Not only did New York's NYCTA buses not have the three center marker lights, but no bus ever had lower panel windows on the rear doors. And can any model of a NYCTA bus get the interior seating right? NYCTA either had your back against the window in front of the rear door and angled seats in the very rear, OR after 1964, all seats had your back against the window.

Excellent point about there not being any "lower panel windows on the rear doors" of NYCTA buses. Also thanks for the clarifications about the seating.

TDH-5301 series buses had no center marker lights. Also NYCTA did not receive these coaches until late 1959-early 1960. these buses were 102 in wide. came with airconditioning or with out. Not until series 5305 buses did the series change with availability of 8 cylinder engine. they became-T8H-5305 or T6H-5305. NYCTA ordered T6H-5305 models(meaning 6 cylinder diesels were installed on every NYC order) It was not until it was federally mandated that there be center clearance lights that they showed up on these buses. which were late 5303 models in 1965. all 5305 models and forward had these clearance lights. Also after 1972, models 5309 and 5310 were unique to NYCTA-in having all longitude seating. meaning all seated passengers faced in toward the center of the interior. These buses were created for NYCTA ONLY. if other cities had them it was because they were sold as used buses. All NYCTA-MABSTOA buses were 102 in wide and 40ft in length, had both airconditioning or non airconditioned options.
*NYCTA-New York City Transit Authority
*MABSTOA-Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority

i remember these buses alot and loved them too! but what is the center clearence light? and i would like NJ TRANSIT had the best versions of these buses because mainly most of ours were commuter-style (reclining seats facing forward) and they came in a 4 or 5 speed stick with the top ac mounted on the back, and then the FLIXBLE version was always another option.....

hi bus makers at corgi, i am a bus operator and model bus collector i love the GM new look(fishbowl bus) version of the new york city transit model you have created, i was wondering if you ever thought about creating a Flxible fishbowl or RTS model with a new york city transit logo . That would be so cool, i am a fan of the flxible bus corperation. please take this suggestion and think about it. Lebron Pryor

Even though I always lived in the Philly area, I got to ride one of these babies in Manhatten in 1962 while on a vacation with the family. I was all of nine years old at the time. First bus I ever rode that had plastic seats...if I remember correctly. PTC fishbowls were delivered with cushioned seats in the 4000 series numbered lot of buses. We rode the NYC bus to the Unitied Nations building through tons of slow moving traffic. I loved every minute of the long ride.

I have worked for a private bus company in Queens.I remember all of our fishbowls having a lower panel window in the rear and front doors.

I would have to agree with Lebron Pryor about making a Flixble version of the "newlook" and also make a NJ Transit verion we deserve it!!!.... (Corgi)

I had the honor of driving a vintage bus like this 10 years ago at the MTA Bus Roadeo in Flushing, Queens across from Shea Stadium. It was fun driving these babies. I grew up watching these buses being put into service in the mid sixties. These "Fishbowls" were made for the streets of New York.

They also had the lower "rocker panels" (the smooth sheet metal panel (below the ribbed sheet metal) running along the lower sides of the bus) painted green. I can't believe that Corgi missed this very big detail. And of course, they never paint the rubber wheel fenders black on their models... but that is easily rectified!

See: 1960 GMC TDH-5301_501 for a photo of a real NYC Transit GM Fishbowl bus.

I would have preferred one with an AC unit on the back (and even Batwing advertising panels) although a 1959 version (Corgi's target year) likely had neither.

They also had the lower "rocker panels" (the smooth sheet metal panel (below the ribbed sheet metal) running along the lower sides of the bus) painted green. I can't believe that Corgi missed this very big detail. And of course, they never paint the rubber wheel fenders black on their models... but that is easily rectified!

See: 1960 GMC TDH-5301_501 for a photo of a real NYC Transit GM Fishbowl bus.

I would have preferred one with an AC unit on the back (and even Batwing advertising panels) although a 1959 version (Corgi's target year) likely had neither.

The DC Transit (later "Metrobus") version of the shorter #4700 & #4900 series, and the 102" #5700 series fishbowls all had electric articulated rear doors with 4 panels where you stepped on the door step, and door automatically opened. This was not a feature on all of the 102"s???