Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company

A Fifth Avenue Coach Company and Surface Transit Yellow Coach Z-BH-602 model.

The Yellow Coach Manufacturing Company (later Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company, informally Yellow Coach) was an early manufacturer of passenger buses in the United States. It was founded in Chicago as a subsidiary of the Yellow Cab Company in 1923 by John D. Hertz. General Motors purchased a majority stake in 1925, changing its name to 'Yellow Truck and Coach Manufacturing Company. They then bought the company outright in 1943 merging it into their GM Truck Division to form GM Truck & Coach Division. During its twenty-year existence, Yellow Coach built transit buses, electric-powered trolley buses, and parlor coaches.

Its car rental subsidiary (known both as 'Hertz Drivurself Corp' or 'Yellow Drive-It-Yourself') was purchased back by John Hertz in 1953 through The Omnibus Corporation and floated the following year as The Hertz Corporation.

History

Yellow Coach Manufacturing Co was founded in 1923 as a subsidiary of the Yellow Cab Company.^[1]

G.J. Rackham, whose career had commenced with the London General Omnibus Company after the First World War, spent four years in the U.S. from 1922–1926 and recognised the advantage of low swept chassis frame for bus development while employed by Yellow Coach in Chicago. It is likely that he was 'headhunted' by Hertz to help start up the bus building business. In 1926, he returned to England to join Leyland Motors as Chief Engineer and was responsible for the groundbreaking Titan and Tiger models.^[2]

General Motors purchased a majority stake in the company in 1925 and changed the name to the Yellow Truck & Coach Manufacturing Company.^[3]

GM purchased the business outright in 1943 merging it into their GM Truck Division to form GM Truck & Coach Division.^[1]

Although GM continued with the Yellow Coach product line, the Yellow Coach badge gave way to the GM Coach or just GM nameplate in 1944. GMC badges did not appear until 1968.

Car rental - Hertz Drivurself Corp/Yellow Drive-It-Yourself

The company owned a subsidiary, known as either Hertz 'Drivurself Corp' or 'Yellow Drive-It-Yourself' which was sold with Yellow Coach to General Motors and eventual purchased back by Hertz in 1953 with The Omnibus Corporation^[4] which was the renamed The Hertz Corporation the following year.^[5]

Models produced

Letter series (1923–1936)

Yellow started its model designation at the end of the alphabet and worked forward. Initially four types were offered:

• Z type single-deck bus or coach
• Z type double-deck bus
• Y type coach
• X type bus or coach.

All were conventional front-engine design vehicles powered by Yellow Knight I4 sleeve-valve gasoline engines, unless noted otherwise.

Model	Seats	Engine	Type	Notes
Z-models (1923–1936)
Z-29	29		transit
Z-63			transit	open-top double-decker
Z-66			transit	semi-enclosed double-decker
Z-67			transit	open-top double-decker
Z-200/Z-230			transit	open-top double-decker
Z-225			sightseeing coach	semi-enclosed with canvas weather roof
Z-230-W-8	33	gas-electric	transit
Z-250	33		parlor coach
Z-240			transit
Z-255	33		parlor coach
Z-A-199			transit	3-axle front-entrance double-decker
Z-AAAM	63		transit	open-top double-decker
Z-AAD		gas-electric	suburban
Z-AL-265		ASV	transit	"All Service Vehicle" (combination bus/trolleybus)
Z-AQ-273
Z-BI-610	32		parlor coach
Z-BP-620	38		transit
Z-BR-602	62		transit	double-decker
Z-C-201	66		transit	double-decker
Z-CT-843
Z-E-203			transit	open-top double-decker
ZBQ-621	69	gas-electric	transit	double-decker
Y-models (1924–1932)
Y-29	29		parlor coach
Y-Z-227
Y-Z-229
Y-O-254
Y-U-316
X-models (1924–1928)
X-21	17-21		parlor coach
W-models (1928–1935)
W-21	18-21		transit or parlor coach
V-models (1930–1936)
V-29	29		parlor coach
V-225	29		transit or parlor coach
V-A-634			parlor coach
VR-819			parlor coach
U-models (1928–1935)
U-16	16		transit or parlor coach
U-29	29		transit or parlor coach
Model	Seats	Engine	Type	Notes

700-series (1934–1937)

All models are 96-inch (2.4 m) wide single-deck buses, except as noted.^[6]

