Glacier National Park’s Iconic Red Buses Are Getting A Hybrid Upgrade

America’s National Parks took a beating during the recent government shutdown, but Glacier National Park’s iconic red buses are about to get some upgrades.

Known as the Red Jammers, the buses date back to 1936 and were originally created by the White Motor Company. Glacier’s fleet of 33 Model 706 buses are operated and maintained by the Xanterra Travel Collection and the company has just announced they have selected Legacy Classic Trucks to performance a “total fleet overhaul”.

As part of this process, Legacy Classic Trucks will restore and update each bus during the park’s off-season. Each will ride on a new Ford chassis and be outfitted with a Ford-sourced 6.2-liter V8 engine. The big news, however, is the addition of a hybrid system which promises to improve fuel efficiency and reduce emissions by up to 25%. The company didn’t say much about the system, but the buses will also be equipped with regenerative brakes that will help to recharge their batteries.

The overhaul will also focus on the appearance of the buses as Legacy Classic Trucks will install retro-inspired gauges to give the Red Jammers a period-correct look. They will also be outfitted with new wheels that have been designed to replicate the appearance of the originals. The upgrades don’t stop there, as the buses will be reconditioned, including rust repairs and repainting on an as-needed basis.

This isn’t the first time the buses have been upgraded. Between 1999 and 2002, they were placed on an E-Series chassis and outfitted to run on propane. Since then, each has traveled between 130,000 – 150,000 miles (209,214 – 241,401 km), so they were due for some repair.