The SAVIEM SC 10 is an urban bus built by SAVIEM and the model of the French standard bus, the letters SC standing for SAVIEM-Chausson. The first commercial version was presented in September 1965 after a joint study by the RATP and UPTUR.
SAVIEM SC 10 at a glance
| Maker | SAVIEM (SAVIEM-Chausson) |
|---|---|
| Developed with | RATP and UPTUR |
| First commercial version | September 1965 |
| Final version | SC 10 R, built 1982–1989 |
| Specification | 11 m, flat floor at 63.5 cm, 150 hp engine under the driver |
| Built | 11,004 |
| Sold abroad | 15, all to Brescia in Italy |
Based on one source, the French Wikipedia article on the SAVIEM SC 10.
History of the SAVIEM SC 10
The standard bus
At the end of the 1950s urban public transport in France was almost entirely provided by buses, apart from the Paris metro, a few trolleybuses and rare tram networks. The buses generally came in small series from many builders, were expensive to buy and maintain, and shared an obvious lack of comfort: floors too high, ceilings too low and cramped access. In 1958 the RATP and the Union des transports publics urbains et régionaux joined forces to draw up the specification for a new unified city bus, better known as the standard bus. It called for a length of 11 m, a flat floor no more than 63.5 cm from the ground, an interior height of at least 2.20 m, windows 1.78 m above the floor, a cylindrical anti-glare windscreen and a 150 hp engine lying under the driver’s position. SAVIEM, Berliet and Verney responded, but Verney withdrew for lack of production capacity.
Prototype and production
At the end of 1961, after a thorough study, SAVIEM delivered its first SC 10 prototype to the RATP, visually distinguished from production buses by a destination-blind ‘cap’ that did not span the full width of the roof and a windscreen with a central pillar. In June 1963 the bus was presented internationally in Vienna, and on 19 May 1965 the first production vehicle followed, with the first commercial version presented in September 1965.
Eleven thousand buses
Over the years the SC 10 received many modifications up to its final version, the SC 10 R, built between 1982 and 1989. Of the 11,004 examples built, only fifteen were sold abroad, all to Brescia in Italy; the rest went to French networks. Many were later bought second-hand in developing countries, where they ran for some years after being retired in France.
Design and features
- Standard specification: 11 m long, flat floor and a 150 hp engine under the driver.
- SAVIEM-Chausson: the SC initials show the partnership behind the bus.
- 11,004 built: almost all for French operators.
- SC 10 R: the final version produced from 1982 to 1989.
SAVIEM SC 10 versions
- SC 10 prototype (1961): the first vehicle delivered to the RATP.
- SC 10 production (1965): the standard city bus.
- SC 10 R (1982–1989): the final development.
The SC 10 was replaced in Renault’s range by the Renault R312, and its city-bus successor was the Renault Agora. More Renaults are in the Renault collection.
Video: Renault SC 10 R
Video by MidiMobilites on YouTube.
Sources
- SAVIEM SC 10, French Wikipedia: standard specification, prototype, production, versions
