A New Look with a four stroke is so strange!
For over a generation, the DD two stroke was almost universal. Now everything is four stroke (by some mandate).
@busrailfan Yeah. I had a typo. And I did mean Spicer Transmission.
And I WISH that they'd still them there (which would be here as L.A. is 45 minutes away..)
Wow that is exotic! Is the Spicer torque converter transmission a tough unit? Sounds like there is very little to them. Just a torque converter with lock up mechanism.
Elegantly simple.
man she sounds awesome
@ClassicTVMan81 - I rode many of Seattle Metro's Flyer D900's with the Cummins VTB-903 engines and they didn't sound a whole lot like this bus! This is sweet BTW! WOW! Sounds like she has the Spicer automatic transmission.
Rode these as a kid...just had to watch out for spooks in the back of the bus wanting to start shit.
@Nabinut It sounds like those old school buses from the mid 80's with the Detroit 8.2L the Cat 3208n and Navistar 9.0L engines.
This has got to be the spicer due to the way it shifts. Also, I don't believe you could get the VS2 or a VH with the Cummins 903 at that time. Maybe someone will correct me on this.
@busrailfan
It is, thank you.
WMATA METRO WASHINGTON DC NEED TO REBUILD FLXIBLE NEW LOOK BUSES FROM 1968-1969 SOME WAS DC TRANSIT AND SOME WAS WVM TRANSIT AND CREATED METROBUS AGAIN AND TAKE THE OLD FARE BOX OUT AND PUT THE NEW SMARTRIP BOX ON ALL OF THEM.
@ClassicTVMan1981X - If that's the video of the Seattle D900 from Seattle by newflyer3000 , I have seen that one.
Those seats remind me of Edmonton Transit's 1970's fleet of Fishbowls and Flyer's.
What transmission did it have?
Spicer 183.
Damn! Is That A Hemi?? Lol. Damn Sure Sound Like It With A Bad Muffler. Great Video
Hahaha Hahaha 😂 😂😂 😂😂 😂😂 😂