The story
1970s
In 1967, Don Collins founded E-CON-O Conversion in Kansas City, Missouri, becoming one of the first to develop a school bus derived from a van. Utilizing a Ford Falcon van (Econoline passenger van), Collins shifted away from designs based upon utility vehicles such as the Chevrolet Suburban and International Harvester Travelall.
In 1971, Collins renamed E-CON-O to Collins Industries, coinciding with the expansion of its product range into ambulances. In 1972, the company was relocated to Hutchinson, Kansas (its present-day location).
In 1978, Collins acquired fire apparatus manufacturer American Fire Apparatus.
1980s
In 1982, Collins introduced its first bus with a wheelchair lift; in a shift away from van conversions, the company adopted bodies for cutaway van chassis, introducing the long-running "Bantam" product line. In the mid-1980s, the company would diversify its product ranges. To replace the Collins van-based ambulances, the company acquired Wheeled Coach Industries in 1984 (inventor of the modular ambulance) and Capacity of Texas (a terminal tractor manufacturer) in 1985.
In 1986, Collins sold its American Fire Apparatus division.
1990s
During the 1990s, Collins Industries grew to become the largest manufacturer of Type A small school buses in the United States. In 1998, the company would acquire its largest competitor, Mid Bus (a successor of the bus manufacturing operations of Superior Coach Company). To expand into the transit bus segment, Collins acquired World Trans, Inc, basing their vehicles on cutaway chassis and rear-engine chassis.
In 2000, the company purchased Waldon Manufacturing, renaming it after its Lay-Mor street sweeper.
2000s
During the 2000s, the existence of Collins would transition significantly, shifting from a parent company to a subsidiary within a transportation conglomerate. Although specializing solely in small buses, in 2000, Collins offered the widest product line of any American bus manufacturer, with three different versions of the Bantam.
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A publicly traded company since 1983, Collins Industries became privately held in October 2006. 80 percent of the company was acquired by BNS Holding Inc, with the investment group American Industrial Partners holding the other 20 percent.
In 2007, Collins purchased the assets of Quebec-based manufacturer Les Enterprises Michel Corbeil out of bankruptcy. As with its Mid Bus acquisition a decade before, Collins shifted production of Corbeil buses to its Kansas facility, repackaging it as a product range marketed in Canada. Also, the Mid Bus plant in Bluffton, Ohio were closed and shifted to Collins' facility. Both subsidiaries adopted the Bantam bodywork, marketed as the Mid Bus Guide and Corbeil Quantum, respectively.
2010s
In 2010, American Industrial Partners formed Allied Specialty Vehicles out of four of its transportation holdings, including Collins and its subsidiary companies. Under ASV, Collins was part of a conglomerate including fire/emergency vehicles, recreational vehicles, transit and school buses, and industrial vehicles. In 2015, Allied Specialty Vehicles was renamed the REV Group, and went public in 2017.
By the end of 2010, the Collins facility was rebuilt after it was damaged on June 7, 2009.
On March 29, 2012, Collins unveiled the Nexbus series, replacing the long-running Bantam series; the first Nexbus was produced on May 16, 2012. In place of the former Guide and Quantum, all three Collins brands adopted Nexbus branding. In 2014, Collins starting manufactured the Nexbus using the Ford Transit 350/350HD chassis. By 2016, Collins retired the Mid Bus and Corbeil brands entirely, using the Collins brand across North America.
For 2018, Collins introduced the Collins Low Floor variant of the Nexbus body. The first school bus derived from the Ram ProMaster body, the Low Floor is equipped with a flat floor and a folding wheelchair ramp.
2020s
In January 2024, REV announced it would be exiting the bus manufacturing business. The company reached an agreement to sell Collins to Forest River for $303 million.
In 2023, Collins launched an all-electric school bus using the Ford E-Transit chassis, The first ever battery electric Ford Transit School bus with access for 25 students, a wheelchair lift is also an option to allow handicapped riders.
From Wikipedia’s article on Collins Industries, shared under CC BY-SA 4.0.4