Friday, 25 July 2014

In Memory of TIB838H (14-3-1996 TO 13-3-2013)

The only O405G in SMRT registered in 1996.
First deployed on old Service 171.
Last Deployed on Service 180.
The first bendy bus in South East Asia.
It is now de-registered.
First O405G in Singapore.
It is the demonstrator of Hispano MK1 O405Gs.
The only O405G with Arianne Fiansa Bucket seats.
The only O405G to be air-flown by cargo plane from Spain.
2nd Box Bendy to be de-registered after TIB900K.
TIBS dubbed it as "Bendy Bus".
Its Hanover flip-dot EDS was replaced by Gorba imotion EDS in 2012.
Its last day of revenue service was on 11 March 2013.
'838' is an auspicious sounding number.
The trial was successful and a fleet of O405Gs were eventually purchased, variations include the modified MKII bodywork, the smart looking Hispano Habit bodywork by Pininfarina and a small number in Volgren bodywork.
The entire bendy does look like a stretched version of the 12m Hispano Carrocera O405.
The front is also similar to Hispano Carrocera O405s.
It originally has Hanover flip-dot EDS similar to the Hispano CAC O405s.
Air-conditioning provided by Konvekta, mounted under the floorboard.
It is bodied by Hispano Carrocera.
It has warning and Long vehicle stickers at rear of bus.
The first bus with flip-dot rear signage.
Its gearbox is ZF4HP590 gearbox.
Its length is 17.5m.
The only Box bendy with two grabpoles in the middle of the articulator.
The only bendy with key startup.
The only Box bendy to be fully unrefurbished with fabric seats and old green interior while was painted when newly manufactured.