02-27-2024, 10:02 AM
History time!!
Newell began the switch from the 8V92 to the Series 60 during the 1994 model year. I believe #363, a 1994 may have the first Newell with the Series 60 engine, although several 1995's had the 8V92. This is consistent with Newell building a single coach to see how a major change works out before making it a standard feature. I believe #376 was the last Newell with the 8V92 installed.
Newell took time to analyze the issues associated with slides and try to make a solid, useable slide out before introducing them near the end of the 1996 model run with coach #436. It was not an easy task and the fact that, although they do require maintenance, Newells with hundreds of thousands of miles and 30 years of age still work is a testament to the job they did. They do add weight, cost, complexity, and extra maintenance. Newell introduced flat-floor slides that were a marvel to behold at the time.
By comparison, Prevost didn't start building their buses with factory slides for conversion companies for many years after Newell did although some of their converters, such as Marathon, Featherlite, and American Carriage made their own slide-out conversions on non-slide Prevost shells. Now Prevost does offer slides from the factory. According to Featherlite, Prevost started offering factory flat floor slides in late 2016 https://www.featherlitecoaches.com/feath...out-shell/ That was almost 20 years after Newell offered flat-floor factory slides.
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Newell began the switch from the 8V92 to the Series 60 during the 1994 model year. I believe #363, a 1994 may have the first Newell with the Series 60 engine, although several 1995's had the 8V92. This is consistent with Newell building a single coach to see how a major change works out before making it a standard feature. I believe #376 was the last Newell with the 8V92 installed.
Newell took time to analyze the issues associated with slides and try to make a solid, useable slide out before introducing them near the end of the 1996 model run with coach #436. It was not an easy task and the fact that, although they do require maintenance, Newells with hundreds of thousands of miles and 30 years of age still work is a testament to the job they did. They do add weight, cost, complexity, and extra maintenance. Newell introduced flat-floor slides that were a marvel to behold at the time.
By comparison, Prevost didn't start building their buses with factory slides for conversion companies for many years after Newell did although some of their converters, such as Marathon, Featherlite, and American Carriage made their own slide-out conversions on non-slide Prevost shells. Now Prevost does offer slides from the factory. According to Featherlite, Prevost started offering factory flat floor slides in late 2016 https://www.featherlitecoaches.com/feath...out-shell/ That was almost 20 years after Newell offered flat-floor factory slides.
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