The Rarest GM Bicentennial Edition Was a Bus! GMC’s P8M-4905A “Buffalo” (And A Few “Passengers”) Decked Out For 1976

The years preceding 1976 were rife with bicentennial editions of just about every consumer product imaginable, and automobiles were no exception.  We have covered the various G.M. bicentennial editions like the Chevy ‘Spirit of America’ Nova and Vega, and I thought I had a pretty good idea of what was offered in this theme during those years.  That was until I ran across this one.

The G.M. ‘Buffalo’ series of intercity coaches needs no introduction here, these sturdy buses were produced for many years and were a common sight on highways throughout North America.  Nonetheless, it is somewhat of a surprise that the P8M-4905A was a recipient (or victim) of the ‘Bicentennial Fever’ treatment that had so gripped the nation in the mid-70’s.  Well, why not?  At least the result was rather handsome. And there were some models in the brochure that were decked out in period-correct garb too.

I couldn’t find any real specifics on this ‘Bicentennial Buffalo’, it is not mentioned as a specific model or option package in the 1976 GMC Intercity Coach brochure.  What the brochure does say is that GM Design Staff had created some ‘High Fashion’ interior packages intended to enhance the passenger experience and make coach ordering easier.  While the major bus lines like Greyhound and Trailways usually had their own interior designs and materials, G.M. was increasingly selling coaches to smaller operators during the 70’s and those customers were buying coaches ‘off the shelf’.  This trend began with Greyhound buying Motor Coach Industries, which essentially resulted in Greyhound building their own coaches.  Although Trailways continued to buy numbers of G.M. ‘Buffalos’ they had aligned with Eagle for the majority of their coach purchases.  As a result, GM sought to make their coach more appealing to smaller operators.

This particular design package was named ‘Concord and was described as commemorating the nation’s Bicentennial.  The exterior stripe design was a regular G.M. option, the buyer could choose from several different colors to go with the interior selected.  Select the red, white, and blue Concord package with coordinating exterior striping, throw on that 1776-1976 decal and there you have it, a Bicentennial Buffalo.   There was also an orange, gold, and tan ‘Jubilee’ package that was to commemorate G.M.’s 50 years of coach manufacturing. 

As impressive as the quasi-Bicentennial Buffalo was, it was not the largest G.M. product to be emblazoned in red, white, and blue paint for 1976.  That honor goes to the five Electro-Motive Division SD45’s built for the Santa Fe.

The models’ Bicentennial-correct fashions were provided by Saks Fifth Avenue. And what were the odds of someone wearing SFA garb riding a bus?

Related CC reading:

Bus Stop Classic: GM PD 4107/4108 and 4903/4905; GM’s Buffalo – Last Of The Line by Jim Brophy

CC’s Huge Bus Archive is here