The Cummins C-Series Gilligs, the first rear-engine diesel transit-style school buses built, became a leader in the rear-engine diesel bus market not only for California, but all throughout the west coast. They set the industry standard for rear-engined buses, and set a standard for Gillig as well. The Cummins C-Series engines were inline sixes with varying horsepower, and displacement. The most popular C-Series engine in a Gillig was the Cummins C-180. The C-Series Gilligs were produced from the 1960's until the early 1970s, when the CAT and the Detroit Diesel engines became preferred over the C-Series.
Enumclaw School District #216 Bus #14, Enumclaw, Washington (retired)

This bus hails from Enumclaw School District No. 216 in Enumclaw, Washington. It originally rolled off the factory floor with a Cummins C-180, but was repowered in the seventies with a Detroit 6V53, and later a Caterpillar 1160 diesel. It is now powered by a remanufactured Caterpillar 3208 with less than 30,000 miles.  After serving its time with Enumclaw School District, it was purchased in a private sale and later sold again to a couple in Montesano, Washington - who purchased it along with a dump truck (the Gillig was intended to be an engine donor, but the dump truck was sold instead!).  Its model designation is officially a C-180-12 and its serial number is D1474. It has a 73 passenger capacity rating, and was built on October 20, 1966.

These photos were taken the first day I went to look at it, on August 14, 2008. It should be noted, that despite its aged appearance in these photos (the heavy layer of moss, the amount of dust and dirt on the inside), the external and internal blemishes are all surface in nature and will clean up very nicely. There is some cancerous rust on it and some spots of complete rust-through mainly on the lefthand side of the bus, but it's an easy and inexpensive panel replacement.

At the present time, this bus is being purchased by yours truly. More information can be seen by clicking on the "My Fleet" link at the left, and then click on "My Gillig C-180."

Left front quarter view
Left rear quarter view
Direct rear head-on view
Closeup of the back bumper area (highlighting the second reason I decided to buy it - the dual exhaust!)
Right rear quarter view
Looking at the instrument panel from the stepwell
Instrument panel photo (it's not as bad as it looks here, folks!)
Interior of it, looking back
Interior of it, looking forward
Closeup of the main reason I decided to buy it - the intake scoop (from the inside)
Back seat area
Driver's-eye view
Instrument panel closeup
ID placard photo (A 1966 Gillig with identical features showed up on eBay with a build date just four days apart, the same week I shot these photos!)
Foot pedals and lower instrument panel
The Enumclaw School District bus rules!
Stepwell area
This is blasphemous! A Blue Bird bus stepwell tread - in a GILLIG!
Looking down the righthand side of it
Frontal shot, head-on
Closeup of front emblem
Lubrication Service Chart placard
Remote engine compartment starter switch
The engine - a Caterpillar 3208
Looking up the intake scoop duct
A closeup of the intake scoop details from the outside.

Unidentified ex-Washington state Gillig in a California lot (from eBay)

This Gillig comes to GilligCoaches.NET via eBay where it has frequently shown up in search listings for "Gillig" in eBay Motors.  It's an ex-Washington unit due to a number of features that were not present on Oregon or California-spec Gilligs of that era. The main feature that determines it as a former Washington unit is the presence of the air scoop, which was an option selected only by Washington state school districts. Additionally, it has a the remnants of a stop paddle (or stop arm in some states) assembly, and on a Gillig of this era, were never equipped with them in California.

It has been painted white with odd "eyelash" type black patches on the front of it over the headlights. Another interesting fact about this Gillig is that its build date is 10/24/1966 and has an identical 73 passenger capacity rating as the ex-Enumclaw School District Gillig posted above, with its serial number being D2011-1, indicating that this bus was part of a batch order.

Right front quarter view
Left front of bus
Right rear quarter view
Left rear quarter view
Looking up into the bus from the stepwell
Instrument panel photo
Interior view looking back
Interior view looking back #2
Build data plate
Interior view looking forward

1970 Gillig C-180 photographed in Ada, Oklahoma

This Gillig, a 1970 C-180, was retired from a California school district a few years ago and was last known to be at a residence in Oklahoma. These photos were sourced from the eBay listing this bus was featured in back in November of 2006. This bus ultimately listed twice, and it's not known if it sold.

