| Thomas Minotour | |
|---|---|
 Minotour on 1997-2003 GMC Savana chassis | |
| Overview | |
| Type | Bus |
| Manufacturer | Thomas Built Buses |
| Also called |
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| Production | 1980-present |
| Associates | United States: Loftier Point, North Carolina (Thomas Built Buses) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Body style |
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| Platform |
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| Chassis | Cutaway van chassis (come across notes) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase |
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| Chronology | |
| Predecessor | Thomas Mighty Mite |
The Thomas Minotour is a bus body manufactured past Thomas Built Buses since 1980. The smallest vehicle sold past the company, the Minotour is a bus body designed for cutaway van chassis. Primarily sold for schoolhouse omnibus usage, the Minotour is also produced equally a MFSAB (action bus) or in specialized configurations specified by the client.
The but current Thomas Built Buses vehicle not to use the Saf-T-Liner nameplate, the Minotour is manufactured alongside the total-size Thomas schoolhouse bus line in Loftier Point, North Carolina.
Background [edit]
In the early 1970s, blueprint of small school buses underwent a period of evolution, shifting from automotive-based vehicles to purpose-built designs. From 1968 to 1971, Ford, Dodge, and General Motors redesigned their van lines, shifting the engine configuration of all iii vehicles from behind the forepart seats to a forwards engine placement. Along with far more than stable handling characteristics (from a longer wheelbase), the new vans adopted mechanical commonality with calorie-free-truck product lines (allowing for increased immovability). A new blazon of commercial vehicle was introduced: the cutaway van chassis. In line with a chassis cab truck, the cutaway van is an incomplete vehicle upfitted by a second stage manufacturer. In the context of school double-decker manufacturing, cutaway van chassis immune for school charabanc bodywork (and its reinforced inner structure) to be adjusted to a van chassis, replacing rider vans or full-size SUVs (such as the Chevrolet Suburban or International Travelall).
In 1973, Wayne Corporation produced the first school bus body for a cutaway van chassis, the Wayne Busette; Blue Bird introduced the Blue Bird Micro Bird in 1975. While not the starting time cutaway-chassis schoolhouse charabanc, the Micro Bird introduced several features that were adapted on virtually all subsequent models; the blueprint included an developed-pinnacle entry door, boosted drinking glass ahead of the entry door (to assist loading visibility for the driver), and an optional wheelchair lift.
In the 1970s, Thomas Built Buses introduced the Mighty Mite as its first small-scale school charabanc. Initially produced as a narrow-body version of the Saf-T-Liner Conventional, the Mighty Mite was reintroduced in the mid 1970s equally a bus torso on Chevrolet P30 stripped chassis (Type B school charabanc). Produced with relatively few changes, the Mighty Mite was discontinued in 1995.
Model overview [edit]
In 1980, the Thomas Minotour was introduced every bit a supplement to the Mighty Mite. Sharing a similar configuration as the Blue Bird Micro Bird, the Minotour has been offered on both Ford and General Motors cutaway van chassis during its unabridged production.
Body [edit]
The Minotour body is produced in iii dissimilar versions: i for single rear-wheel chassis along with standard and extended lengths for dual rear-wheel chassis.
Since its 1980 introduction, the torso of the Minotour has seen relatively few changes. During the 1990s, a flooring-level rub rail was added. In the early 2000s, the front bodywork above the roof was modified to improve body aerodynamics. In 2008, the taillights were updated (to share a similar pattern with the Thomas Saf-T-Liner C2 and Thomas Saf-T-Liner HDX). Following various chassis redesigns, the window forrard of the entry door has grown in size.
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2004-2007 Minotour EL (Ford E450)
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2004-2016 Minotour SRW (Chevrolet Express 3500)
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2004-2011 Minotour DRW (Chevrolet Limited 4500; 4x4 conversion)
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2004-2017 Minotour DRW (Chevrolet Express 4500) in use as activeness passenger vehicle
Chassis [edit]
Introduced on a dual rear-cycle chassis for both Ford and General Motors, the Thomas Minotour became the get-go cutaway-chassis developed for a single rear-wheel chassis; in the early 1980s, Thomas developed a narrow-body version of the Minotour for a unmarried rear-wheel Ford chassis. Currently, the Full general Motors chassis is bachelor with two gasoline engines and a diesel engine; the Ford chassis is available with ii gasoline engines.
In add-on to gasoline and diesel versions of the Minotour, Thomas offers two alternative-fuel versions. On the General Motors chassis, the Minotour can be equipped with the option of CNG (compressed natural gas) or propane-fueled powertrains.
| Thomas Minotour Chassis | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Chassis | Production | Configuration | Fuel |
| Ford Econoline 350 | 1980-1991 |
|
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| Ford E-350/Due east-450 | 1992–present | ||
| Chevrolet G30/GMC Vandura | 1980-1996 | Dual rear bike | |
| Chevrolet Limited 3500/4500 GMC Savana 3500/4500 | 1997–present |
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Although Thomas Built Buses is owned past Freightliner (itself endemic by Daimler AG), the Minotour has not entered production using a Sprinter chassis (under Freightliner or Mercedes-Benz badging; also offered as a Contrivance prior to 2011). In addition to the Daimler-produced Sprinter existence unable to directly compete with Ford and General Motors counterparts in terms of cost, engineering concerns came into play.[one] In a 2002 mockup of a paradigm, Thomas engineers discovered that the heavily reinforced body design of the Minotour far exceeded the GVWR rating for the and so-electric current version of the cutaway-chassis Sprinter.[ane]
As of 2020 production, there are no announced plans for a Minotour derived from Ford Transit 350/350HD chassis or from the Ram ProMaster chassis. As of 2021 production, information technology wiil be produced on a Ford Transit 350/350HD chassis to join bus production.
Variants [edit]
MyBus [edit]
The Thomas MyBus (marketed as MyBus past Thomas Built Buses) is a variant of the Minotour marketed as a MFSAB (Multi-Role School Activeness Bus); it is a vehicle intended for entities transporting children (or other individuals) in a group setting, but are not making apply of traffic-control devices; these vehicles have been required to take the identify of 15-passenger vans due to the risk of rollover in the latter.
Sharing the bones body of the Minotour, the MyBus differs primarily in its more aerodynamic front end and rear roof cap styling. In addition, due to its utilise equally an MFSAB, the MyBus is not immune to be fitted with warning lights, a stop sign, nor can information technology be painted school charabanc xanthous (conversely, the Minotour is required to be painted that color if it is a schoolhouse double-decker).
See besides [edit]
- Bluish Bird Micro Bird
- Wayne Busette
- Listing of buses
References [edit]
- ^ a b "Perley A. Thomas Motorcar Works, Thomas Built Buses, Inc., Thomas Built Buses div. of Freightliner, Thomas Built Buses div. of Daimler Trucks N.A." Retrieved 5 December 2015.
- Thomas Minotour Product Literature (current model)
- Thomas Minotour Webpage
External links [edit]
- Thomas Built Buses
- Auto Rubber House
thententonarmstead.blogspot.com
Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Minotour
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