 | |
| Formerly | E-CON-O Conversion |
|---|---|
| Industry | Automotive |
| Founded | 1967 in Kansas City, Missouri |
| Founder | Don Collins, Sr. |
| Headquarters | 415 West 6th Street, , |
Area served | North America |
| Products | School buses |
| Parent | Forest River |
| Subsidiaries |
|
| Website |
|
| Footnotes / references [1][2] | |
Collins Industries is an American bus manufacturer headquartered in South Hutchinson, Kansas. Best known for production of yellow school buses, the company produces buses for multiple applications; all bodies designed by the company have been cutaway van chassis-based short buses.
Collins was founded in 1967 by Don Collins Sr. as E-CON-O Conversion;[3] originally a part of Collins Industries, the company exists today as a wholly owned subsidiary of manufacturing company Forest River (A Berkshire Hathaway company). All production is sourced from the company's 94,000 square-foot facility in South Hutchinson, Kansas.[4]
History
1970s
In 1967, Don Collins founded E-CON-O Conversion in Kansas City, Missouri, becoming one of the first to develop a school bus derived from a van.[3][1] Utilizing a Ford Falcon van (Econoline passenger van),[5] Collins shifted away from designs based upon utility vehicles such as the Chevrolet Suburban and International Harvester Travelall.
In 1971, Collins renamed E-CON-O to Collins Industries, coinciding with the expansion of its product range into ambulances.[1] In 1972, the company was relocated to Hutchinson, Kansas (its present-day location).[3]
In 1978, Collins acquired fire apparatus manufacturer American Fire Apparatus.[6]
1980s
In 1982, Collins introduced its first bus with a wheelchair lift;[3] in a shift away from van conversions, the company adopted bodies for cutaway van chassis, introducing the long-running "Bantam" product line. In the mid-1980s, the company would diversify its product ranges. To replace the Collins van-based ambulances, the company acquired Wheeled Coach Industries in 1984 (inventor of the modular ambulance[1][7]) and Capacity of Texas (a terminal tractor manufacturer) in 1985.[1][8]
In 1986, Collins sold its American Fire Apparatus division.[6]
1990s
During the 1990s, Collins Industries grew to become the largest manufacturer of Type A small school buses in the United States.[9] In 1998, the company would acquire its largest competitor, Mid Bus (a successor of the bus manufacturing operations of Superior Coach Company).[1] To expand into the transit bus segment, Collins acquired World Trans, Inc, basing their vehicles on cutaway chassis and rear-engine chassis.[10]
In 2000, the company purchased Waldon Manufacturing, renaming it after its Lay-Mor street sweeper.[1][11]
2000s
During the 2000s, the existence of Collins would transition significantly, shifting from a parent company to a subsidiary within a transportation conglomerate. Although specializing solely in small buses, in 2000, Collins offered the widest product line of any American bus manufacturer, with three different versions of the Bantam.[3][12]
A publicly traded company since 1983,[1] Collins Industries became privately held in October 2006. 80 percent of the company was acquired by BNS Holding Inc, with the investment group American Industrial Partners holding the other 20 percent.[13][14]
In 2007, Collins purchased the assets of Quebec-based manufacturer Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil out of bankruptcy.[15] As with its Mid Bus acquisition a decade before, Collins shifted production of Corbeil buses to its Kansas facility, repackaging it as a product range marketed in Canada. Also, the Mid Bus plant in Bluffton, Ohio were closed and shifted to Collins' facility.[16] Both subsidiaries adopted the Bantam bodywork, marketed as the Mid Bus Guide and Corbeil Quantum, respectively.
2010s
In 2010, American Industrial Partners formed Allied Specialty Vehicles out of four of its transportation holdings, including Collins and its subsidiary companies.[2] Under ASV, Collins was part of a conglomerate including fire/emergency vehicles, recreational vehicles, transit and school buses, and industrial vehicles.[2][17] In 2015, Allied Specialty Vehicles was renamed the REV Group,[18] and went public in 2017.[19]
By the end of 2010, the Collins facility was rebuilt after it was damaged on June 7, 2009.[20]
On March 29, 2012, Collins unveiled the Nexbus series, replacing the long-running Bantam series;[21] the first Nexbus was produced on May 16, 2012.[22] In place of the former Guide and Quantum, all three Collins brands adopted Nexbus branding. In 2014, collins starting manufactured the Nexbus using the Ford Transit 350/350HD chassis. By 2016, Collins retired the Mid Bus and Corbeil brands entirely, using the Collins brand across North America.
For 2018, Collins introduced the Collins Low Floor variant of the Nexbus body. The first school bus derived from the Ram ProMaster body, the Low Floor is equipped with a flat floor and a folding wheelchair ramp.
2020s
In January 2024, REV announced it would be exiting the bus manufacturing business. The company reached an agreement to sell Collins to Forest River for $303 million.[23]
In 2023, Collins launched an all-electric school bus using the Ford E-Transit chassis, The first ever battery electric Ford Transit School bus with access for 25 students, a wheelchair lift is also an option to allow handicapped riders.
