Highlights of Blue Bird Wanderlodge Model Changes
Including list of all models for each year
1963 - First unit manufactured
1965 - Actual production started.
1964-1973 - Thirty-one foot unit, only size available.
1964-1976 - Ford industrial gas engine factory installed as standard engine.
1969 - Produced 9 units that were a pusher type with a Ford gas engine, thirty-five feet in length. Very rare
1974 - Added 33 foot unit to product line.  -
Gas - 31' -- 33'

1975 - Added 35 foot unit to product line.  -
Gas - 31' -- 33' -- 35' 
1976 - Gas - 31' -- 33' -- 35' 
1977 - Factory installed engines Caterpillar 3208-NA (Naturally Asperated, meaning "non turbo"). Early 1977 still had gas engines. -
Gas & NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1978 - Gas & NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1979 - - Fifteenth Anniversary unit produced. Forerunner to the pusher. Thirty-five foot with 3208 Caterpillar. Designated the XV.
NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35' -- 35' XV

1980 - Added air suspension to standard equipment. Early 1980 units still had spring leaf suspension. -
NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'

1981 - NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
1982 - Added the PT 35 and PT 40 to product line.  Added new bathroom and dash to forward control model. Pusher came with new dash.
FC - NA Diesel - 31' -- 33' -- 35'
PT - 35' -- 40' (PT had Detroit V6, 2 cycle Diesel - Designated "6V")
1983 - Forward Control came with factory installed 3208 Caterpillar with 225 HP turbo. Last 12 units of 1983 model year installed with 250 turbo.  Introduced RB (Rear Bath) models. 
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 35' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V
1983 - Forward Control came with factory installed 3208 Caterpillar with 225 HP turbo. Last 12 units of 1983 model year installed with 250 turbo.  Introduced RB (Rear Bath) models. 
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 35' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V
1984 - Forward Control installed with 3208- 250 turbo Cat engine. - Changed the floor plan of the PT 35. Became designated as PT-36.  
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V 
1985 -  
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB - 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 40' 6V
1986 - Added Detroit Diesel 8V92 (8V) engine to pusher line.  
FC - 31' - 33' -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 38' 8V -- 40' 6V -- 40' 8V 
1987 - Re-designed Forward Control floor plan and added 300 HP Caterpillar Engine. Introduced walk-thru bath floor plan in pushers.
FC - 31' -- 33' RB -- 33' SB -- 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' 6V -- 38' 6V -- 38' 8V --40' 6V -- 40' 8V
1988 Introduced 102" Wide Body (WB) in 38' and 40'. Introduced Detroit 8V92TA 475 HP with DDEC in Pusher. 
FC - 35' RB -- 35' SB
PT - 36' (96") -- 38' (96") -- 38' (WB) -- 40' (96") -- 40' (WB)
40' XXV - Commemorates 25th year of Wanderlodge.

1989 Introduced 36' Single Axle Pusher (SP) -300 Cat 3208 - Center Door - 96" width. End of Forward Control.
FC - 35'
SP - 36'
PT - 38' (WB) -- 40' (WB).

Also - Offered conversions by Royale. 

1990 -
SP - 36'
PT - 40' (WB)
1991 Changed exteriors appearance of Wide Body & SP.  Made major equipment changes. 
SP - 36'
PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA
1992 -  End of SP.
SP - 36'
PT - 40' WB -- 40' WBSA
1993 - 
40' WLWB -- 40' WBSA -- 40' WBDA
1994 Introduced BMC (Bluebird Motor Coach). 
37' BMC
40' WLWB -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WBSD -- 40' WBDA
1995 Added 42' Wanderlodge with 60 Series Detroit, 6 speed Allison and Aqua Hot heat. Redesigned BMC 37'. 
37' BMC
40' -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WBSD -- 40' WBDA
42' -- 42' WLWB -- 42' WTOS -- 42' WBSD -- 42' WBDA
1996 Introduced the 40' BMC with m11 Cummins 400 HP, 6 speed Allison, Tag Axle.   
37' BMC
40' BMC
40' -- 40' WTOS -- 40' WTSD -- 40' WBDA
42' WTOS -- 42' WBSD -- 42' WBDA
1997 Lowered engine in Wanderlodge to allow for Walk-in closet.  Redesigned 42' as 43'.  40' became 41' with 60 series, 6 speed and walk-in rear closet.   
37' BMC
40' BMC
41' WLWB
43' WLWB 
1998 - Introduction of WB-41 LXi and WB-43 LXi w/500 HP Series 60 and resytled exteriors. Introduction of WB-40 LX w/450 HP M11 Cummins.
40' LX
41' LXi
43' LXi
1999 -
40' LX
41' LXi
43' LXi

2000 -
40' LX
40' LXi - Mellennium Limited Edition
43' LXi
2001 thru 2003 -
LX-M11 engine went from 450 H.P. to 500 H.P. New body style. Otherwise its the same as 98 - 2000. In 2001,some LX's were non-slide some were single slides. 2002 and 2003 were all slides , either single or double.
LXi After about the first 15 units were built, the effort to lighten the units began. Front axle rating went from 14,400 to 15,500 and eventually to 16,000 #'s Fuel capacity went down to 260 from 300 gal. The exterior roof skin was changed to streched aircraft aluminum, bulk oil fill was eliminated as well as tile floors. An optional cummins M11 500 H.P. engine was offered but only a few were built.
2003 thru 2004 -
M380 production began. All 2003's were single slide with one exception , it was a double. 2004's were 1 or 2 slide. No non-slide M380's were offered.No other models were built for 2004.

Terms & Abbreviations for Blue Bird Motor Homes

        BMC - Blue Bird Motor Coach 

        FC - Forward Control which designates the engine is mounted in the front of the unit. All Blue Bird Wanderlodges are rear axle drive. 

        31-FC - Thirty-one foot Forward Control 

        33-FC - Thirty-three foot Forward Control 

        35-FC - Thirty-Five foot Forward Control 

        PT - Pusher with a tag axle 

        PT-35 - Thirty-Five foot Pusher 

        PT-36 - Thirty-six foot Pusher 

        PT-38 - Thirty-eight foot Pusher 

        PT-40 - Forty foot Pusher 

        RB - Rear Bath 

        SB - Side Bath

        SP - Single Axle Pusher 

        WB - Wide Body 

        WL - Wanderlodge 

        XV - 15th Anniversary unit built in 1978/1979 

        XXV - 25th Anniversary unit built in 1988/1989 
         
         

(Im)pertinent Questions . . . And some pointed answers

A question that we're often asked
Is "How does that thing do on gas?"

Now don't think that we want to weasel,
But, first, it isn't gas it's diesel,
And second, as I'm sure you've guessed,
Our mpg is not the best.

And if we had to stop and think
Each time we gave our "Bird" a drink
It wouldn't be much fun to roam
And preatty soon we'd just stay home!

So we are glad that you dropped by,
To stop and chat or just say "Hi"
Ask our names, or where we're from
Ask how many miles we've come;
But let us leave the pumps behind us
And as for miles per, don't remind us!

 

Another thing some people say:
"It sure is big, what did you pay?"

Now we think that this info is
Strictly no one else' biz
And so we hand out pen and pad
And say, "You simply have to add.

First write down your weekly wage
And multiply it by your age;
Then include your bank account
(Be sure to add the full amount)

And when you've added up the score
Just throw in fifty thousand more!

But if you think your numbers there
Are much to personal to share
Then maybe that gives you a clue,
Cause, buddy that's what we think, too!"

Of course, the above remarks
could be Tempered with a smile!

By: Jean Steltz ... VB375