UPDATE: Guy found some great links regarding this Bus, which was also known as Jitney (see Steve’s links in the comments). According to a New Jersey Transportation Heritage Center report dated September, 2010, there is no known C-10 in any collection. The ATHS society believes at least 25 buses were built. The Chassis is Willys, the Body is from ACF-Brill, and the model is C-10.
This picture from Flickr shows the bus was branded Willys on the front. I was surprised to see that.
From 02/07/2013: This 1947article shows an example of ACF Brill Model C-10 Bus built on a Willys Chassis. Anyone heard or seen one of these? At least a few went to Atlantic City. These were designed as small, inexpensive buses for marginal lines.
Amazing the kind of stuff you find. How’d you like to run across one of these in an old warehouse?
A cousin to Jesse’s panel van and a grand-daddy to the Fleetvan! Sweet!
I too was thinking this was the same chassis as the Jesse’s Deliver van.
In Atlantic City this small bus is known as a Jitney.
(Hey, Dave, I guess I just discovered I rode in a Willys when I was a kid!)
History: The Atlantic City Jitney Association started in 1915. It’s the longest non-subsidized transit company in the United States.
•The earliest jitneys were horse-drawn wagons. Limousines, station wagons and converted delivery vans (bread boxes) have also supplied jitney services.
•Jitneys got their name from the slang phrase for a nickel, the original fare.
•In 2010, the jitneys received a makeover. The new jitneys use compressed natural gas in addition to having a bright new look.
Thanks Steve. That’s useful. I’ve done all kinds of searches, but have yet to find any more information on these buses.
Years ago there were the remains of two Brill railcars dumped at a vacant lot near my folks house. They’d been surplused from the Alaska Railroad. The Brill company made self powered railcars, trolleys and buses but shut down sometime in the 1950’s I think.
Was Atlantic City, New Jersey really the “Playground of the World”?
Those buses are very cool.
We own a Brill C-10 Jitney Bus from Atlantic City and have had this bus since 1998. The New Jersey Transportation Museum wanted us to donate this bus but we did not want to part with it.
The Jitney has “Playground of the world on the top of the side of the bus. It also has .10 extra to Hackney’s restaurant on the side. It is really a cool bus.
How cool! Any way you could send some photos to me? I’d love to share them with readers. Feel free to email me at d@ewillys.com.
Thanks,
– Dave
When I go to warehouse I will take some pictures and upload them…it will be a couple of weeks though before I can take the pictures.
Thanks Bruce. It will be great to see what one looks like in color!
– Dave
Dave and Bruce,
Did you ever get color photos of the Brill C-10 Jitney?
Okey,
I don’t have a record I received them.
– Dave
I have one of these I believe. Someone turned it into a camper bug plan on restoring it back to a bus someday.
Darrell,
That’s a neat project! If you have any pics to share, I’d love to see them. You can send them to d@deilers.com.
Thanks for the comment,
– Dave
eWillys.com
I believe I have one of those little busses that someone has converted to a camper and also switched out the motor but thinking about restoring it back to a little bus
I sure will I will send them to you now and if yoh need more I can take more . Check your email I just sent them.