1986 GM "New Look" Fishbowl Bus Undercarriage

            AACA Museum of Bus Transportation

1986 GM "New Look" 
Manufacturer General Motors Company Detroit, MI 
Model: T8H-5307A 

Nicknamed the "Fishbowl" for the large 6 piece windshield design, these buses were officially named "New Look" by GM in sales brochures because of the technology and design that went into building them. They had standard Air Ride suspension, panoramic windows, and were originally equipped with only a V-6 engine. The V-8 engine was later offered after 1966, after much pressure from the operators. Air conditioning was also an option specified by many operators. 

Production of the New Look bus began in 1959, and the first buses went into service in 1960. The first New Look transit was built for GM overseas as a demonstrator in Mexico. The second bus built was a demonstrator for Westside Transit Lines in Los Angeles. 

This particular bus was the final New Look bus built before they ceased production in 1986, after a 27 year run. It has an 8 V71 engine. It is 40 feet long, 8 feet wide, and seats 53. 

The 1994 movie Speed featured a second generation 1963 New Look bus, similar to this fourth generation one from 1986. 

Bus #5180 is the last Canadian fish bowl bus, and was the last one made of its kind. The bus was delivered to Santa Monica Big Blue Bus in mid 1987 and was in service up to 2005. Up to 2007 a driver by the name of Robert Bob Hubert (33 year veteran of Big Blue Bus) drove the bus on its last trip. In 2013 Big Blue Bus decided to sell the bus. A former driver, Frank Gonzalez, suggested that the bus be donated to the Hershey Automotive Museum. With the help of Getty Modica (transit maintenance officer) and the city council of Santa Monica the bus was able to be released for donation. 

Special thanks to Patrick Campbell (CEO) and Edward F. King (Director of transit services)

On June 10, 1994 the rest of the world was introduced to the Santa Monica Big Blue Bus with the help of the movie Speed. After the film's release Santa Monica Big Blue Bus was hired by a local tour agency to provide a tour based on the film and bus #2525, which was not officially part of the Big Blue Bus fleet. The driver of the tours was Frank Gonzalez, who also delivered this bus from Santa Monica, CA to the Hershey Automotive Museum on May 30, 2013.

Some rights reserved

Taken in: United States / Pennsylvania / South Hanover Township / Greenbriar (show map)

Taken on: October 16, 2021

Tags:

1986

Bus

T8H-5307A

Speed

2525

New Look

Santa Monica

Big Blue Bus

Santa Monica Big Blue Bus

General Motors

Fishbowl Bus

Speed 1994 « less

Sets appears in: • AACA Museum of Transportation

Camera: Apple iPhone 11, f/2.4, 1/50 sec, 1.5mm, ISO 1000 (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Apple iPhone 11
Aperture:	f/2.4
Exposure Time:	0.02 sec (1/50)
Focal Length:	1.5mm
ISO:	1000
Exposure Bias:	0 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire
Exposure Program:	Program AE
Exposure Mode:	Auto
Metering Mode:	Multi-segment
White Balance:	Auto
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	15.0.2
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