Riding a 1972 GM New Look with an 8V71N and Manual Transmission (Community Coach 143)

[@dirtyharry5320]

That's a "suburban" model without a back door, and all seats facing forward. These were mainly used on express routes which were mostly on highways. Only the manuals at the time had enough gears for it to operate at highway speeds (the automatics on the "transit" models only had two speeds and couldn't go much faster than 35 MPH). Try finding a manual equipped "transit" model with a back door. That's a unicorn.

[@greenboy1331]

Where is this beauty kept these days?? What a great piece of machinery.

[@L-Taraval]

Whazzup Mr Rice! Saw ya! Just a few bumps and grinds there. No worries. Took me a while to learn how to drive a 8v71 4-speed too!

[@Chamberlain-ef9pk]

I recall riding in one of these in the early 70s to Wildwood NJ from DC...Atwood's Gold Line

[@1940limited]

I rode them in the 60s from Morristown to Livingston.

[@dejohn913]

I Can Definitely Remember These Babies Like If It Were Yesterday When I Used To Take The Community Coach Route #77 To Port Authority From Park Avenue In East Orange And Those Comfortable Seats Were So Soft That I've Missed My Stop A Couple Of Times. Thank You For Bringing Back The Memories. I Must Ride This Bus Someday Before It Goes Out To Pasture With The Rest Of The "Legends". 10 Stars+++

[@m636rf9]

I bet it would’ve been awesome to ride these things into Port Authority!

[@dejohn913]

@@m636rf9 Believe Me. They Were The Most Comfortable Buses I've Ever Ridin On Second Only Tho The MCI MC-9A's Of The Day. I Used To Hoping To Catch Them When They Were Slowly Being Phased Out By The MC-9A's By The Late 80's.

[@1940limited]

Yeah, I do too and I sat up front every chance I got to watch the driver work the bus. 4-speed stick, non synchro.

[@dejohn913]

@@1940limited That Was The Best Spot In The Bus And The Rear Where You Could Hear The Grinding Of The Gears.

[@1940limited]

@@dejohn913 The driver shouldn't have been grinding the gears! 🙂

[@cellpat2686]

Wow that fishbowl is here in Jersey? I recognized the Community Coach livery but had no idea they had one of those. That bus full of bus nuts really enjoyed the ride for sure. I'd love to drive that bowl myself sometime. Im qualified for that. Have the CDL, 5 years experience driving buses, and can drive stick. Thank you for the short movie. (1st comment)

[@m636rf9]

Yeah it’s owned by the CBOA as I understand it. Lots of foamers (myself included) got to enjoy it that that day haha.

[@CLIFFYBPUBLISHING]

Finally an upload riding on a S8M5303 A! I owned Ex NJ Transits 720B that’s now in the Historic Museum in Lakewood NJ @ NJ Transit! Boy… Do I miss my bus! Thank your for this incredible upload, because I can ride/pretend to drive once again!!!!! Vroom!

[@m636rf9]

You’re welcome! As a younger guy I had a ton of fun riding this old bus. So much more character in it than all of the newer buses I’m used to.

[@mistero4]

That would bring a smile to a dead man.

[@ButterfatFarms]

How are the windows not loudly and constantly rattling like every SEPTA and New Jersey Transit New Look bus I ever rode on?

[@silverado15]

Such an awesome bus manual transmission when was the last time a bus had that great upload first time on your channel very good thanks with the Go picture your home base must be toronto i am up in ottawa

[@m636rf9]

It’s definitely a very old setup, I don’t think many were built with a manual past the early 70s. And yeah, I used to live in Toronto.

[@silverado15]

@@m636rf9 cool Thanks

[@1940limited]

How about some picture of the driver?

[@paulietteburnett7270]

Princess Lavengra Earth

[@jimwilloughby]

I don't understand why some of the windows were open. Was the ac not working? I used to drive for a company that had one. The vision for the driver was terrific, but on hot days the ac didn't do much for the driver. The only other bad thing was those fishbowls had notoriously soft brakes so a friver really had to think far ahead in planning stops. I almost rearended a car because of that.

[@friendofvinnie]

I was hoping to see the gear changer at least not pink hair. 😢

[@1940limited]

Agreed!

[@matthewgeorge7247]

Paymonthmattgeorge😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅😅