The Gillig Phantom initially began preproduction in early 1980 a couple of years after the Gillig/Neoplan partnership ended, and Gillig began thinking of ways to stay alive after their school bus market share dropped. Making a 1981 debut, the Gillig Phantom was to feature a Detroit 6V92 naturally aspirated engine or a 6V92 turbocharged engine rated at 210 HP, coupled to an Allison MT653 automatic transmission. There were initially just a 30 and 35-foot offering of the Phantom, but a 40-foot model soon became available as the Phantom became an industry success.

In 1986, after Gillig had experienced nearly four years of success marketing the Phantom design, they decided to make another attempt at school bus production. This time, they would use a modified Gillig Phantom body. The subtle differences between a regular Gillig Phantom and a Gillig Phantom School Bus is that on the Phantom School Bus, the driver's side windshield was not canted back to reduce glare, the side windows were the vertical drop-sash sliding windows common of school buses, and the main entry door was much narrower. Additionally, the Phantom School Bus featured a rear exit window. While outwardly they were totally different, inside they were the same. Both shared the same instrument panel, both shared engine options, and both shared the same acoustical ceiling panels (albeit with some differences in the school bus variant).  Gillig produced its last school bus using the modified Phantom platform in 1993 amidst a sharply declining market share. Today, Gillig no longer builds the Phantom, as its production ended in September 2008.
Gillig Phantom
Orange Unified School District bus #17, Orange County, California.

This bus was photographed in March of this year at a school bus operators roadeo in southern California. It appears to be well taken care of, and looks spectacular for a Gillig Phantom school bus. Special thanks go to Eric Gregory for allowing me to use these photos here.

Right front quarter view
Right side profile view
Left side view

Tahoe Truckee Schools bus #39, Truckee, California

This Gillig Phantom here, like its sister bus pictured below, were photographed by Richard Solano of New York. It is presumed that this bus is retired since the emblems were missing when this bus was photographed.

Left front quarter view
Right front quarter view
Driver's compartment #1
Driver's Compartment #2
Interior looking back

Phantom School Bus from Brochure.

Right front view



Pacific Coachways Phantom

This Phantom is unique in one respect - it is the first-ever school bus prototype built unsing the new-for-1986 Phantom School bus lineup. It was equipped with a Caterpillar 3208 diesel engine and an Allison automatic transmission. It was sold to Pacific Coachways because it had features that school buses are not permitted to have, such as a run-start switch and other features.. Like the Gillig transit Phantom model, the Gillig Phantom school bus did feature the kneeling feature.

Front view
Left side view
Rear view

Ryder Student Transportation Services Bus No. 2618 and 873

Bus No.2618 - Right Front view
Bus No. 2618 - Left Side view

Bus No 873 - Right Side view

Internet Advertisement Finds.

This is an unidentified 1988 Gillig from a sales advertisement at the A-Z Bus Sales website. It does have a Caterpillar 3208 diesel engine, a 740 Allison Automatic, Air Ride, Kneel, and an 87 passenger capacity.

Left rear view
Interior view looking back

Here's another one from A-Z Bus Sales. Like the first one, it is identically equipped, but this one is a 1987 Phantom school bus.

Right Front view
Left rear view
interior view looking back

Red Bluff Union High School District Bus No. 46, Red Bluff, California

Nothing is known about this bus. Special thanks to Zach Willhoite for sending these photos in. They were photographed at the Mt. Lassen National Volcanic Monument.

Left front view
Right front view
Right rear view
Right side profile
Left rear view

Tahoe Truckee Unified School District Bus No. 31, Truckee, CA

This 1986 Gillig Phantom school bus is operated by Tahoe Truckee Unified School District in Truckee, CA. It is equipped with either a CAT3208 or a Detroit 6V92, and an Allison automatic transmission. These photos originally appeared in July of 2004 over at School Bus Central, a website operated by Richard Solano of New York, and were added here on November 20, 2006.

Left front view
Instrument panel view - standee position
Instrument panel view - driver's perspective
Photo of driver's console
Instrument panel closeup
Interior view looking back
Photo of the insurance documentation.

Los Angeles Unified School District Bus No. 6065, Los Angeles, CA

This bus either was or is still being operated by the Los Angeles Unified School District in Los Angeles California. No other details are known about this bus. This photo was sent in by Trina Falk of Indiana a few years ago. Photo added on November 20, 2006.

Right front view
An animation from the first version of the official Gillig website
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