Optima Bus Corporation

Optima Bus, LLC, formerly Chance Coach Inc., was a brand of small transit buses manufactured by North American Bus Industries. It was established in 1976 in Wichita, Kansas.

It was originally the trolley-replica and conventional bus production business of Chance Industries, Inc. In 1998, Chance Coach, Inc. was sold to American Capital Strategies,[1] which rebranded the company as Optima Bus Corporation in 2003.[2] American Capital subsequently sold Optima to North American Bus Industries, who closed the Kansas assembly plant on August 8, 2007, with production moved to their existing plant in Anniston, Alabama.[3] Optima Bus is now North American Bus Industries, Inc.[4]

Models

Current
An Opus run by the Red Rose Transit Authority.
RIPTA CNG trolley replica #18
  • Opus: under 30 ft (9.14 m) or under 35 ft (10.67 m) low-floor bus, design based on Wrightbus bodywork
  • American Heritage Streetcar AH-28 - trolley-style body on bus chassis
Opus ISE series hybrid

Historic
Pace RT-52 in Niles, Illinois.
  • Chance RT-52 is a small Shuttle Bus used in Hawaii. 17 Chance RT-52 Shuttle bus still in service.

Chance manufactured the Sunliner trams, an open-air towed tram used at various parks and zoos in the United States and Canada.

References
  1. Conkling, Judy (15 March 1998). "Chance Coach sold to Maryland firm". www.bizjournals.com. Retrieved 2023-04-23.
  2. Dinell, David, "Chance Coach Inc. will be renamed Optima Bus Corp." Wichita Business Journal, January 15, 2003.
  3. www.kansas.com
  4. "Home". optimabus.com.
  5. http://www.isecorp.com/ise_news/ise_press_releases/june-26-2007-Opus-dieselhybrid.php , isecorp.com, 08-12-13
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