IC Bus BE300 (2005-2015) vs Blue Bird Micro Bird (2005-2020)
Pick two or three platforms and see every figure next to each other. The link updates as you choose, so you can share or bookmark a comparison.
| Specification | ||
|---|---|---|
| Overview | ||
| Category | School Bus | School Bus |
| Bus type | Type B | Type A |
| Engine location | Front | Front |
| Manufacturer | IC Bus (Navistar) | Blue Bird |
| Status | Legacy / used market | Legacy / used market |
| Data quality | Planning estimate | Planning estimate |
| Living space | ||
| Buildable length | 21–25 ft | 12–17 ft |
| Interior width | 90 in | 74 in |
| Interior height | 74 in | 72 in |
| Vehicle | ||
| Overall length | 28–32 ft | 20–25 ft |
| Exterior width | 96 in | 96 in |
| Drivetrain | ||
| Drivetrain | Navistar/International diesel with automatic transmission | Ford E-350/E-450 or Chevrolet Express/GMC Savana cutaway chassis, gas V8 or light diesel with automatic |
| Will a bed fit crosswise | ||
| Twin / full (75″) | Fits (15″ spare) | No (1″ short) |
| Queen (80″) | Fits (10″ spare) | No (6″ short) |
| King (80″) | Fits (10″ spare) | No (6″ short) |
Shaded cells are where these vehicles differ.
IC Bus BE300 (2005-2015)
The longer BE, and arguably the best-balanced conversion platform there is: full interior width, enough length for a separated bedroom and a proper kitchen, and a short nose that wastes far less of the overall length than a conventional Type C. Easier to manoeuvre and cheaper to run than a 40-foot bus while giving up surprisingly little usable floor.
Check before you buy
- Dimensions here are planning estimates from community data, not an OEM spec sheet.
- Wheelbase, GVWR and drivetrain are build-order data - confirm on the vehicle.
Blue Bird Micro Bird (2005-2020)
The most common small skoolie, built on a Ford E-Series or Chevrolet Express cutaway chassis. Interior width is roughly 74 inches rather than the 90 inches of a full-size bus, and that single number drives the whole build: a crosswise bed will not fit an adult, so almost every Micro Bird conversion runs the bed lengthwise along one wall or uses a convertible dinette. Ceiling near 72 inches means most people cannot stand up straight, which makes a roof raise the highest-value modification you can make. The payoff is that it drives like a van, parks in a normal space, and needs no special licence.
Check before you buy
- Dimensions here are planning estimates from community data, not an OEM spec sheet.
- Wheelbase, GVWR and drivetrain are build-order data - confirm on the vehicle.