Riding 1969 Muni Bus 3287 with Driver Doug - San Francisco Muni Heritage Weekend 2015 Part 1

A ride around downtown San Francisco aboard Muni Bus 3287, a "New Look" (a.k.a. "Fishbowl") model GMC bus originally purchased by Muni in 1969. Part of Muni Heritage Weekend 2015.
Our driver is "Driver Doug", who you can find out more about at daoofdoug.com.
This bus is painted in Muni’s 1969 red and cream color scheme. However, that only lasted a few years, being replaced by the California Poppy Orange and white 1970's look. More than 44,000 of these buses were manufactured between 1959 and 1977. Muni ordered 391 of these in 1969-1970.

[@MetalTeamster]

I rode MUNI as a kid from 1968 - 1976 ... I recall when these buses were brand new. I rode of dozens of them. I think those had the detroit diesel 8v-71 engines...they have a very distinct sound. I then recall around 1973-1974, MUNI bought a bunch of the short - newer buses that had 6v92 engines, the drivers said they were gutless. Those had the newer colors, and the seats did not have padding. But, wow, this bus is so cool... I rode the #18 to the transfer site by the hotel by Pt Lobos, and then took the #2 down to 25th aveune..... I still remember some of the old school drivers, some of them were really super nice to the little kid that I was.... I do recall going down Great Highway past playland the drivers got those buses going - 45-50mph for a short time. I am willing to bet I rode this bus..maybe more than once. My baby sitters husband was a fellow named Bob Olson who worked for MUNI in service / repair for many many years.... He would be in his mid 70s today... ( 2021 )

[@philfurrow9026]

The empty or unused gage housings on the dash panel were likely locations for oil pressure and engine temperature gages. GM provided a battery voltage gage as standard equipment but the oil and temperature gages were extra cost options. Love the Fishbowl bus! Best city and suburban bus GM ever made!

[@randolfo1265]

CLASSIC! We had the same buses in Toronto back in the day, and same colours too!

[@bartonpercival2147]

I remember in the early 70’s that the same type of muni coach (38 Geary) would stop at the end of the line on Cabrillo and LaPlaya at Playland at the Beach

[@MetalTeamster]

I remember that as well.... I rode the #2 Clement and transferred on to the #18 Sloat I think they called it.... I still have some old transfers... I think.

[@bartonpercival2147]

@@MetalTeamster Yup I remember riding the 18 Sloat. My first job as a teenager was at a burger joint called Jumbos on 45th Avenue right across from the zoo and one block up from the doggie diner. When the bus was traveling fast down Sloat, every time the bus would hit a bump in the road, you could hear all the coins bouncing around in the fare box

[@rudolphparayo6034]

I remember riding these buses when I was in high school. The 36 Miraloma was the line that I rode to go to school and downtown. The fare was 15 cents.

[@GSDubz]

Rode this bus in high school, the 28 Line, back in 1981-85. Those were the days...thanks for the memories!

[@PartyOfTheThirdPart]

+GSDubz You're welcome! That wasn't your graffiti I saw, was it? heh, heh ;)

[@GSDubz]

Funny you mention that, I recall when they replaced all of the vinyl rear seats (from the back door on) with hard plastic! Too many people cutting them up with knives.

[@micmac99]

Grew up in Oakland and always rode the AC Transit versions of these, with the white, coral and teal color scheme. AC Transit didn't retire their latest New Look GMC buses until the early 90s as I recall. As a 5, 6 year-old kid I would go around the house pretending to drive one of these buses, imitating the exact engine sound you hear, right down to the idle sounds and the gear shift changes, which I pretty much memorized by sound, not knowing of course what those sounds meant.

[@PartyOfTheThirdPart]

I should hire you to do sound effects for the next SFMTA video I do! :-)

[@lesliemiros6743]

Me too back in 1977. When New Orleans had theirs until 1985.

[@DT-hi3dm]

I could make the same sound effects. I was good at trucks with Detroit power , The Cummins 250 took practice. I would also do sirens, single tone squelch and dual tone, mixed with tire noises, and La France horn . I remember I was walking into a car park , the cement and design gave perfect acoustics , I'm not bragging but vehicles were pulling into stalls , you could help but laugh , when motorist were red in the face looking in rear view mirrors. Missed my big chance at show biz , puberty put an end to that LOL. Thanks Michael , I thought I was the only one that was crazy. Peace out

[@roadblock7801]

They had 70 (T8H-5301) of these in Seattle from 1968, but retired them between 1986-1988. SMDH.

[@kyoakland]

me too

[@kyotokid4]

...still love the old Fishbowls with that panoramic windscreen and rear window. I remember when they first appeared up in Milwaukee, so much nicer and brighter that light inside compared to the Old Looks, and Marmons we had.

[@emph66]

Can remember riding in these "New Look" buses hundreds of times as a child, the vacuum cleaner like sounds of the engine and rattle trap cacophony of the seats and pipes brings me back. There was a Thruway bus that would give you a quicker ride from the city line to downtown via the expressway. The bus strained to achieve 50 or so miles per hour but did get you downtown in about 12-13 minutes compared to 30-35 minutes. The seats weren't very comfortable but the heater worked well, no air conditioning on the old buses here.

[@spencerwells1851]

I dont mean to be so offtopic but does anybody know a tool to log back into an instagram account? I somehow lost my login password. I would appreciate any assistance you can offer me

[@darielwalker1058]

@Spencer Wells Instablaster ;)

[@spencerwells1851]

@Dariel Walker i really appreciate your reply. I found the site on google and Im in the hacking process atm. Seems to take a while so I will get back to you later with my results.

