3/9/20 73/100 1999 Chevy Express Transport Bus

One of my favorite castings in 1999 was a unique one: a Chevy Transport Bus based on the Express chassis cab with a bus body similar to the ones used at airports and sported a National rental car deco.  For 2000 the Chevy bus is a more typical tan with Metro Motel Shuttle on the sides and a blue interior.  The front of the cab is based on the Chevrolet Express chassis cab with the chrome grille and halogen headlights similar to the truck, as is the driver’s side door and a nice running board in metal.  The chassis uses an aftermarket bed that contours around the cab and replaces the passenger-side door with folding doors for rear access.  The windows are tall like a building’s windows and the rear has an emergency exit door and square taillight clusters.  The interior has the front dashboard from the Express with 4-spoke steering wheel and a driver’s seat; right behind the driver is a spot for luggage and the luggage is detailed there.  Passengers can choose from an array of seats on the left or right side of the bus, while the chrome base offers the detailed drivetrain and a working suspension.  With so much metal the bus does squat a bit at the rear and the body does roll in corners, but overall it’s a well-controlled truck.  Unfortunately, for the future of this casting the body would be retooled into a plastic unit with a metal base and would become crude in the bodyline details.  In 2009 a successor arrived in the form of a GMC School Bus, based on the related and updated GMC Savana chassis cab with a plastic school bus body that would eventually move to an all-plastic body later on.

Specifications:

· Engine: 6.0L V8 310 hp. Est.

· Transmission: 4-speed automatic

· 0-60 mph: 15.0 sec. est.

· Real vehicle price: $50,000 est. 1999

Rating:  5 out of 5 stars