Crown Commentaries 3. The Embree 60 series

The Embree 60 series were custom designed buses owned and partially designed by the Embree family (Embree buses) of Pasadena, Ca. The Embrees are also said to be responsible for the side radiator design as well as other Crown innovations. Only 9 of these buses were ever made. They were delivered in 1963 and served Pasadena and surrounding areas until the early to mid 90s.

[@redbuoy10]

I went to Cleveland Elementary School and really enjoyed the times riding in the busses. The Drivers really had skills that impressed me.

[@aphex14]

My Father (Heriberto Brand) worked for Embree, hired directly from Mr. Weston, in the mid '70s into about '83. He would go to the station right off allen and corson st. From there, Dad worked for RTD, which later was MTA. Dad passed away in '98, couple of years before the Metro Gold Line was to open, which Dad was going to shift into that. But, he enjoyed the time with Embree, as I still remember he was my School bus driver for Jackson Elementary and Wilson jr High School. My Weston cared for his crew, as one time Dad was sick, so he came over to visit him, we only lived two blocks away, Allen/Villa.

[@sarahembree9450]

That was my Fathers company, Alvin Embree, and his brothers, Glen and Weston. My father passed away several years ago. It was very nice to see this video on the busses. It brought back so many memories. I hope you find the rest of the busses you are looking for.

[@smallbizcash]

Sarah Embree -I worked for your father in the early 70's' he was a great guy and by far, the favorite brother among the drivers.

[@brianprobart3176]

I rode an Embree bus in the 70's with Joe Embree and his older brother from Sierra Madre to Altadena and back.

[@smallbizcash]

@Galen Clark good for you, I’m glad you were able to share the experience.

[@Ned_Slanders]

Is that what happened? RIP

[@mikecorleone6797]

These are mike mcclain’s buses.. I’ve seen them

[@Ned_Slanders]

If they were in service until the 90’s, I’ve been on that bus.

[@michaelwilliams5210]

I saw what I know was an Embree bus on You Tube this morning. I could tell because, it still bore the distinctive color scheme and Windows. That bus is in England. And, the guy who bought it made it his motorhome

[@OwnYourOwnBus101]

Yep. 365. I certified in that bus. Looks like the new owners are taking good care of her.

[@aljenningscrownandgillig]

I just recently became familiar with these Embree 60's. I LOVE the big windshields with the earlier style front striping and old style flashers. 66 with the small flashers and large curved windshield is about the prettiest Crown nose I could imagine! The 6V51 sound would have been amazing. The "Fuel Pincher would have been a big letdown. Although I'm also a fan of the Cat 3208, I see these buses wailing with the DD 2 stroke....turns diesel fuel into wonderful noise! Many thanks for the tour!!

[@josephmodhu5633]

It's 6L71 my dude

[@mikecorleone6797]

Hey al what’s up 🙋🏻‍♂️

[@aljenningscrownandgillig]

Love it!!!!

[@stephenbrandt2756]

Brian - thank you so much for this amazing video. I cannot express how much I enjoyed watching it and your thoughtful commentary. What a great gift you have given so many here! I saw ol' Embree #64 that I rode for a number of years in your closing pictures - do you know what ultimately happened to it? I remember it as "64" and it appears to have been re-badged to "64E" at some point. Thank you very much.

[@OwnYourOwnBus101]

Stephen Brandt You’re so welcome. I’m glad you enjoyed the video. The re-badging happened after Mark IV took over (around the mid 80s). Unfortunately, I’m aware that most of the 60s have been crushed. The only ones I KNOW that are still out there are 63, 65 and 66. Someday I’d like to pick up these two and restore them to their original glory. They are certainly worthy of preservation.

[@stephenbrandt2756]

Brian, thanks for your thoughtful reply. Great to know more about the 60's, where are 63, 65 & 66 now being stored? I remember when Embree bought newer buses, maybe around the mid 70's, including I think #333, which was part of the newer fleet - I enjoyed comparing the differences between the two Crown models (more similar than different). The gentleman that drove our route was named Steve and was a wonderful person and left a lasting impression on me back then. Thanks again.

[@aliciawatson2129]

I remember Embree, do you remember a company called Taylor based out of LA back in the 70s & 80s

[@driverdick2]

My Dad Dick "Skip" Kain drove for Embree for many years in the 60's and 65 was his bus, seeing this really brings back memories. I can still picure him sitting that seat. Great video, thanks

[@bmorlok84]

I've always liked the Crowns since I was a kid, and watching this video took me back! As Embree on a few occasions would take me and a bunch of other diabetic kids to our summer camp.. good stuff!!

[@RexCars1]

Yes.. I remember seeing these bus.. Very Cool..

