Which type of bus, 40 years after the first one was built, still symbolizes Greyhound to a large segment of The population? The answer, of course, is the Greyhound "Silversides." Some people may not know that familiar name, coined by drivers, or know that the vehicles were built by Yellow Coach and GM. And some may forget that after Greyhound was through these buses of its own exclusive design, it resold them to smaller carriers. What is unforgettable about the Silversides is the unique design, with fluted aluminum exterior trim panels and other features.
  The nation's toymakers likewise were impressed with the Silversides; most of them offered toy versions, some of which are featured in the Collectibles toy page.
  The first Greyhound Silversides was a Yellow Coach 1206 built in 1939; this was the lone experimental coach, though it looked like the ones to follow, and was apparently used for publicity purposes in connection with the 1939 World's Fair. The maximum legal length for buses at the time was still 33 feet in many areas, so the Silversides was produced in both 33 and 35- foot versions. After World War II, only 35-footers were built.
  the Silversides did not represent major technical advances; the diesel engine installed in the majority of prewar Silversides coaches had been used in some Yellow Coach 743's; Greyhound's previous design, and air conditioning had been pioneered by ACF. The Silversides did have some interesting innovations, such as a movable lower step which slid out when the entrance door was opened, and the shift lever mounted on the steering column (reflecting the trend in automobiles at the time). This single-rod air shift on the column could cause problems; it was frequently impossible to shift into reverse without summoning a mechanic. A two-rod mechanical shift replaced the air shift on postwar Silversides models, which eliminated most of the problems. Other postwar changes included redesigned driver's controls and instrument panel, and the air conditioning power unit was moved back one bay. Some Silversides were delivered without sliding sash.
  At the end of World War II, with riding at an all-time high, Greyhound evidently decided it was easier to make changes and improvements to the existing Silversides design for the time being, rather than become deeply involved again in a new coach design. There was a need to replace many buses worn out with heavy use during the war, including "engine-out-front" types, and several Greyhound companies even purchased ACF-Brill gas buses. The last Silversides were delivered in 1948, and Greyhound would not have another "trademark" bus until the first Scenicruisers in 1954.
  Even after the arrival of the Scenicruisers, and a later "Greyhound only" bus, the M.C.l. MC-6, some of the Silversides continued to operate for Greyhound. The last ones, a group of PD4151's assigned to Division 5 commute runs in San Francisco, were withdrawn from active service in 1970, replaced by pd-4104's and scenics downgraded from main line service.

by gary johnson  model coach news no.19 ( unknown date )