1989 Eagle Model 20 (Build #90052, Fleet #402)

Rugged good looks backed up with outstanding durability

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The Story

The first Eagle was built in 1956 for Continental Trailways USA, as a competitor to Greyhound’s GM PD 4501 Scenicruiser. After failing to find a US builder who would build the Eagle on Continental Trailways concepts and terms, they shifted their search to Ireland, the UK and Europe and eventually found a willing builder; Kassbohrer in Ulm, Germany.

Those early Eagles, dubbed Golden Eagles, owing to their golden aluminium panels, featured a rear viewing lounge, a galley, tables and a rather unusual front end design. They were powered by MAN V8 diesel engines initially with pre-selector 6 speed transmissions but later models had a 5 speed version. Later models had 5 speed pre-selector transmissions. Next in 1958 was the Silver Eagle, also from Kassbohrer, which was more conventional in its body design and better suited to line haul work. Regular Kassbohrer Eagle production concluded in 1958 but four 60 foot articulated Super Golden Eagles were built by Kassbohrer in 1959. The Super Golden Eagles were powered by Rolls Royce diesel engines with ZF 10 speed transmissions.

In 1960, Continental Trailways began an arrangement with La Brugeoise, SA in Brugge, Belgium, where they agreed to build the Silver Eagle while Continental Trailways began construction of their own plant. La Brugeoise, SA introduced the Model 01 in 1960 with many new and updated features including a more conventional front and rear design. Engines for the La Brugeoise built Eagles were Cummins NRTO or Detroit Diesel 8V71N and were fitted in the USA along with 4 speed Spicer transmissions. The Detroit Diesel 8V71 eventually became the standard engine used in Eagle coaches.

In late 1961, Continental Trailways opened its own factory in Brugge, Belgium. The new venture was called Bus and Car NV, and it assumed production from La Brugeoise, SA of the Model 01 but with minor changes including a revised grille arrangement.

The Silver Eagle Model 05 with a more squared off appearance, commenced production in 1968 at Bus and Car NV, Belgium and was built there until 1976. In the late 1960s, Continental Trailways sold Bus and Car NV to Western Sales Company which later changed its name to Overseas Inns SA to raise cash for expansion of Trailways services in the USA. Continental Trailways retained exclusive rights to the Silver Eagle design and ownership of the jigs and building equipment and Bus and Car NV was contracted to continue building the Silver Eagle. In 1974, Bus and Car NV set up Eagle International in Brownsville, Texas USA to build the Model 05 in addition to the Belgian plant. The last year that Continental Trailways USA purchased Belgian built Eagles was 1976. As Golden Eagles were last produced in 1971, the Silver Eagle insignia was dropped in 1976 and “Silver Eagle” became known simply as “Eagle”.

In October 1977, Overseas Inns SA sold the Bus and Car NV Belgian plant to MOL NV, a heavy truck and trailer maker from Brugge, Belgium. MOL NV sold the remaining stock of Eagles it inherited from Bus and Car NV to customers in Europe, Middle East, South Africa and Australia (Greyhound) over the next 7 years. Only a small number of Eagles were completely built by MOL NV.

In 1980, the Eagle Model 10 was introduced and by May 1981, Trailways Inc. had taken full ownership of Eagle International from Overseas Inns SA. A new plant, Trailways Manufacturing Inc. Harlingen, Texas, which was around 25 miles from Brownsville, was opened in 1982 to meet extra demand but only operated for three years. A 102 inches wide Golden Eagle II (Model 15) was released in 1985 and in 1988, the 96 inches wide Eagle Model 20.

Eagle had excellent sales in 1988 and 1989. But Greyhound Lines, Eagle International’s parent company since 1987, declared bankruptcy in 1990. Eagle was then sold in 1991 to Mexican company, Corporative Empresarial de Mexico, that also operated Moto Diesel Mexicana (the Detroit Diesel licensee for Mexico) and was run under their subsidiary Grupo & Ruvesa S.A. De C.V.
Eagle production resumed under the new name of Eagle Coach Corporation in July 1992 but ceased in January 1998 when Grupo & Ruvesa S.A. De C.V. filed for bankruptcy.

Greyhound was the prime user of Eagles in Australia with the first Eagle Model 05 arriving in 1973. Greyhound was established in Toowoomba, QLD Australia in 1928 by A.R. Penfold. It was A.R. Penfold’s son Russell that had the initiative to bring the Eagle coaches into Australia. All told, 40 Model 05s and 13 Model 10s were operated by Greyhound, a Model 05 for Batterham’s, a Model 15 (Europe number; plated as a Model 05 in Australia) for Trailer Tours and a Model 10 and a Model 20 (plated as a Model 10LT in Australia) for Lever Coachlines. Lever later acquired Batterham’s Model 05. An overall total of 57 Eagles operated in Australia.