Model	Built	Qty	Seats	Wheelbase	Engine	Mounted	Type	Notes
700	1932	5	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	built for Houston Electric Company
701	1931	12	44	213 in (5.4 m)	600 VDC	rear	trolley coach	built for Wisconsin Gas & Electric Co. (Kenosha, WI)
702	1931	0	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	experimental specifications; replaced by model 705
703	1931	1	44	213 in (5.4 m)	600 VDC	rear	transit	trolley coach demonstrator
704	1932	19	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit
705	1932	24	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	replaced by model 708
706	1933	1	72	212 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	"Queen Mary" double-deck prototype; built for Chicago Motor Coach Company; replaced by model 720
707	1931–1934				GM series 707 6 cyl. gas			poppet valve engine; no other details
708	1933–1934	27	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	replaced by model 718
709	1933–1934	63	18	146 ^1⁄2 in (3.72 m)	GM series 257 6 cyl. gas	forward	transit	84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; replaced by model 714
710	1934	1	22	180 in (4.6 m)	GM series 331 6 cyl. gas	forward	transit	84 in (2.1 m) narrow body demonstrator; rebuilt into a model 713
711	1933–1934	131	30	178 ^5⁄8 in (4.54 m)	GM series 400 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	104-inch (2.6 m) wide version also built;[7] replaced by model 717
712	1933–1934	185	21	165 in (4.2 m)	GM series 257 6 cyl. gas	forward	transit	84 in (2.1 m) narrow body model; replaced by model 715
713	1934	2	24	175 in (4.4 m)	GM series 331 6 cyl. gas	forward	transit	84 in (2.1 m) narrow body demonstrators; replaced by model 716
714	1934	25	18	160 in (4.1 m)	GM series 257 6 cyl. gas	forward	transit	84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; revised model 711 with streamlining; replaced by model 733
715	1934	400	21	160 in (4.1 m)	GM series 257 6 cyl. gas	forward	transit	84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; revised model 712 with streamlining; replaced by model 733
716	1934–1937	183	23	179 in (4.5 m)	GM series 331 6 cyl. gas	forward	transit	84 in (2.1 m) narrow body; revised model 713 with streamlining; replaced by model 739
717	1934–1936	122	30	178 ^5⁄8 in (4.54 m)	GM series 400 6 cyl. gas		transit	revised model 711 with streamlining; 104-inch (2.6 m) wide version offered but not built;[7] replaced by model 728
718 Series 1	1934–1935	125	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	replaced model 708[8]
718 Series 2	1935	50	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	built for New York City Omnibus Corporation
718 Series 3	1935–1936	221	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	revised rear end and other general improvements; built for New York City Omnibus Corp.
718 Series 4	none built	0						no details
718 Series 5	1936–1937	22	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	left side emergency door; built for Pacific Electric Railway Co.
718 Series 6	1936	6	40	213 in (5.4 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	44 in (110 cm) wide entrance, no center exit, left side emergency door; built for Pacific Electric Railway Co. and Los Angeles Railway Corp.; replaced by model 740
719 Ser. "EXP"	1934	3	37	243 in (6.2 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	interurban	streamlined prototypes; built for Greyhound Lines
719	1935–1936	329	36	245 in (6.2 m)	GM series 707 6 cyl. gas	rear	interurban	streamlined; built for Greyhound; replaced by model 743
720 Series 1	1934	1	72	217 in (5.5 m)	GM series 707 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	12 ft 10 ^1⁄2 in (3.9 m) high double-decker; prototype; built for New York City Omnibus Corp.
720 Series 2	1936	100	72	217 in (5.5 m)	GM series 707 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	built for Chicago Motor Coach Co.
720 Series 3	1936	25	72	217 in (5.5 m)	GM series 707 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	built for New York City Omnibus Corp.
720 Series 4	1938	40		217 in (5.5 m)	GM series 707 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	new fuel tank and battery location to eliminate fire hazards; built for Chicago Motor Coach Co.
720 Series 5	1938	35	72	217 in (5.5 m)	GM series 707 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	new fuel tank and battery location to eliminate fire hazards; built for New York City Omnibus Corp.
721	1934	4	30	178 ^5⁄8 in (4.54 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	104 in (2.6 m) wide body; replaced model 711; built for The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; replaced by model 1208
722	1934–1937	123	21	179 in (4.5 m)	GM series 400 6 cyl. gas	front	parlor	84 in (2.1 m) narrow streamlined body; replaced by model 738
723	1934	14	21	179 in (4.5 m)	GM series 331 6 cyl. gas	forward	parlor	84 in (2.1 m) narrow streamlined body; similar to model 722 except for drive train; replaced by model 738
