North and South American CC readers are likely familiar with the products of Superior Coach Company – you may have ridden in a Superior school bus “back in the day.” School buses were the company’s main claim to fame, though they were also a major player in the Professional car market. But as with any company, they had their “ups and downs” – let’s take a look at three somewhat obscure Superior buses that were less than a hit with customers.
This bus was recently donated to the Conneaut (Ohio) Area Historical Society – it had been in the basement of a warehouse for over 60 years. The goal is to restore it. Photo by Sid Walker
Late 1940’s-early 50’s Superior “Avenue” Urban Transit Bus. Until recently, I never knew Superior took a stab at the transit bus market, but here it is. A 25-30 foot rear-engined model. Rather than using an OEM chassis, Superior developed its own in-house and allowed customers to choose an engine. This one has a Hercules JXD, a popular model during and after the war. It’s a 320 cu. in. (5.2L) gasoline in-line straight six L-head, with 86 hp and 200 ft lbs of torque. It was a low compression design, so it could run on 76 octane fuel. I couldn’t find any production figures for the bus, but it’s likely only a few were made before Superior pulled the plug around 1952.
1957-77 Superior Supercruiser. Superior made this large rear-engined model, in 35 and 40 foot lengths. It used mostly a GMC RM 7500 chassis with a variety of engine options; gas and diesel. Competing with similar models from Crown, Gillig, Blue Bird, Carpenter, and others, it was never a big seller. But it had a more successful life south of the border where it was license-built and used in both urban transit and intercity roles, mainly in Brazil, Colombia, and Venezuela.
1980 Superior Pioneer FC. This one is even more obscure – other than these advertisements, I couldn’t find any pictures of this bus. My guess is that several prototypes were built and marketing materials produced, but the bus was never put into production. Nineteen-eighty was when Superior was having severe financial problems, being liquidated by its parent company that year. It’s likely a “stillborn” model. If any of our bus experts have more accurate info, please comment below.
The “Superior” name went through several owners, and today S&S/Superior Coach Company is located near the old Superior bus factory in Lima Ohio, where it manufactures a Cadillac platform-based hearse.
Superior also made motorhomes in the early 70s. 2 lengths on Mopar chassis with 413 power. In a split from convention of the day, these used a galvanized steel body. Heavy, heavy heavy. Rust not a problem, but getting paint to adhere properly takes a bit of doing. Very well made units overall. Superior also had ambulances available based on their hearse bodies.
I drove a strange Superior in 1973… a 44 passenger ambulance! The Army bought a bunch of front engine/forward control school buses with the rear bulkhead cut off. Two large side-hinged doors opened up like a box truck. The seats would come out and stretchers would be hung on a variety of lugs and brackets. All you would need would be a major war and all those school buses would have red crosses on them.
The only sick people I ever hauled were when I covered an inter-post medical shuffle, and the passengers had to be spry enough to fit through the small front door and then around the huge doghouse for some monster IH 6-cylinder gasser. The only time I ever used those rear doors was to occasionally load baggage for some road-trip.
That was so much fun, wheeling that huge junker thru Germany, that I’ve forgotten how terrible the vehicle itself must have been. I didn’t forget the passengers, though, they have these annoying holes in the front of their heads. Within months of getting out I had moved to dump trucks, they rarely even had a passenger seat. All my friends could ride with me!
Just a quick note: buses for adults counted four passengers per row while a school bus counts six kids. Forty-four to sixty-six, that sure confused the the passengers.
what is cam and lever steering ?
https://www.larescorp.com/toolbox/skinned-knuckles-articles/ross-cam-and-lever-steering/
Before power steering the Ross had a narrower track and the kingpin angle went through the center of the tire contact patch somehow, making it very easy to steer.
Interesting details .
-Nate
Superior had their hands in quite a few segments of the market for various wheeled vehicles. That early transit coach is a new one for me.
I feel like I’ve seen the Pioneer FC somewhere, in a paratransit role, with a wheelchair lift on the curbside rear. But I couldn’t pin it down as to where or when.
Wow, no idea Superior ever built a transit. Surprising one survived.