The MCI MC-7 was the first 40-foot bus built by Motor Coach Industries. Introduced in 1968 and built until 1973, it was also marketed as the Challenger; most of the Greyhound examples were known as the Super 7 Scenicruiser.
MCI MC-7 at a glance
| Production | 1968–1973 |
|---|---|
| Length | 40 ft, the first 40-foot MCI |
| Width | 96 in |
| Also known as | the Challenger |
| Greyhound name | Super 7 Scenicruiser |
| Series | MC, 1958–1998 naming |
| Wider stablemate | MC-6, built for Greyhound in 1968–1969 |
There is no separate Wikipedia article on the MC-7: this page is based on the MC-series table of the English Wikipedia article on Motor Coach Industries, so it relies on one source.
History of the MCI MC-7
The first 40-footer
MCI had built its reputation on 35-foot coaches such as the MC-5. With the MC-7, introduced in 1968, the company moved up to a 40-foot bus for the first time, on the 96-inch body. It was sold under two names: MC-7 in MCI’s own numbering and Challenger in the sales literature.
At Greyhound
Greyhound Lines owned MCI outright in those years and was the coach’s biggest customer. Most of its MC-7s were called Super 7 Scenicruiser, a name that connected the new 40-foot coach with the Scenicruiser of the 1950s. The MC-7 was built until 1973, when it was replaced by the MC-8, which also moved to the 40-foot length as standard.
End of the name
The Challenger name did not survive the MC series. When MCI changed to an alphanumerical system in 1985, the coach series were identified by width and a letter, and the old model names such as Challenger, Crusader and Supercruiser were dropped.
Design and features
- First 40-footer: the coach that moved MCI up from 35 feet.
- Challenger: a second name used for the same coach.
- Greyhound Scenicruiser name: most Greyhound cars were Super 7 Scenicruisers.
- 96-inch body: the standard MCI width of the period.
MCI MC-7 versions
- MC-7 (1968–1973): the standard coach.
- Challenger: the same coach under its sales name.
- Super 7 Scenicruiser: the Greyhound designation.
The coach that followed it is described in MCI MC-8, the coach it replaced in MCI MC-5. More coaches are in the MCI collection.
Video: MCI MC-7 driving
Video on YouTube.
Sources
- Motor Coach Industries, English Wikipedia: MC-7 table, Challenger and Scenicruiser names