[@napabill2001]

Embree #60 was originally delivered to Highlands School District in the Northwest on 11/4/61 with the Cummins V200 and five-speed. Crown built #61 with the flat sides and recliner-style baggage doors and delivered it to Embree on 6/11/62. Meanwhile, #60 was returned to Crown and was repowered with the 6V-53 and MT45 on 12/17/62. #60 had curved sides like normal Crowns and the baggage doors were opened using a Crown Key. Also, #60 carried the spare tire in the front baggage compartment. The other eight buses had the spare mounted under the nose of the bus. Subsequently, #60 and 62-68 were delivered on 5/23/1963. In November 1962 Crown also built and delivered a Combo R-318-9 to Santa Fe Railway that had the 6V-53 with a 5-speed Fuller transmission. It was 29 feet long and carried 25 passengers with a bulkhead in the rear separating a large cargo compartment.

[@acpiping3959]

WELL WHAT'AL KNOW,, I DROVE FOR EMBREE SCHOOL BUSES FROM '87 TO '89 AND THOSE BUSES ESPECIALLY BUS #60 WAS OUR SUMMER TIME MOUNTAIN BUSES FOR CAMP SITES OFF HWY #18 & HWY #38 OUR SENIOR DRIVER @ THE TIME WAS ALLY A CIGAR SMOKING MAN & A DAM GOOD MOUNTAIN TRAINER,,

[@napabill2001]

That plywood box laying atop the seats in 65 is a bar that could be installed in place of the seat by the E-Door.

[@laronme1977laronme]

Wow very nice video I know exactly where those buses are used to work there that’s where I actually drove my first crown bus The company was called West Coast charter now it’s home to a few dozen of crown buses that’s leftThanks for the video bring back memories

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

The repower for two of these Embree specials consisted of a 165-hp Detroit Diesel 8.2L "Fuel Pincher" and an Allison AT545 automatic transmission. The 205-hp turbocharged version could've had the AT545, too, but the MT643 was also available and that model was more desirable as it used a locking torque converter to save fuel.

[@robertnixon9505]

I ,Bob Nixon, along with Steve McCarty drove these buses from 70 to 76, I don't see the old #53 bus in the collection. We all hated driving that old bus. I did drive every one of these buses. Word love to own one.

[@dasage83]

Thank you for your great commentary on the Embree 60 Series of busses. I have some comments; to add: I'm sitting here with Weston Embree right now as I write this post. If you want to know more about the history of Embree Busses let me know. Your video says "Embree's of late". Just to let you know that Weston Embree and Shirlee Embree are still alive and well at age 91. I'm married to their daughter Anita Embree (1983) (who also work in the Embree front office for a short period of time). Alvin Embree (headed Embree's HR dept.) passed away about 2004 and Glenn Embree (headed Embree's bus maintenance dept.) just passed away at 96 in 2014. Weston Embree, still living as of this post, ran the front office with his mother Lula. The business was run by Lula Embree and she ran the business into her 90's and passed away at the age of 99, just before her 100th birthday. Alvin Embree gave the impression that he ran the company, but that was the furthest from the truth. He was not the "sole" original owner of Embree Busses. It was owned originally by Guy Luther Embree and Lula Embree. After Guy Embree passed away, the business was still owned by Lula Embree and her son's, Glenn Embree, Weston Embree, and Alvin Embree worked on several aspects of the business and were each a part owner. Also Lula's daughter Carol Embree was part owner and involved in the business. The 60 Series that you mentioned was designed by specification by Weston Embree and Glenn Embree (both degreed automotive engineers from Cal. Berkerley University). Glenn and Weston Embree were well-ahead of there time when it came to bus design and their design specification to the Crown Bus Company - so much so that the Crown Bus Company named that bus line after them; thus the Embree 60 Series. You can find more information about Embree busses with Alvin Embree at: www.nomadicista.org/viewtopic.php?f=17&t=1129

[@a380qm2]

I do not remember riding on an Embree bus, but I rode on alot of Mark 4 buses. Sadly, I do not believe I got to ride on any of their hwy coaches, but I did get to ride in 2 of their tandem Crowns. One was a summer school feild trip to Raging Waters in 1989, and the other for my 6 grade trip to Magic Mountain in 1991. In high school I got to sit in a tandem with transit style windows, but my ride showed up, so I did not need the bus. Please thank your wife family, for Embree and Mark 4.

[@napabill2001]

Please tell Weston "Hello" for me. I drove for him from 1970-1976. Bill Morgan.

[@aphex14]

My Father worked for Mr. Weston, from '75ish to '83ish, at the allen/corson station, Heriberto Brand. We lived off Allen/Villa, still to the day, Mom resides there.

[@OwnYourOwnBus101]

These buses sound a lot like the 6v92 paired with a 6 speed transmission but they don't have turbos, so you had that kick ass torque right from the start and that 2 stroke tailpipe sound we love so much! They were almost always driven in 3-6 or 3-5 since gears 1-2 were hideously low gears that you could climb a tree with.

[@justino.k.5647]

How about the new crown school bus.

[@justino.k.5647]

Paula Keomanee! the first one to the next few days ago by the way, I am a beautiful person said thomas. Assville died said Henry. Shut up! Said tommmmmot!

[@SteveCarras]

And right now I noticed those six speeds are automatics same shift deal as on old Blue Birds of 50s 70s

[@smallbizcash]

Mc Carthy, Nixon, NapaBill and I all worked during the same period. The 60 series were fun to drive. I only remember 60-66. Sixty being a little different since it was the first.