724	1934	4	28	178 ^5⁄8 in (4.54 m)	GM series 400 6 cyl. gas	rear	parlor	streamlined; replaced model 717; replaced by model PG-29
725	1934	4	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	streamlined; Banker automatic transmission; total includes one experimental unit; replaced by model 728
726	none	0	41	232 ^1⁄2 in (5.91 m)	GM series 616 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	streamlined; replaced model 718 incorporating model 725 type body construction
727	1934	10	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	streamlined; replaced model 725; total includes one experimental unit; replaced by model 721
728 Series 1	1935	100	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	replaced model 717;[7] 24 built with straight frame, 76 built with bottle-neck frame
728 Series 2	1935	165	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	bottle-neck frame
728 Series 3	1935–1936	177	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	four different clutch and shift (air or manual) versions offered
728 Series 4	1936	150	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	18 built with flat floor, 132 built with floor ramped to rear
728 Series 5	1936	50	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	strengthened frame; all with ramped floor
728 Series 6	1936–1938	392	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	modified rear end for easier engine access; one rebuilt to series 6A prototype
728 Series 6A	1937–1938	92	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 479 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	same as series 6 except for engine
728 Series 6B	none	0	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 479 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	same as series 6A but with improved interior lighting
728 Series 7	1938–1939	31	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 479 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	rear end modified to accept either 479 or 529 engine; improved interior lighting; replaced by model TG-3201
729 Series 1	1935	61	36	213 ^7⁄8 in (5.43 m)	GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric	rear	transit	"All Service Vehicle"; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport (Newark, NJ)
729 Series 2	1936	25	36	213 ^7⁄8 in (5.43 m)	GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric	rear	transit	improved front and rear ends; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport
729 Series 3	1936	74	36	213 ^7⁄8 in (5.43 m)	GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric	rear	transit	relocated electrical controller; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport
729 Series 4	1936	1	36	213 ^7⁄8 in (5.43 m)	Hercules 474 c.i.d. 4 cyl. oil-electric	rear	transit	similar to series 3 but with diesel-electric propulsion; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport
729 Series 5	1937	195	36	213 ^7⁄8 in (5.43 m)	GM series 450 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric	rear	transit	similar to series 3 but with improved chassis and drop-sash windows; built for Public Service Coordinated Transport
729 Series 6	1938	1	36	213 ^7⁄8 in (5.43 m)	GM series 529 supercharged 6 cyl. gas-electric	rear	transit	simplified version of series 5; built for Baltimore Transit Company
730	none	0	32	184 in (4.7 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	streamlined; intended to replace model 728; replaced by model 728 series 2
731 Series 1	1935	10	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	built for St. Louis Public Service Company
731 Series 2	1935	23	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	interchangeable frame for air or manual shift; 5 built with flat floor, 18 built with floor ramped to rear
731 Series 3	1936	50	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	strengthened frame; all with ramped floor
731 Series 4	1936	100	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	modified rear axle
732 Series 5	1936–1938	161	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 450 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	modified rear end for easier drive-train access
732 Series 5A	1937–1939	42	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 529 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	same as series 5 except for engine
732 Series 6	1937–1939	158	36	214 ^5⁄8 in (5.45 m)	GM series 529 6 cyl. gas	rear	transit	streamlined; improved interior lighting; replaced by model TG-3601
733						front	transit
734						rear	suburban
735						rear	transit	double-decker
736					diesel	rear
738						rear	small parlor
739						rear	small transit
740						rear	transit
741					gas-electric	rear	transit	"All Service Vehicle"
742	1937–1939	172	37			rear	suburban	replaced by model 1210[9]
743						rear	parlor	built exclusively for Greyhound and affiliates
744			36			rear	transit
745						rear	sleeper coach
746					diesel-electric	rear	transit	"All Service Vehicle"
Model	Built	Qty	Seats	Wheelbase	Engine	Mounted	Type	Notes

