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The photo below shows the Lionel Superstreets "mini-bus," which I've measured and compared and concluded is just at 1:48 scale (except for length) and a Corgi Greyhound bus, which is closer to 1:50 I am guessing.  Anyway, I would like something a bit larger if possible.  

 

Does anyone know a source of 1950s buses in 1:48 or 1:50 scale? I've found some more modern buses in that scale, but nothing realistic for the mid '50s.

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I have been looking for a school bus model for 1940 and prior, but later than the model T Ford school bus model that was produced for the school bus company in the South.  I saw a Tootsietoy school bus toy once, that had the rounded back on the body (all the modern schoolbus models have square bodies in the back)  but when I went back to get it in the show, naturally, somebody had already glommed it.  As noted above, I mostly see Corgi buses but they are too modern for my use.

Originally Posted by Chugman:

I think that the problem is that the Greyhound bus is 1/50, which is what we need, but most of our cars and trucks are 1/43. That makes the bus look too small. As an example, I love the New Ray semi's, but they are 1/43 and way too large compared to everything else.

 

Art

I'm going ahead with using the Corgi and MTH buses I have.  For one thing I have about a dozen of them already.  I have used the Corgi as the bodies for my 'Streets city buses and intend to power the Greyhound in the phot above.

 

But I'm convinced they are not exactly 1/50, at least not most, and not even all of the same scale exactly.  Buses in the 1950s (like now) varied in the length the manufacturer would make but most of them were right around 96 inches wide (GM-3751, 4103 models, etc.).  The Corgi and MTH GM buses are right at 1 and 25/32 to 1 and 13/16 wide which makes them about 1/53 to 1/54 scale if 96 inches width.  They are closer to scale in height, the  Greyhound bus in the photo above is right at 1/50 in height but about 1:54 in width.  Anyway, they look okay when not around 1:43 stuff so I can get by with them.   

Corgi no longer makes the die cast American buses because they were mediocre sellers even though they were limited editions. Expect to pay $50-150 for a bus. Any bus from New York,Jersey or Philly might be more. They did a lot of NYCTA,Green Bus,Triboro,Public Service,Fifth Avenue,Surface and PTC to name a few. Good luck.

General Motors made their Old Look transit and suburban buses from 1941 to 1959 when they introduced the Fishbowl. Up to 1942 they were the Yellow Coach Division after 1942 they became GMC. Through WWII the windows were spaced evenly with square corners. after the war the windows were in pairs and curved corners  The 35 passenger old look with square windows was continued until 1968.

 

FYI John D Hertz founded the Yellow Cab Co in Chicago. He later started the Yellow Manufacturing Co to Manufacture Taxi Cabs  Then he created the Hertz Rent A Car Co.

General Moters  gained control of Yellow Manufacturing Co in 1925 and  Continued producing buses and started making trucks for GMC. .

th

 A square window Yellow or GMC bus

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A round cornered window GMC bus

 

coach

A late '40s Fageol Twin Coach

I wish someone would produce these, They were common from the late'40s to the early '60s

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Last edited by Richard E
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