Subject American Coach, of course, is boundless, but we will try to meet in one story - from the first American bus to one of the latter. But first clarify what is considered a bus, after all the controversy surrounding this issue are conducted today. Some think that this crew, with more than six seats. But today there are a number of limousines, that take a lot more passengers. Others say the mandatory payment of travel, but with the beginning of last century were many-carriages hotel, where the cost of travel to the station and back was included in the estimates of their stay in the room. So the reader to have to figure out what the bus ... But the fact that it is designed to carry large numbers of passengers - no doubt.
Mack, 1900


The first bus in North America in our understanding, was released in 1900 by Mack and called Touring Coach. It was equipped with 4-cylinder engines, allows accelerated to 30 km / h, and 3-speed gearbox. The bus had 27 seats, ie it was not a pipsqueak. Incidentally, the name of this company, we will meet more than once. And in general, its bus products, as well as heavy trucks, has always had an avant-garde design and very original look. The first bus in good condition to these days and exhibited in the factory museum in Allentown.
Fischer, 1903


In 1903, the company Fischer signed a contract with the London bus company for several buses to the British capital. Perhaps this fact and would not deserve our attention in the American context \u0026quot;, but the design of the machine was such that it does not dwell on it is simply impossible. The bus had a hybrid drive - it is the beginning of something of the past century! Rear tires rotated the 10-strong motor (each), which are fed from the generator power of 15 kW. That, in turn, leads 20-strong 4-cylinder internal combustion engine and energy storage batteries were included in the network between the generator and traction motors. Because of the complexity of the bus structure has shown himself not with the best hand and was returned to the United States.
Modern Motor Coaches, 1927


Then came in 1910 known today for its luxury cars the company has released a Buick Motor Bus - note, wagon-type. Two-cylinder boxer engine power 22 hp located in front and allow a small bus accelerated up to 40 km / h. This 12-seat vehicle is mainly used by hotels and railway stations. But the beginning of wagon-type, as the reader sees, she has already started.

Soon was based transport company Greyhound (1914), which today is successfully competing with rail passenger transport. With the massive construction of roads at the North American continent as soon as the opportunity transcontinental road passenger flights, with routes were built in such a way as to cover nearly all the states from East to West and from North to South. There were comfortable buses with special low-bed chassis and special pneumatic shock absorbers, providing easy travel much more than he could offer rail. In such a competitive Europe to participate did not have, and America began its triumphal march to the wheels on the asphalt. In addition, bus stations, scattered in the most unexpected places, also contributed to the development of this particular type of transport.
ACF, 1925


Interestingly, not only exploited the Greyhound bus, bus charter also makes investments in the development of new rolling stock that meets its requirements. These developments have participated almost all American manufacturers of buses and trucks of the time, until the circle is not narrowed to a few companies, with the logo of the manufacturer, usually absent - it replaced the image of a greyhound. An example is the 26-seater bus Modern Motor Coaches 1927 release. In those years, buses are noticeable pneumatic shock absorbers, a purely American horns as prescribed on the sides of trails and, of course, well-marked image of the legendary hound. 

Around the same time in the United States emerged from the coaches stepped roof (European title \u0026quot;hohdekker\u0026quot; does not fit here). Bus ACF in 1925 became one of the first such machines in the New World. While European companies Gebruder Ludewig ascribes to himself the invention of such a body after the end (!) Second World War.
Fitzjohn Sedan-Bus, 1930