Gillig Phantom School Bus

The **Gillig Phantom School Bus** was a school bus available in the United States and built in Hayward, California. It was produced from 1986 to 1993 and was especially popular with west coast school districts.

## History

In 1985, Gillig re-entered the school bus manufacturing industry after ceasing production of the long running Gillig Transit Coach School Bus in 1982. A prototype was built in 1985, but it did not comply to school bus regulations for the time. Afterward, production of the Phantom School Bus officially started in 1986. It was initially received well and was marketed mainly toward Californian school districts, however some units were sold out of state, with some examples being in Hawaii, Washington and Wyoming. By 1989, sales of the Phantom School Bus began to drop.

The Phantom School Bus remained in production until November 1993, with the final units being built for Tahoe‐Truckee Joint Unified School District. This marked the end of Gillig being a school bus manufacturer. Less than 500 units were produced in total.

## Design

The Phantom School Bus design was based off of the Phantom transit bus. It was initially launched in a 37 foot length with a 78 passenger seating capacity and was soon made available in a 40 foot length with 84 and 87 passenger seating capacities. Due to school bus regulations of the time, 96 inch width was the only available width option.

The Phantom School Bus had a diesel-powered drivetrain in a T-drive layout at the rear, similar to the Phantom transit bus. Detroit Diesel powered units featured an exhaust pipe protruding from the left of the rear bumper, while Caterpillar powered units featured an exhaust pipe protruding from the right of the rear bumper.

The Phantom School Bus received minor design changes over the course of production. HVAC was an option, but was only ordered by a few districts/agencies. The majority of Phantom School Buses were built with round single headlights (a.k.a "duals"), but some school districts ordered units with rectangular dual headlights, (a.k.a "quads"). Most units were delivered with rectangular tail lights, but over time some districts/agencies retrofitted their buses with circular LED tail lights. Gillig's "half octagon" rubber wheel fenders, a defining characteristic was introduced on the Phantom transit bus was also used with the Phantom School Bus. A rear end design change occurred in 1987-1988 when the placement of the rear window was moved slightly and the red school bus crossing lights were moved further apart. The steering column design changed in 1988. The front door design of the bus changed in 1990. Due to new school bus regulations in 1993, all 1993 models featured yellow school bus crossing lights along with red lights.