1200-series (1938–1940)

Model	Seats	Type	Engine	Notes
1203		transit
1204	24	transit	rear	produced 1938–1940; replaced by model TG-2401[10]
1208	41	transit	trolleybus	40 units built in 1938 for The Milwaukee Electric Railway & Light Company; last YC trolleybuses[11]
1209	25	parlor	rear	"Cruiserette"; replaced by model PG-2501[12]
1210	37	parlor	rear	46 units produced in 1939; replaced by models PG-3701 and PD-3701[13]
1213	29	parlor	rear	replaced model 724; replaced by model PG-2901 without change

T-series (1940–1942)

All models were transit buses. TD models were diesel powered; TDE used diesel-electric propulsion; TG models had gasoline engines. Note that Yellow Coach realigned all models to series 05 in 1941.

Front engine Model Seats TG-2101 21 TG-2102 21 TG-2105 21 TD-2401/TG-2401 24 TG-2402 24 TG-2405 24

Rear engine Model Seats Length TD-2501/TDE-2501 25 TD-2502 25 TD-2701/TG-2701 27 25 feet (7.6 m) TD-2705/TG-2705 27 TG-2706 27 TD-3201/TG-3201 32 28 feet (8.5 m) TD-3205/TG-3205 32 TD-3601/TG-3601 36 30 feet 7 inches (9.32 m) TD-3602/TG-3602 36 TG-3603 36 TD-3605/TG-3605 36 TD-3606/TG-3606 36 TD-4001/TDE-4001/TG-4001 40 33 feet (10 m) TDE-4002 40 TD-4005/TDE-4005/TG-4005 40 TD-4006 40 TG-4501 45 35 feet (11 m) TD-4502/TG-4502 45 TD-4503 45 TD-4505/TG-4505 45 TD-5401 54 41 feet 6 inches (12.65 m)

P-series (1939–1944)

All models are 96-inch (2.4 m) wide rear-engine parlor coaches.^[14][15][16]

Model	Built	Quantity	Seats	Length	Engine	Notes
PG-2501	1939–1940	8	25	30 ft 1 in (9.2 m)	GMC 248 6 cyl. gas	Replaced model 1209 (1st series) without change.
PG-2502	1939–1940	66			GMC 308 6 cyl. gas	Raised rear end with different fan, radiator arrangement and transmission than PG-2501.
PG-2503	1941	4			GMC 248 6 cyl. gas	Same as PG-2501 with-two rod transmission shift, improved frame, improved engine mounts, conventional clutch pedal and sealed beam headlights; also includes appearance changes as listed under PG-2505.
PG-2504	1940–1941	70			GMC 308 6 cyl. gas	Same as PG-2502 with two-rod transmission shift, improved frame, improved engine mounts, conventional clutch pedal and sealed beam headlights.
PG-2505	1941–1942	118			GMC 308 6 cyl. gas	Same as PG-2504 with improved interior appearance and numerous special items now incorporated as standard.
PG-2901	1939–1940	50	29	33 ft 0 in (10.1 m)	GMC 426 6 cyl. gas	"Cruiserette";[12] replaced model 1213 without change.
PD-2901	1939–1940	16			GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel	"Cruiserette"
PG-2902	1940–1941	56			GMC 426 6 cyl. gas	"Cruiserette"; same as PG-2901 with two-rod transmission shift, and sealed beam headlights, double-wrapped spring eyes and improved double-drag steering link.
PD-2902	1941–1942	249			GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel	"Cruiserette"; same as PD-2901 with improved interior appearance and numerous special items now incorporated as standard.
PG-2903	1941–1942	304			GMC 426 6 cyl. gas	"Cruiserette"; same as PG-2902 with improved interior appearance and numerous special items now incorporated as standard.
PD-3301	1942	115	33	33 ft 0 in (10.1 m)	GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel	Construction and appearance similar to PG-2900s.
PG-3301	1942–1943	49			GMC 477 6 cyl. gas
PD-3701	1940–1941	59	37	35 ft 0 in (10.7 m)	GMC 6-71 6 cyl. diesel	"Silversides"[13]
PDG-3701	1940–1941	240			GMC 6-71 6 cyl. diesel	Greyhound version of the PD-3701.
PG-3701	1940–1941	70			GMC 707 6 cyl. gas
PGG-3701	1940–1941	91			GMC 707 6 cyl. gas	Greyhound version of the PG-3701.
PDA-3701	1942–1943	185			GMC 4-71 4 cyl. diesel	Construction and appearance similar to PG-2900s.
PGA-3701	1942–1943	51			GMC 477 6 cyl. gas
PDG-4101	1940–1941	224	41	35 ft 0 in (10.7 m)	GMC 6-71 6 cyl. diesel	1940 Greyhound specifications.
PGG-4101	1940–1941	35			GMC 707 6 cyl. gas	1940 Greyhound specifications.

