MCI Motor Coach Industries Interstate 102" MC-6 Bus
MCI-6 Supercruiser Interstate Highway Passenger Bus. Bus ID No. MC67842. Not a "school bus". There was less than 100 of these busses made. The entire frame structure is made of stainless steel. No rusting here, like so many others. Most of the interior components such as the entire bathroom, is all stainless. The rest of it is Aluminum.
They were built as passenger busses for running the highways in the 11 Western States needing to be able to handle twisting high mountain passes over the Rocky Mountain Ranges and throughout Colorado.
This is the only bus I am aware of which has a De Dion Suspension System. This suspension design was used in the early Le Mans cars because of their cornering and handling capability. One of the few suspension designs which eliminate leaning of the vehicle in corners with greatly enhanced stability. Anyone who owns one or has converted one into a "Class A" Motor coach will testify to there being no better chassis available. As you can see, the seats have been removed.
They stopped production when the Western States broke a promise to change the standard of maximum 96" width vehicle statute to allow 102" wide vehicles. It wasn't until 1982 that the 102" standard became law. So, all other earlier busses, except the MCI-6, were all 96" wide. This makes a tremendous difference when using one as a base cab and chassis for Motor Coach conversion.
There is an inventory of many new parts which were to be used in the conversion. Complete set of New suspension Air Bags, sets of New Windshields and Rubbers, New axle bearings, seals, etc (front & rear) are available as an included package.
If you need parts for an MCI6, here you go. Many impossible to find body and drive train parts are all there to be put back. The Turbo & Supercharged 8V-71 Detroit Diesel Engine and Allison 740 Transmission are there. This bus needs a Radiator Re-core to be operational. It may be a parts treasure trove to other MCI-6 owners with so few being manufactured.
The windshields were removed in preparation for the conversion. It was to have its roof raised 13" and the entire interior revamped, just like the other "Class A" Motor Coaches are. I've included two pictures of busses I have come across that were both converted to rolling dream machines.
All of the upper structure is Aluminum with careful attention being paid to insulate the two metals wherever they are joined. All boat owners know of the galvanic corrosion problems when aluminum and any steel are in direct contact.
This is what one looks like after a Motor Coach Conversion.
Following is a collage of pictures covering the whole bus.