## Model & VIN Breakdown

### Non-Standard Model Breakdown

 6V92-13

### VIN Code Breakdown

 AB
 CD
 0203040809
 1
 \*
 GHJKLMNP
 030xxx

## Operators

### Original School District Operators

* Amador County Unified School District (CA)
* Amador-Pleasanton Unified School District (CA)
* Antelope Valley Schools Transportation Agency - Lancaster, CA
* Antioch Unified School District (CA)
* Banning Unified School District (CA)
* Bishop Unified School District (CA)
* Black Oak Mine Unified School District - Georgetown, CA
* Buckeye Union School District - Cameron Park, CA
* Burton School District - Porterville, CA
* Cajon Valley Union School District - El Cajon, CA
* Castro Valley Unified School District (CA)
* Ceres Unified School District (CA)
* Chico Unified School District (CA)
* Chino Valley Unified School District (CA)
* Claremont Unified School District (CA)
* Columbia (Walla Walla) School District - Burbank, WA
* Colusa Unified School District (CA)
* Cottonwood Union Elementary School District (CA)
* Cutler-Orosi Unified School District - Orosi, CA
* Eastside Union Elementary School District - East Lancaster, CA
* Enterprise Elementary School District - Redding, CA
* Fall River Joint Unified School District - Burney, CA & McArthur, CA
* Fortuna Union High School District (CA)
* Fremont Unified School District (CA)
* Gilroy Unified School District (CA)
* Gold Trail Union School District - Placerville , CA
* Golden Valley Unified School District - Madera, CA
* Gridley Unified School District (CA)
* Hanford Elementary School District (CA)
* Hayward Unified School District (CA)
* Huntington Beach Union High School District (CA)
* Irwindale Unified School District (CA)
* Kamehameha Schools ~ Kapalama Campus - Honolulu, HI
* Kelseyville Unified School District (CA)
* King City Joint Union High School District (CA)
* Kings Canyon Unified School District - Reedley, CA
* Kit Carson Union Elementary School District - Hanford, CA
* Liberty Union High School District - Brentwood, CA
* Los Angeles Unified School District (CA)
* Marysville Joint Unified School District (CA)
* Modesto City School District (CA)
* Modoc Joint Unified School District - Alturas, CA
* Monson-Sultana Joint Union Elementary School District - Sultana, CA
* Monterey Peninsula Unified School District (CA)
* New Haven Unified School District - Union City, CA
* Northern Humboldt Union High School District - Arcada / McKinleyville, CA
* Oak View Union School District - Acampo, CA
* Orange Unified School District (CA)
* Palmdale School District (CA)
* Paradise Unified School District (CA)
* Paso Robles Joint Unified School District (CA)
* Petaluma High School District (CA)
* Pierce Joint Unified School District - Arbuckle, CA
* Pioneer Union Elementary School District - Hanford, CA
* Porterville Unified School District (CA)
* Red Bluff Joint Union High School District (CA)
* Rialto Unified School District (CA)
* Rincon Valley Union School District - Santa Rosa, CA
* Riverbank Unified School District (CA)
* Roseville Joint Union High School District (CA)
* San Diego Unified School District (CA)
* San Dieguito Transportation System - Encinitas, CA
* San Dieguito Unified School District - Encinitas, CA
* San Leandro Unified School District (CA)
* San Lorenzo Unified School District (CA)
* San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District - Ben Lomond, CA
* San Luis Coastal Unified School District - San Luis Obispo, CA
* Selma Unified School District (CA)
* Shasta Union High School District - Redding, CA
* Sonora Union High School District (CA)
* Sublette County School District (WY)
* Sutter Union High School District (CA)
* Tahoe‐Truckee Joint Unified School District - Truckee, CA
* Tehachapi Unified School District (CA)
* Temecula Valley Unified School District (CA)
* Travis Unified School District - Fairfield, CA
* Tulare City School District - Tulare, CA
* Tulare Joint Union High School District (CA)
* Vacaville Unified School District (CA)
* Valley Center-Pauma Unified School District - Valley Center, CA
* Visalia Unified School District (CA)
* Yuba City Unified School District (CA)
* Walnut Valley Unified School District - Walnut, CA

### Second Hand School Operators

* Alhambra Unified School District (mobile classroom) (CA)
* American Unified School District - ?, CA
* California Crosspoint Academy ~ Chinese Christian Schools - Hayward, CA
* California School for the Deaf - Fremont, CA
* Central Unified School District - Fresno County, CA
* Coarsegold Union School District - Oakhurst/Coarsegold, CA
* Downey Unified School District (CA)
* Escalon Unified School District (CA)
* Forest Lake Christian School - Auburn, CA
* Mendocino Unified School District - Fort Bragg, CA
* Monte Vista Christian School Inc. - Watsonville, CA
* Moreau Catholic High School - Hayward, CA
* North County Student Transportation - Oceanside, CA
* Redwood Christian Schools - San Leandro, CA
* Semitropic School District - Wasco, CA
* Siskiyou Union High School District ~ Mount Shasta High School - Mount Shasta, CA
* Southwest Transportation Agency - Caruthers, CA
* Stockton Unified School District - Stockton, CA
* Victory Christian Schools - Carmichael, CA
* Yosemite Unified School District - Oakhurst, CA

### Original Charter Company Operators/Contractors

* Goodall Charter Bus Service - San Diego, CA
* Ryder Student Transportation - Los Angeles, CA
	+ First Student - Los Angeles, CA & San Diego, CA

### Second Hand Charter Company Operators/Contractors

* All Charter Services LLC (USDOT 3043177)
* Alliance Bus Lines (USDOT 2668148)
* Anthony L. Buckley DBA MH Transportation (USDOT 2690050)
* Aspire Transportation LLC (USDOT 2776674)
* Dennis Reindi DBA Grand Pacific Charter (USDOT 2418946)
* Essential LLC DBA Essential Transportation (USDOT 2495404)
* Four Winds Day Camp, Inc. DBA Four Winds (USDOT 2660606)
* Gabriel De Real Apolinar Ponce Carlos De Real DBA Round And Round Transportation (USDOT 2810521)
* Global School Services Inc. DBA Global Transportation Services (USDOT 2705249)
* Jaime M. Jones, Trevor John Samuel, Expedited Freight Services LLC DBA M&J Transportation Inc., Superior Charters (USDOT 2328099)
* James W. Lee DBA Ortley Transportation (USDOT 2733035)
* LA Charter Bus Lines LLC (USDOT 2982048)
* Lidia S. Paredes DBA LP Express (USDOT 2691147)
* Michael's Transportation Service Inc. (USDOT 575313)
* Pacific Coachways (USDOT 469591)
* Santa Barbara Transportation Corp./Student Transportation Inc. DBA Student Transportation of America (USDOT 677713)