See also

• GM Truck & Coach Division
• GM "old-look" transit bus

References

1. Yellow Coach Buses 1923 Through 1943: Photo Archive. 2001. p. 8. ISBN 1-58388-054-2.
2. Townsin, Alan A. and Senior John A. (1979). The Best of British Buses No.1 Leyland Titans 1927-42. Glossop: Transport Publishing Company. p. 7. ISBN 9780903839563.
3. "Yellow Taxicab...".
4. "John Daniel Hertz".
5. "Hertz History". In 1953, the Hertz properties were bought from GMC by the Omnibus Corporation, which divested itself of its bus interests and concentrated solely on car and truck renting and leasing. A year later, a new name was taken—The Hertz Corporation—and it was listed for the first time on the New York Stock Exchange.
6. "Yellow Coach 700 series coaches". GM Engineering Standards Coach Descriptions. The Ohio Museum of Transportation. 7 January 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2002.
7. Johnson, Gary (1985). "1934 Yellow 717". Model Coach News (Lynnfield, MA) (51): 5–10.
8. Johnson, Gary (1983). "1934 Yellow Coach 718". Model Coach News (Lynnfield, MA) (41): 6–8.
9. Johnson, Gary (1987). "Yellow Coach 742". Model Coach News (Lynnfield, MA) (59): 3–8.
10. Lafreniere, Kevin (11 October 2010). "Yellow Coach 1204". Canadian Public Transit Discussion Board > Wiki. Retrieved 19 December 2010.
11. Schultz, Russell E. (June 1980). A Milwaukee Transport Era: The Trackless Trolley Years. Interurbans Special 74. Glendale, CA: Interurbans. pp. 29,30,112,117. ISBN 0-916374-43-2.
12. Johnson, Gary (March–April 1983). "Prewar Yellow Cruiserettes". Model Coach News (Lynnfield, MA) (39): 7–10.
13. Johnson, Gary (1992). "1939 Yellow Coach 1210 parlor coach". Model Coach News (Lynnfield, MA) (69): 5–6.
14. "2XXX Series Parlor Coaches". GM Engineering Standards Coach Descriptions. The Ohio Museum of Transportation. 7 January 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2002.
15. "3XXX Series Parlor Coaches". GM Engineering Standards Coach Descriptions. The Ohio Museum of Transportation. 7 January 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2002.
16. "4XXX Series Parlor Coaches". GM Engineering Standards Coach Descriptions. The Ohio Museum of Transportation. 7 January 2002. Retrieved 13 January 2002.

Bibliography

• Luke, William A. (2001). Yellow Coach Buses - 1923–1943 Photo Archive, Hudson, WI: Iconografix. ISBN 1-58388-054-2
• Luke, William A. & Metler, Linda L. (2004). Highway Buses of the 20th Century, Hudson, WI: Iconografix. ISBN 1-58388-121-2
• Luke, William A. & Metler, Linda L. (2005). City Transit Buses of the 20th Century, Hudson, WI: Iconografix. ISBN 1-58388-146-8
• McKane, John H. & Squier, Gerald L. (2006). Welcome Aboard the GM New Look Bus, Hudson, WI: Iconografix. ISBN 1-58388-167-0
• Plachno, Larry (2002). Greyhound Buses Through the Years - Part I, Polo, Il: National Bus Trader Magazine, November, 2002
• Stauss, Ed (1988). The Bus World Encyclopedia of Buses, Woodland Hills, CA: Stauss Publications. ISBN 0-9619830-0-0

External links

• Yellow Coach - 1923–1943- GMC Truck & Coach Division, General Motors Corp. - 1943-present - Detroit, Michigan
• List of production figures for Yellow/GM "old-look" buses
• Ohio Museum of Transportation, omot.org, retrieved on 2006-12-22
• Coachbuilt.com - Yellow Coach, coachbuilt.com, retrieved on 2006-12-23
• New York Public Library - Photographs of General Motors and Chrysler car and truck models, 1902–1938, nypl.org, retrieved on 2006-12-23
• Coach Information Network, coachinfo.com, retrieved on 2006-12-23