Products
| Product name | Production | Chassis | Vehicle type | Notes | Photos |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bantam series (1982–2012) | |||||
| Bantam[24] | 1982–2012 | Ford E-350 | School bus
MFSAB |
Single rear wheel |  Bantam 422 |
| Super Bantam[25] | c.1992–2012 | Ford E-350 | School bus
MFSAB |
Dual rear wheel |  Super Bantam |
| Grand Bantam[26] | c.1996–2012 | Ford E-350/450 | School bus
MFSAB |
Dual rear wheel
Flat floor |
 Grand Bantam |
| Bantam XL[27] | 2003–c.2005 | Chevrolet 4500/5500 | School bus
MFSAB |
Designed by Mid Bus |  |
| Nexbus series (2012–present) | |||||
| Nexbus | 2012–present | Ford E-Series
Ford Transit Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana |
School bus
MFSAB |
Available in single rear-wheel (Nexbus SRW) and dual rear-wheel (Nexbus DRW) bodies
Offered in several alternative-fuel configurations:
|
 Nexbus (Chevrolet Express chassis) |
| Low Floor | 2018–202? | Ram ProMaster 3500 | School bus | Single rear wheel
First school bus produced with a low-floor configuration. Utilizes a wheelchair ramp (in place of lift). |
|
References
- ^ a b c d e f g h "A Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer --- Collins Industries, Inc. --- Vehicle Manufacturer, Specialty Vehicle, Collins Industries". January 17, 2010. Archived from the original on January 24, 2010. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- ^ a b c AIP. "American Industrial Partners Announces the Formation of Allied Specialty Vehicles, Inc., a Leading Manufacturer of Specialty Vehicles in North America". American Industrial Partners. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ a b c d e "Bus Manufacturers – Collins Bus Company, Member of REV Group". www.collinsbus.com. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- ^ Dinnell, Dave (November 6, 1998). "Collins opens $1.1 million facility". Wichita Business Journal. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
- ^ "Bus Manufacturers – Collins Bus Company, Trusted for the Best Bus Design". www.collinsbus.com. Retrieved June 22, 2019.
- ^ a b McCall, Walter M.P. (2009). Illustrated Encyclopedia of American Fire Engine Manufacturers. Hudson, WI: Iconongrafix. ISBN 9781583882528.
- ^ "A Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer --- Collins Industries, Inc. --- Vehicle Manufacturer, Specialty Vehicle, Collins Industries". Archived from the original on June 21, 2003. Retrieved February 9, 2011.
- ^ http://www.capacitytexas.com/about.html# Archived 2009-08-25 at the Wayback Machine Corporate website with basic history.
- ^ "A Specialty Vehicle Manufacturer --- Collins Industries, Inc. --- Vehicle Manufacturer, Specialty Vehicle, Collins Industries". March 14, 2006. Archived from the original on March 14, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ "A Small Bus Manufacturer - World Trans - About World Trans". May 5, 2000. Archived from the original on May 5, 2000. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ "The Evolution of LayMor" (PDF). November 10, 2011. Archived from the original (PDF) on November 10, 2011. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ "A Small School Bus Distributor - Collins Bus - Product Information". February 29, 2000. Archived from the original on February 29, 2000. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ "Investor Relations". Collins Industries. Archived from the original on January 17, 2010. Retrieved August 16, 2009.
- ^ "BNS Holding, Inc. and American Industrial Partners Acquire Collins Industries". www.businesswire.com. October 31, 2006. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on October 1, 2008. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on November 29, 2007. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ "American Industrial Partners : Press Releases Details". Archived from the original on June 1, 2015. Retrieved August 10, 2017.
- ^ "Allied Specialty Vehicles Selects ʺREVʺ as New Company Name | Champion Bus • Manufacturer of light to medium-duty commercial buses". August 9, 2017. Archived from the original on August 9, 2017. Retrieved June 23, 2019.
- ^ Stevenson, Abigail (January 30, 2017). "Know your IPO! Cramer finds out if fresh-faced Rev Group is ready to be bought". CNBC. Retrieved June 5, 2019.
- ^ School Bus Fleet January 2011 issue
- ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on July 29, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link) - ^ Staff, School Bus Fleet. "Collins' first NEXBUS rolls off assembly line". www.schoolbusfleet.com.
- ^ "REV Group, Inc. (REVG) to Exit School and Transit Bus Manufacturing and Reorganize Into Two Reporting Segments; Announces a Special Cash Dividend". streetinsider.com. January 29, 2024. Retrieved January 29, 2024.
- ^ "Bantam". Collins Bus Corporation. Archived from the original on April 11, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
- ^ "Super Bantam". Collins Bus Corporation. Archived from the original on June 27, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
- ^ "Grand Bantam". Collins Bus Corporation. Archived from the original on April 11, 2001. Retrieved February 8, 2026.
- ^ "Bantam XL brochure" (PDF).
- ^ "-- Collins Bus Corporation -- School Bus Parts, New School Bus Sales, Small School Buses, MFSAB Bus, Childcard Bus, Church Bus, Hybrid Bus, Hybrid School Bus". Archived from the original on August 1, 2009. Retrieved August 10, 2009.
- ^ "-- Collins Bus Corporation -- School Bus Parts, New School Bus Sales, Small School Buses, MFSAB Bus, Childcard Bus, Church Bus, Hybrid Bus, Hybrid School Bus, Propane Bus, Propane School Bus". Archived from the original on September 13, 2012. Retrieved May 13, 2012.
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