### Miscellaneous Operators

#### Second Hand Operators

* Las Vegas Con Xpress - Las Vegas, NV
* Mother Lode River Center (USDOT 2653115) - Lotus, CA
* Oak Hills Baptist Church - Folsom, CA
* T Enterprises, Inc. Truck Driving School (USDOT 1908890) - Pasco, WA
* The Rock Church (USDOT 2653801) - Elk Grove, CA

## Preserved Buses

Essential Transportation | 5

## Miscellaneous Privately Owned/Operated Units

### Unidentified Units

* Bought by Las Vegas Con Xpress in Las Vegas, NV circa 2009.
* It was spotted parked at Bus Stop Services in Las Vegas, NV in July 2015. It was renumbered 007.

## General Unidentified Units (Unknown VINs)

* ? 15: Circa 1988 model, 40 ft., Lic. Plate: {E}205024.
* ? 46: 40 ft, was spotted post-retirement.
* ?: 1987 model?, 40 ft., dual headlights, spotted at A-Z Bus Sales. Additional image #1 Additional image #2
* ?: 1988 model?, 40 ft., spotted at A-Z Bus Sales. Additional image
* An Ex-Central Unified School District, Exx-Goodall Charter Bus Service 1987 or 1988 model 6V92T-15 unit was spotted at Ecology Auto Parts' scrap yard in Barstow, CA on 10/13/2019. Its fleet number & VIN are currently unknown.
* Escalon Unified School District was known to have a few units, likely purchased secondhand (besides bus 12).
* Fremont Unified School District 319 (1989 or 1991 model 3208T-13) has not been linked to a VIN.
* Kamehameha Schools:
	+ 1987-1988 model 6V92T-?? (4 units): 307, 309, 311 & 312. 312 & 1 other bus were confirmed 1987 models. The remaining 2 buses have unknown VINs. 2 buses were named Makali`i & Halemano when delivered. [1]
	+ 1990 model 6V92T-?? (3 units): 303, #? & 319. The unknown numbered unit (Lic. Plate: CRA 244) & 319 (Lic. Plate: DFY 530) have not been linked to their VINs.
* Marysville Joint Unified School District 40: 1987 or 1988 model 6V92T-?? 40 ft., was spotted in June 2018. It has since been scrapped.
* Modoc Joint Unified School District 291?: 6V92T-??; spotted in August 2007. It has since been removed from Modoc's roster.
* Orange Unified School District had 8 1987-1988 model 6V92T-15 units.
	+ There are 2 units with unknown fleet numbers and unidentified VINs. They were likely 1988 models, and VIN's: 15GAD0910J1030396 & 15GAD0914J1030398, but confirmation is needed.
	+ 9, 10, 18, 19 & 21 were 1987 models; 17 was a 1988 model.
* Ex-Plumas Lake Elementary School District #? (unknown VIN, model & specs) was acquired by BusWest, a dealer in Fontana, CA in 2013. It has sat due to electrical issues and was eventually scrapped.
* Ex-?: 1987 model 6V92T-?? was bought by a private owner for an RV conversion.
* San Leandro Unified School District 1: 1986-1987 model, 3208T-13, VIN has been identified, but not linked to the specific fleet number
* San Lorenzo Unified School District:
	+ Fleet numbers ranged from 9-12.
	+ 3 out of 4 VINs have been identified; 9 & 10 have not been linked to VINs.
* Sonora Union High School District:
	+ 2 unis, model ????T-13's (37ft). Fleet numbers: 34 & 35. They had dual headlights (quads).
	+ They were spotted on the property in 2014-2015, but were gone before 2019.
* Temecula Valley Unified School District 15: 40 ft. model 6V92T-?? has an unconfirmed VIN.
* Tracy Unified School District was said to have had a unit or units, but confirmation is needed.
* Turlock Unified School District was known to have had several units.
* TV/Movie Bus ~ "West Beverly Hills High School" 1: Circa 1986-1987 model, ????T-13 (37 ft.), Additional image, Video scene (33:34 to 37:05), filmed in December 1992. It may have been an ex-demo unit, but confirmation is needed.
* Yuba City Unified School District 27: 6V92-14; spotted in 1992.

