Grech Motors unveils new vehicle built on Ford 2017 F-550 chassis
Equipped with either a powerful 6.7-liter V8 turbo diesel engine or 6.8-liter V-10 gasoline engine, the new 2017 F-550 GM33 minicoach can seat up to 27 passengers as a shuttle with rear luggage.
Grech Motors is the first coachbuilder to bring a 2017 Ford F-550 luxury bus to market with its new GM33 model. Equipped with either a powerful 6.7-liter V8 turbo diesel engine or 6.8-liter V-10 gasoline engine, the new 2017 F-550 GM33 minicoach can seat up to 27 passengers as a shuttle with rear luggage.
Grech's signature lines and elegant, modern design are complemented by the 2017 F-550’s new front cab, which features a sleeker, aerodynamic profile and redesigned grill. The bus features curb appeal and distinctive styling that enhances the travel experience for passengers while helping operators build luxury brands and grow their businesses.
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Ford’s new 2017 F-550 chassis features an all-new fully boxed under-cab and C-channel aft-of-cab frame made of 95% high-strength steel with up to 10 cross-members (eight through-welded). Torsional rigidity is eight times greater than the previous design.
Connected to this new frame is a high-strength, military-grade, aluminum alloy body, which is lighter than the steel previously used yet is immensely strong. It’s also more dent-and ding-resistant and not subject to red rust corrosion. This complements Grech Motors’ riveted, aircraft-grade aluminum skin.
In addition to its stronger body and frame, the 2017 Ford F-550 chassis also features a suspension, brakes, driveline, transfer case, and axles that are larger and heftier for greater strength and capability. The components of the four-wheel anti-lock brakes feature the largest rotors in class, which increases their longevity and maximizes their stopping power.
What truly drives the cost of a paratransit fleet? Beyond the purchase price, seven operational factors quietly determine maintenance frequency, downtime, and long-term service reliability. This whitepaper explores how these factors shape lifecycle cost and what agencies should evaluate when selecting paratransit vehicles.
In this conversation, TBC’s Executive Director Ed Redfern, President Corey Aldridge, and Washington Representative Joel Rubin outline the coalition’s key policy priorities, the challenges facing transit agencies, and how industry stakeholders can work together to strengthen the voice of bus transit at the federal level.
Originally introduced in 2023 as the Bus Line Redesign, the effort has evolved into a more targeted update that maintains familiar routes while improving reliability, frequency, evening and weekend service, and connections across Allegheny County.
S3 will connect communities along SR 522 with fast, reliable, battery-electric bus service from Shoreline South Station to Bothell via Kenmore and Lake Forest Park.
The configuration uses Ster Seating's Gemini seat platform to create a family-friendly floor layout specifically engineered to accommodate parents traveling with young children.
