The assembly comprises a frame, a pair of body sides, a front panel, a rear panel and a roof, and is characterized in that said parts are connected together by threaded connection means.

A method for constructing a bus, wherein a module associated with the front end of the bus is separately constructed and assembled to the shell after interior components of the bus have been installed. The shell of the bus can be fabricated at a first work station. The shell can be made transversely or laterally with respect to the longitudinal access of the bus to one or more work stations. At the subsequent work stations, interior components of the bus can be moved through the open ends of the bus. After the majority of the interior components have been installed with respect to the bus, the module supporting the windshield and bumper can be installed with respect to the shell. The module can also support the dashboard and steering column.

A mass transit vehicle includes a frame structure that provides an efficient and economical approach to providing a low floor bus. The inventive frame includes a stiff roof panel and a stiff floor panel. A plurality of generally vertical pillars extend between the roof and floor panels. A unique bracket arrangement is disclosed for connecting the pillars to the panels. Side panels are secured to the pillars and carry the shear stresses on the frame. A unique seating assembly that can be advantageously incorporated into the vehicle taking advantage of the load distributing features of the inventive frame is also disclosed.

A bus construction has a front entry door assembly with adjacent front and rear panels, wherein the rear panel is wider than the front panel so that the front panel does not block the driver's view to the side rear view mirror when the door is in the open position. The front entry door assembly is disposed in the front portion of the sidewall of the bus that is inwardly tapered to provide easy access into the interior of the bus through the opened panels by a wheel-chair bound passenger. A destination sign is configured in a support spaced from the front windshield to eliminate frost or moisture condensation on the destination sign when the bus is in use. Panels are also provided along the upper edges of the sidewalls of the bus for providing sequential displays advertising. The advertising presentation is protected and viewed through the upper portions of the glass of the sidewall window assemblies.

A bus side wall construction includes a skeletal member formed by a plurality of metallic members welded together and a plurality of window assemblies. The metallic members include a longitudinal roof member, a longitudinal lower member, a longitudinal upper member and a longitudinal waist member disposed between the longitudinal upper and lower members. Spaced vertical tubular members extend from the longitudinal waist member. Cross orientated tubular truss members extend between the longitudinal waist member and the longitudinal lower member. The window assemblies are positioned above the longitudinal waist member and supported by the vertical tubular members. An outer and inner skin covers the skeletal member from the longitudinal waist member and the longitudinal lower member. Insulation members are secured between the inner and outer skins.