Both Greyhound’s Eagles and Pioneer’s MCIs were the flagship coaches for interstate express during the 70s and 80s in Australia, with both companies having routes that criss-crossed the country. Every long distance driver seemed to have an opinion on which coach they favoured, Eagle or MCI. One thing never disputed was the handling of the Eagle. The Eagle’s ‘torsilastic’ torsion bar suspension prevented the coach from leaning in corners and provided outstanding handling and ride. The downside was that unless the shock absorbers were in top condition the Eagles were sometimes known to have a bucking motion in their ride.

The most prolific and well known Eagle models were the Model 01, 05, 10 and 15 but Eagle built many other models over the years with some specific to particular markets and regions. Following is a list of ‘other Eagle models’ with some basic notes.

Golden Eagle (from 1956), Silver Eagle (from 1958), Academy Express (1957, articulated)
Super Golden Eagle (1959, articulated)

Our Eagle is the Model 20 built in Brownsville, Texas USA. Originally new to Lever Coach Lines, Queanbeyan NSW, later passing to Narooma Bus Lines, NSW and onto collector Rob Verhagen, Gold Coast, QLD, before being acquired by Driver Classics in 2014. It was the last Eagle delivered in Australia and although it is a Model 20, it was designated as a Model 10LT RH to avoid re-assessment for Australian Design Rule requirements, as it was essentially the same as the Model 10.

This Eagle Model 20 is powered by a GM Detroit Diesel V6 2 stroke diesel, 552ci model 6V92TA, rear mounted in-line, with an Allison HT750 automatic transmission.

Information referenced for this story was from Modern Intercity Coaches by Larry Plachno, Bus World’s Eagle Special by Joe Richards, Motorcoach Milestones by Robert L Smith and Phoenix Coach Global.

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Complete Australian Eagle Fleet List
– COMPILED OCTOBER 21 2021 - UPDATED NOVEMBER 16 2021

This list, based on a hand written fleet table of unknown origin, was compiled by Gary Driver with assistance from Paul Wright, Russell Penfold, Norton Weir, Ian Lynas, Ralf Boetker, Daniel Lenz (USA) and Robert Smith (USA).

Unless noted otherwise, all Eagle Model 05s were powered by Detroit Diesel 8V71 engines with 4 speed Spicer transmissions, were 40 feet long and 98.5 inches wide.

Eagle Model 10s were powered by Detroit Diesel 6V92TA engines with Allison automatic transmissions, were 40 feet long and 96 inches wide

NOTES:

The original hand written Australian fleet list shows another Model 05 from 1977, build # 9764, fleet #532, but its existence is unable to be substantiated so it has been omitted.

*The Eagle Model 05s that were new to Greyhound - Sinclair Northern in Victoria were numbered 551 through to 557 but were renumbered 517 through to 523 in 1982 when ownership passed to Greyhound - Penfold in Queensland.

**MOL NV (Bus and Car) Eagle Model 05s were built in 1977 by Bus and Car NV and were sold new by MOL NV to Greyhound Australia in 1982 after they converted them to Right Hand Drive (RHD).

Other Bus and Car NV built 1977 Eagle Model 05s and Model 15s were sold by MOL NV between 1977 and 1984 to European operators and some were later acquired by Greyhound Australia new from MOL NV and again converted to RHD by MOL NV before arriving in Australia plated as Model 05s. According to Eagle production records, build numbers 9759 and 9760 were allocated to Sima Tours, Belgium in 1980 but delivered new to Greyhound in 1983. Both of these Eagles have been visually noted in Australia with French writing inside.

Eagle production records identify build numbers 9761-63 were allocated to Centroturist, Belgrado Yugoslavia in 1981. Also listed alongside Centroturist is Flying Eagle, Cairo Egypt. It remains unclear why two companies were shown.

It is believed the only Eagle completely built by MOL NV on this list is Trailer Tours/Parramatta Ryde Bus Service 1977 Eagle Model 05, which arrived in Australia second hand from Ireland as a Model 15 in 1984 and then plated in Australia as a Model 05.

***According to Eagle production lists the same build number, 9754, was used by Bus and Car for Greyhound fleet #516, a 1977 Eagle Model 05 and later by MOL for Trailer Tours 1977 Model 15, later to be plated as an Eagle Model 05 for Australia. A different build number, 7087 has been visually noted on this Eagle in Australia, but that number was allocated to a Bus and Car built 1966 Eagle Model 01.

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