Engine photo
Front head-on view
Instrument panel view
Interior view looking rearward
Interior view looking forward
Left front view
Right front view
Right rear view
Stepwell photo
Speedometer / Tachometer photo

Franklin Pierce School District Bus No. 24, Tacoma, Washington

This bus is a 1963 Gillig C-180 formerly operated by Franklin Pierce School District. It was retired in 1994 and presumably has been sitting here at this lot in South Tacoma since then. It is equipped with a Cummins C-180 diesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission. The history behind this bus is being investigated by the GilligCoaches.NET web team for possible purchase and restoration, as this bodystyle is very rare nowadays, in addition to the fact that aside from a few broken windows, this bus is completely intact.

Interior view looking back
Driver's Compartment view
Stepwell view
View of the front body wall (note the weird black-out paint application; view partially obstructed by other vehicles)
High-capacity air intake scoop draft chute from the inside.
Left-side closeup looking forward.
A view of the switch panel. Note it still uses the wing badge, even though this bus has oval emblems.
Instrument panel photo #1
Instrument panel photo #2 (same perspective, slightly different angle)
Looking down the right side of the bus (Tim Olsen photo, added November 20, 2006)
Interior view looking back (slightly different - taken from stepwell of bus. Tim Olsen photo. Added November 20, 2006)
Upper front bulkhead (Tim Olsen photo, added November 20, 2006)

Franklin Pierce School District Bus No. 28, Tacoma, Washington

This bus is a 1960 Gillig C-180 formerly operated by Franklin Pierce School District. It was retired in 1994 and presumably has been sitting here along with Bus No. 24 at this lot in South Tacoma since then. It is equipped with a Cummins C-180 diesel engine and a six-speed manual transmission. Like No. 24 pictured above, the history behind this bus is being investigated by the GilligCoaches.NET web team for possible purchase and restoration, as this bodystyle is very rare nowadays. This bus would need new seats, a new rubber floor installed, and just like No. 24, some windows replaced. Along with Bus No. 24, the photos of this bus were photographed on June 10, 2006.

Left front closeup
Left rear photo showing air intake scoop installation.
Left-side semi-profile view (partially obscured by other vehicles. Tim Olsen photo. Added November 20, 2006)
Interior looking back (Tim Olsen photo, added November 20, 2006)
Stop paddle photo (Tim Olsen photo, added November 20, 2006)

Camas School District Bus No. 4, Camas, Washington

This photo, showing a late-50s Gillig from Camas, Washington, shows some features not typically seen in a Gillig. For instance, you'll note a manual door opener if you look closely at the photo. All other details about this bus are currently unknown, and this bus was retired some time ago. Photo by Stephen E. Adams.

Bus #4 - left front view

Castle Rock School District Bus No. 15, Castle Rock, Washington

This bus is equipped with a C-190 diesel engine. This bus was purchased from the Castle Rock School District in 2001 by Mark Obtinario for use as a shuttle bus at a local Weyerhaeuser log yard. It has since been sitting in recluse for several years, being operated periodically for brief shuttle trips. This bus is a 1971 Gillig C-190-D-13 and has a 78 passenger capacity. It is also equipped with a six-speed manual transmission.   Photo provided by Mark Obtinario.

Bus No. 15 - left front view

NEW Photos as of May 21, 2006 Photos by Steven A. Rosenow, GilligCoaches.NET webmaster

These photos display a considerable amount of moss build-up since the bus has been parked under trees for the majority of the time since its purchase in 2001. Additionally, you'll notice some rust on the body and in the interior shot, as well as a steering wheel with a severe case of mold infestation. Despite the looks, it is mostly cosmetic, and can be fixed with a good dose of soap and water.

Left rear view
Right rear view
Instrument Panel photo
Semi-right-side profile
Rear head-on view
Left Rear view (same as before, only under different lighting conditions. Tim Olsen photo, added November 20, 2006))
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C-Series Gilligs