## References

1. ↑ www.flickr.com photo 1, www.flickr.com photo 2, www.flickr.com photo 3
2. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 norcalbusfans.jalbum.net
4. ↑ 4.0 4.1 www.youtube.com
5. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
6. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
7. ↑ www.flickr.com photo 1, www.flickr.com photo 2, www.flickr.com photo 3
8. ↑ www.quicktransportsolutions.com
9. ↑ www.youtube.com
10. ↑ www.facebook.com
11. ↑ somastreatfoodblog.files.wordpress.com
12. ↑ www.youtube.com
13. ↑ www.flickr.com
14. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
15. ↑ www.govdeals.ca
16. ↑ www.youtube.com
17. ↑ www.ebay.com
18. ↑ www.flickr.com
19. ↑ www.flickr.com
20. ↑ www.ebay.com
21. ↑ www.ebay.com
22. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
23. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
24. ↑ www.youtube.com
25. ↑ www.govdeals.com
26. ↑ www.facebook.com link 1 & www.facebook.com link 2
27. ↑ www.flickr.com
28. ↑ gilligcoaches.wixsite.com
29. ↑ redding.craigslist.org
30. ↑ www.ebay.com
31. ↑ www.skoolie.net
32. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
33. ↑ eservices.drives.ga.gov
34. ↑ www.quicktransportsolutions.com
35. ↑ Google Maps 2013 Photo Snapshot Link (Taken circa 2008), Google Maps Image Link
36. ↑ www.malode.com
37. ↑ www.facebook.com
38. ↑ 38.0 38.1 www.facebook.com
39. ↑ www.flickr.com
40. ↑ www.ebay.com
41. ↑ www.facebook.com
42. ↑ gilliganphantom.com
43. ↑ www.youtube.com
44. ↑ www.instagram.com
45. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
46. ↑ Google Maps 2012
47. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
48. ↑ kpr.craigslist.org
49. ↑ www.publicsurplus.com
50. ↑ www.facebook.com
51. ↑ www.youtube.com
52. ↑ www.youtube.com
53. ↑ www.ebay.com
54. ↑ www.facebook.com
55. ↑ www.facebook.com
56. ↑ www.facebook.com
57. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
58. ↑ www.facebook.com video & www.facebook.com sale
59. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
60. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
61. ↑ www.ebay.com
62. ↑ 62.0 62.1 62.2 www.facebook.com
63. ↑ www.facebook.com
64. ↑ www.instagram.com
65. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
66. ↑ www.ebay.com
67. ↑ www.facebook.com
68. ↑ www.facebook.com (5824 comments)
69. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
70. ↑ www.ebay.com
71. ↑ losangeles.craigslist.org
72. ↑ www.instagram.com
73. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
74. ↑ www.ebay.com
75. ↑ www.ebay.com
76. ↑ www.publicsurplus.com
77. ↑ www.ebay.com
78. ↑ www.buslandia.net
79. ↑ www.instagram.com
80. ↑ www.facebook.com
81. ↑ www.youtube.com
82. ↑ www.facebook.com
83. ↑ www.publicsurplus.com Link 1, www.publicsurplus.com Link 2
84. ↑ www.instagram.com
85. ↑ www.alamy.com
86. ↑ www.alamy.com
87. ↑ www.facebook.com
88. ↑ www.facebook.com
89. ↑ www.lotnut.com
90. ↑ thegreatgilly.com
91. ↑ www.facebook.com
92. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
93. ↑ www.facebook.com
94. ↑ www.lotnut.com
95. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
96. ↑ www.flickr.com
97. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
98. ↑ www.aspirebus.com
99. ↑ www.facebook.com/aspirebus
100. ↑ www.facebook.com
101. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
102. ↑ www.facebook.com
103. ↑ ai.fmcsa.dot.gov
104. ↑ Google Maps 2011
105. ↑ www.ebay.com (Link no longer available) & www.facebook.com
106. ↑ www.vehiclehistory.com
107. ↑ reno.craigslist.org
108. ↑ sfbay.craigslist.org
109. ↑ www.facebook.com/Las-Vegas-Con-Xpress
110. ↑ www.vegasprisonbus.com
111. ↑ www.imcdb.org
112. ↑ www.flickr.com
113. ↑ www.flickr.com
114. ↑ Google Maps
115. ↑ Google Maps 2014