[@spencerwells1851]

@Dariel Walker It worked and I actually got access to my account again. Im so happy! Thank you so much you saved my ass :D

[@darielwalker1058]

@Spencer Wells no problem =)

[@MrGaryg20047]

I remember these buses when I was a kid plus back then there was no wheelchair accessibility.

[@sustainfem]

Very cool. Love the red and cream paint scheme!

[@PartyOfTheThirdPart]

+Medic83301 I'm certainly no expert on colors, lol, but I have seen these colors described in various ways. An SF Chronicle newspaper article about historic buses calls it "red and cream", while both the SF historic railway website and the official SFMTA press release call it "maroon and yellow".

[@sustainfem]

+Medic83301 On second viewing, I think you may be right! Anyway, it's a great looking bus!

[@6680thSOG]

Look very much like Toronto’s TTC Fishbowl

[@jamesfrench7299]

Looks awesome in that paint scheme. What a sight seeing this icon coming down the street. You could do a painting of it. I noticed the Veeder Root hubodometer in the drive axle, something these buses usually had attached -extra point for authenticity. The seats were in such great condition too. The Canadians knew a good bus as they kept producing New Looks well into the 1980s, the last batch they made was for an order in Los Angeles in 1986!! These 1980s New Looks had far more modern and comprehensive dials, gauges and controls than this basic specimen lol.

[@MsJamiewoods]

When the City of Appleton, Wis. was looking to purchase it's first 14 brand new buses in late 1980 the folks at Valley Transit chose Canadian GM New Looks since they looked very similar to the early 60s-era used New Looks they had and there was parts interchangeability. As I understand it, those early 80s Canadian New Looks were more dependable and longer lasting than the RTS-IIs GM was building in the U.S.

[@jamesfrench7299]

Jamie Woods the RTS (Rattle Trap Sardine can) looked all flash but the Canadians didn't want a bar of it and wisely stuck to the proven 1959 idea of a modern transit bus. Many U.S operators felt the same and preferred to remanufacture the tried and tested fishbowl that had served them well rather than pay through the nose for a plastic version that rattled like mad and had so much noise penetration. I personally love the RTS but fully get the divided reaction. You gotta admit it's design was stunningly futuristic for a late 1960s design with a 3 axle prototype out by 1968. Even now the shape looks current.

[@David-mi1tz]

Brilliant, two thumbs up!

[@mrceleb2006]

This is one of the rare examples of a GMC Fishbowl bus powered by an 8V71 Detroit Diesel...the 6V71 was more common in this type of bus!

[@juliang9809]

I'd rather have this then those new buses we have! There always breaking down. Miss these busses

[@SteveCarras]

Julian Gutierrez VERY well said! 👍

[@markwilson8118]

Would love this for my skoolie

[@TheCRTman]

I was the guy in the back at 3:11 lol fun times!

[@larryboysen5911]

Gotta love those seats...until the "Slap-Stick-Slashers" came aboard and made things hard on everyBODY! Those GM's were what I think of the "bus look"...remember these GM's well' rode them many times. Also liked the old '59 Macks. Anyone remember the Whites and Marmon Trolleys?

[@MetalTeamster]

I rode the 59 Macks in the late 60s / early 70s... I remember those were worn out when I rode them. smelly , leaked oil , the drivers did not like them...

[@nah_144]

I watch the movie "Pursuit of happiness" and I kept on seeing this bus driving with its powertrain: 6V71 engine

[@roadblock7801]

The sound was awesome. We had these in Seattle, too

[@nah_144]

Roadblock Yup

[@richardc9634]

I saw this Red bus in Pursuit of Happiness, they where very popular in the 1970s

[@MetalTeamster]

were those 6-71s? I thought maybe they were 8 v 71s .... I know in the early to mid 70s they bought shorter / newer buses that they used going up Coit tower....that had 6v92s that seemed very gutless. The drivers complained about the gutlessness of those.

[@luizcaju1]

Show de bola,uma faixa para cada tipo de veiculo,todos se respeitando e o transito flui normalmente.

[@mrceleb2006]

Rare for a GMC Fishbowl transit bus to be powered by a Detroit Diesel 8V71!

[@SteveCarras]

This has the round big buttons for. the transmission rather than lever or switch.(edited largely to fix typos and apologies for such..2/16/19.)

[@luizcaju1]

Very good

[@rigomortisfxstudios]

great video

[@josephheston9238]

Judging by the modern bumper, would this have been a Blitz rebuild?

[@MillerMeteor74]

It sure rattles a lot. In all the videos of Fishbowl buses I have watched, I have never heard so much, and such loud, rattling. I wonder why?

[@albertlei1203]

bad roads

[@Konduktor5-8]

Where can I find second part?

[@lesliemiros6743]

Almost the same as the 49ers colors

[@lesliemiros6743]

Los Angeles had these during the rtd era then the rts came in 1980

[@Ikaruszaki]

Does this transmission ever shift up? :D

[@6680thSOG]

Look like an old Toronto TTC bus? Muni same colours?

[@MsJamiewoods]

No sound of the buzzer we used to use to request a stop? Was the buzzer not working? Was it turned off? Or did no one pull it?

[@PartyOfTheThirdPart]

That was a while ago, so I don't remember, but probably nobody pulled it.

[@pizzasubs]

SPEED BUS

[@rafitaramirez2022]

Los "Chimecos" rifan en California