[@stivmac27]

I drove a LOT of miles in those buses. WOrked there from '70-about '77 or so. There was no power steering, didn't need it because w/the engine all the way back, it "lightened" things up. 66 had a Jake brake and taller gears. It could clip right along at 75 mph. The massive lean was because of the air ride suspension. Embree had these built not only as school buses, but to accommodate bands for the Rose Parade as well as local High School bands and football teams. We used them on camp runs up to the local mountains as well. We never had to load roof racks thank God! We'd stuff the sleeping bags in the interior racks and hard luggage underneath. These 2 belong to an old buddy of mine, Mike McLain. He, Bill Morgan, Bruce Jones and I were, well, "legendary", at the time. It was a fun time while it lasted.

[@aphex14]

Wow! My Father worked there also, name was Heriberto Brand.

[@Phan-Xu]

You think Crown will come back

[@KenmareVintageVehicles]

The entrance doors bear a striking resemblance to the Gillig school buses of the 60's and 70's.

[@napabill2001]

Except the Embree doors both open in whereas the GIlligs have one that swings in and one out.

[@KenmareVintageVehicles]

Every Gillig I've driven from 1968-1982 model years, both doors swung in. Pre-68 Gilligs both doors swung out. Only Superior and Ward conventionals had the one door in and one door out setup.

[@KenmareVintageVehicles]

napabill2001 Every Gillig I've driven from 1968-1982 model years, both doors swung in. Pre-68 Gilligs both doors swung out. Only Superior and Ward conventionals had the one door in and one door out setup.

[@napabill2001]

tpembert Oops! You are right. Just looked at pics of a GIllig I almost acquired a few years back and it does have both doors opening out.

[@a380qm2]

Thank you for the video, I saw a short artical on one of the Embree 60 series, and I suprized some are still around. It would have been intresting if somebody order rear engine tandem axles Crown Supercoaches.

[@OwnYourOwnBus101]

The fuel pincher engines in 60 and 63 sound almost exactly like CAT's 3208. Those and the 6v53 were actually not very powerful engines but because of their applications (non turbo, paired with automatic transmissions on a 35 ft Crown) we, as children always dubbed any one of these buses "The fast bus." They just went! I might be inaccurate in saying this but I am pretty sure that besides Embree's hwy coaches these are the only automatics they had for years until Mark 4 came in with a few of their tandem automatics. They also had over 100 stick shift Crowns: The 300s, 40, 50, 80 & 90 series + the tandem 10s.

[@a380qm2]

At the bus company I am training with, they have some retired Blue Birds All American FEs with fuel pinchers, even though they are V8s, they do not have that V8 sound. That I know of, I only seen 2 Embree tandems ( Crowns of corse ) one was a old 60s or early 70 era near retirement, it had what I believe was a great sounding 743T. The other one, I saw letting off student at LAX, and I know for sure, it had a BIG 855T. I do not remember Embree hwy coaches, but I do remember Mark 4 hwy coaches. My elemetry school would charter ether a tandem Crown or a hwy coach ( most likely a MC-8 ) from them, for the 6 grade feild trip to Magic Mountain. I believe that sometime, Mark 4 would sub a hwy coach for a school bus during feild. Eventhough Mark 4 had newer hwy coaches like MCI 102EL3s, and Van Hool T 945s, they kept those old MC-8s and 9s runing until they closed their doors in the early 2000s.

[@napabill2001]

Jamaal Smith All four of Embree's Tandems were 6-71 Detroits, not Cummins. 1501 & 1502 were 1970's and 1603-1604 were 1975's.

[@thevacuumtubejunky9774]

I love those old Crowns, I was raised in Upland which was a few miles north from Chino,Ca where the later and final years of the Crowns were built, I have no idea about nor heard about "Embree", was this a private company who contracted Crown to build a specific design and model for private needs???. Kind regards Eric Dee

[@mikecorleone6797]

Embree was a charter bus company, one of the family members was related to crown family back in the day. Alot of the embrees custom designs went into crowns across the board in the later years. The side mount radiator? Thank embrees

[@ClassicTVMan1981X]

Whatever happened to "Crown Commentaries 2"? I know you have this along with parts 1 and 4.

[@crownking3752]

on his channel

[@josephmodhu5633]

@@crownking3752 Sean we also both have Thomas saf-t-liner MVP EF, your one is captured at Buena high school, my one is captured at first student San Bernadino bus yard

[@crownking3752]

where is this

[@OwnYourOwnBus101]

CrownKing Fontana, Ca.

[@crownking3752]

ok are you going to do a video on alliance and certified and oxnard and ventura and garden grove crowns i hope you can do it soon

[@josephmodhu5633]

@@OwnYourOwnBus101 in empire Transportation services, they have Thomas saf-t-liner hdx, bluebird all american T3RE, and, the remaining vehicles were MCI J4500 multiaxle coaches

[@josephmodhu5633]

@@crownking3752 Sean how many field trips you had in your past moments

[@timmensch3601]

To bad that dude is a hoarder and let's his stuff rot

[@aljenningscrownandgillig]

TYPO!! 6V53. Sorry