GILLIG PHANTOMS
The Gillig Phantom initially began preproduction in early 1980 a couple of years after the Gillig/Neoplan partnership ended, and Gillig began thinking of ways to stay alive after their school bus market share dropped. Making a 1981 debut, the Gillig Phantom was to feature a Detroit 6V92 naturally aspirated engine or a 6V92 turbocharged engine rated at 210 HP, coupled to an Allison MT653 automatic transmission. There were initially just a 30 and 35-foot offering of the Phantom, but a 40-foot model soon became available as the Phantom became an industry success.
In 1986, after Gillig had experienced nearly four years of success marketing the Phantom design, they decided to make another attempt at school bus production. This time, they would use a modified Gillig Phantom body. The subtle differences between a regular Gillig Phantom and a Gillig Phantom School Bus is that on the Phantom School Bus, the driver's side windshield was not canted back to reduce glare, the side windows were the vertical drop-sash sliding windows common of school buses, and the main entry door was much narrower. Additionally, the Phantom School Bus featured a rear exit window. While outwardly they were totally different, inside they were the same. Both shared the same instrument panel, both shared engine options, and both shared the same acoustical ceiling panels (albeit with some differences in the school bus variant). Gillig produced its last school bus using the modified Phantom platform in 1993 amidst a sharply declining market share. Today, Gillig no longer builds the Phantom, as its production ended in September 2008.
ORANGE UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS NO. 17 - CALIFORNIA STATE
This bus was photographed at a school bus operators roadeo in southern California. It appears to be well taken care of, and looks spectacular for a Gillig Phantom school bus. Special thanks go to Eric Gregory for allowing me to use these photos here.
TAHOE-TRUCKEE SCHOOLS BUS NO.'s 31 and 39 - CALIFORNIA STATE
This Gillig Phantom here, like its sister bus pictured below, were photographed by Richard Solano of New York. It is presumed that this bus is retired since the emblems were missing when this bus was photographed.
PACIFIC COACHWAYS - CALIFORNIA STATE
This Phantom is unique in one respect - it is the first-ever school bus prototype built unsing the new-for-1986 Phantom School bus lineup. It was equipped with a Caterpillar 3208 diesel engine and an Allison automatic transmission. It was sold to Pacific Coachways because it had features that school buses are not permitted to have, such as a run-start switch and other features.. Like the Gillig transit Phantom model, the Gillig Phantom school bus did feature the kneeling feature.
RED BLUFF UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS NO. 46 - CALIFORNIA STATE
Nothing is known about this bus. Special thanks to the late Zach Willhoite for sending these photos in. They were photographed at the Mt. Lassen National Volcanic Monument.
LOS ANGELES UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BUS NO. 6065 - CALIFORNIA STATE
This bus either was or is still being operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles California. No other details are known about this bus. This photo was sent in by Trina Falk of Indiana. Photo added on November 20, 2006
GILLIG PHANTOM ADVERTISEMENT BROCHURE
