GM New Look Bus

The GM New Look bus (nicknamed "Fishbowl" for its six-piece rounded windshield) is a transit bus introduced in 1959 by General Motors and produced until 1986. Like GM's over-the-road buses, including the Greyhound Scenicruiser, the air-sprung New Look did not have a traditional ladder frame. Instead it used an airplane-like stressed-skin construction in which an aluminum riveted skin supported the weight of the bus. The wooden floor kept the bus' shape. The engine cradle was hung off the back of the roof. As a result, the GM New Look weighed significantly less than competitors' city buses.

33,413 New Look buses were built over the production lifespan, with 510 29' New Look city buses, 7,804 35' New Look city buses, 22,034 40' New Look city buses, and 3,065 New Look suburban coaches produced.[1] Its high production figures and long service career made it the iconic North American transit bus.

Virtually all New Look buses were powered by Detroit Diesel 71-series two-cycle Diesel engines. The original engine was the 6V71 (V6). GM buses used a unique "Angle-drive" configuration with a transverse mounted engine. The transmission angled off at a 45-or-so degree angle to connect to the rear axle. The engines were canted backwards for maintenance access; in fact the only parts not accessible from outside the bus were the right-hand exhaust manifold and the starter. The entire engine-transmission-radiator assembly was mounted on a cradle that could be quickly removed and replaced, allowing the bus to return to service when the powertrain required major maintenance. Originally all New Looks were powered by the 6V-71. GM resisted V8 power but eventually gave in to pressure from customers.