Reorganization of Ward Industries (1980–1991)
On July 25, 1980, Ward Industries filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. In the filing, the family-owned company declared $21.5 million in liabilities.[2] As Ward Industries was a significant manufacturer in the central Arkansas region, the Wards sought for a way to keep the doors of the company open.
With company president Charles Ward selling off his stake in the company, Ward Industries was acquired by an investment group (assisted by then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton) named MBH, Inc. MBH was an acronym for the first letters of the last names of each of the 4 investors: Thomas E "Mack" McLarty, J.W. "Buddy" Benafield and two Kansas City brothers, Richard L. "Dick" Harmon and Robert Harmon. McLarty and Benafield each held one-third ownership; the Harmon brothers together held the remaining one-third ownership. MBH reopened Ward Industries as American Transportation Corporation (AmTran). As Ward Industries continued to hold significant market share in the school bus segment, AmTran chose to retain the Ward brand name for school buses although non-school bus products adopted the AmTran brand in 1981.
Following the acquisition, the Ward family held no stake in AmTran; however, Steve Ward remained in the new company for vehicle distribution and marketing, having the exclusive rights to sell Ward/AmTran products in Arkansas, based in a dealership from Conway.[3]
During the 1980s, AmTran would make several product introductions that would advance school bus design in several market segments. Although among the last large bus manufacturers to introduce a Type A school bus, AmTran was the first manufacturer to introduce a higher-capacity version, with five rows of seating instead of four seen at the time.[4] For 1983, AmTran introduced the first large semi-forward control conventional with the introduction of the Ward/AmTran Patriot. Using a shortened version of the Chevrolet/GMC B-Series, the Patriot allowed for a shorter wheelbase and nose angle for improved forward visibility.[4] Although not a success overall, the Patriot would go on to become a major influence on the later Thomas Vista.
In 1987, the structure of the Ward/AmTran body underwent an exterior update, distinguished by a rubrail mounted below the window line. Much of the body structure remains in use in current-production IC Bus CE and RE-series product lines.
Acquisition by Navistar (1991–1999)
In 1991, Navistar International acquired one-third of the stock of American Transportation Corporation; the purchase was initiated by Jerry Williams, the CEO of AmTran at the time. As part of the purchase, Navistar acquired an option to buy the rest of AmTran, which was completed in April 1995.[2] The AmTran purchase marked the first purchase of a school bus body manufacturer by a chassis manufacturer or supplier, as several more were acquired during the late 1990s.
Although AmTran had legally existed since 1981 and its non-school bus vehicles were branded as such, the company began to phase out the Ward brand following the Navistar purchase. During 1992, the Ward Senator front-engine bus was updated, becoming the AmTran Genesis (with a Genesis by AmTran roof emblem).[2] At the end of 1992, the AmTran brand was phased in on other Ward school buses. Navistar ownership also affected availability of school bus chassis; after 1991, the Volunteer body was produced nearly exclusively on the International 3800 chassis (Ford chassis remained a rarely ordered option through its 1998 discontinuation).
For 1996 production, AmTran introduced its first all-new full-size bus, the AmTran RE.[2] The first rear-engine bus produced by AmTran or Ward in over 20 years, the RE broke from industry precedent in not sharing a common body design with the front-engine Genesis. To focus on full-size buses exclusively, AmTran ended production of the Vanguard cutaway-chassis bus after 1996.
Introduction of the International IC and rebranding (1999–2002)
In late 1999, AmTran announced plans to build a second manufacturing facility in Tulsa, Oklahoma.[6] Dedicated to production of conventional-chassis school buses, the Tulsa factory was planned to employ nearly 1,200 people as the factory opened in 2001.[1] Though still headquartered in Conway, the factory was now rededicated towards the lower-volume AmTran FE and RE product lines.
Following the introduction of Tulsa-produced buses, Navistar (at the time, International Truck and Engine) introduced the International IC for 2001. Branded as a fully integrated conventional (pairing an International-sourced chassis, powertrain, and body), the IC underwent several design updates. Compared to its AmTran CS predecessor, the IC saw a slightly redesigned windshield and another redesign of the drivers' compartment. While sharing the International 3800 chassis with other body manufacturers, the IC body was further distinguished by a model-exclusive hood (receiving a vertical-slatted grille).[7]
The IC was sold alongside with the existing AmTran-branded CS into 2002 production. Also for the 2001 model year, the FE and RE adopted the identification of the International IC, replacing AmTran roof badging with "International" badging (with or without the International diamond emblem).
