The MCI 96A3 is the 96-inch wide version of MCI’s A-series coach, in production from 1985 to 1991. It was sold alongside the wider 102-A2 and 102-A3, and its narrow body kept the width of the MC-9 that it replaced.
MCI 96A3 at a glance
| Model | 96-A2 (two axles) and 96-A3 (three axles) |
|---|---|
| Series | A-series, letter naming introduced in 1985 |
| Production | 1985–1991 |
| Length | 40 ft |
| Width | 96 in, the same as the MC-9 |
| Body | fluted stainless steel front and sides only |
| Axles | two or three; the last digit of the name gives the number |
| Successor | 96-B3, built from 1991 to 1994 |
| Wide version | 102-A2 and 102-A3 on the 102-inch body |
There is no separate Wikipedia article on the 96A3: this page is based on the letter-series table of the English Wikipedia article on Motor Coach Industries, so it relies on one source.
History of the MCI 96A3
The A-series
In 1985 MCI replaced the MC series with an alphanumerical system: the width of the coach in inches, a series letter, and a digit for the number of axles. The A-series came in two widths. The 96-A2 and 96-A3 were 40-foot coaches on the 96-inch body, the width MCI had used since the 1950s, and they were offered with fluted stainless steel front and sides only. A wheelchair-lift version of the wide coach was designated 102-AW3.
The first 102-inch coaches
The same series introduced the wider body. The 102-A2 of 1986 and the three-axle 102-A3 were the first mass-produced 102-inch-wide coaches built by MCI. Operators could choose between the familiar 96-inch coach and the new, wider one, and both stayed in the catalogue until 1991.
The B-series
The A-series was followed in 1991 by the B-series, again in both widths: the 96-B3 and, from 1993, the 102-B3. The B-series was designed as an affordable alternative to the C-series, and it could be ordered with either a fluted stainless steel or a smooth paintable front end and sides. The 96-inch body disappeared from the MCI range after the B-series, and the 40-foot D4000N of 2002–2004 was the only later narrow-body model, built in just 12 examples.
Design and features
- Narrow body: 96 in wide, the width of the MC-9, for operators who did not want the wider coach.
- Two or three axles: the 96-A2 and 96-A3 were otherwise the same 40-foot coach.
- Stainless steel: fluted stainless steel front and sides were the only finish offered.
- Short life: the A-series lasted from 1985 to 1991 before the B-series took over.
MCI 96A3 versions
- 96-A2: two-axle version.
- 96-A3: three-axle version, the model this page is named after.
- 102-A2 and 102-A3: the same series on the 102-inch body.
- 102-AW3: the wide coach with a wheelchair lift.
- 96-B3 (1991–1994): the narrow-body B-series that followed.
The wide A-series coaches are described in MCI 102, and the coaches the A-series replaced in MCI MC-9. More coaches are in the MCI collection.
Video: MCI 96A3 coach
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Motor Coach Industries, English Wikipedia: letter-series table, production years, body options
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