Fageol
Corporate brand
UnclaimedAmerican manufacturer of buses, trucks, tractors, engines, and limited-production automobiles.
Last updated November 4, 2026
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Overview
Fageol was an American vehicle manufacturer associated primarily with heavy trucks, buses, farm tractors, and specialized commercial vehicles. The business was established in Oakland, California, in 1916 by brothers Rollie, William, Frank, and Claude Fageol. Its early ambitions were broader than commercial vehicles: the company planned to build automobiles, manufactured a tractor derived from the Hamilton walking tractor, and developed a transport vehicle for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco. The exposition project used a Ford engine to pull several low-floor, open-sided passenger cars and demonstrated the brothers’ interest in unusual forms of mass transportation. The company’s first automobile program included luxury vehicles using Hall-Scott six-cylinder engines. Fageol intended these cars to occupy an expensive, performance-oriented segment, but production was interrupted when Hall-Scott engines were redirected toward wartime aircraft production during World War I. Only a very small number of the luxury touring cars were completed. Later Fageol automobile projects included the Fageol 100, the Supersonic, and the PataRay, also known as the Fageol Special, although these programs did not establish the company as a volume passenger-car producer. Fageol became better known for commercial transportation. In 1921 it introduced a bus designed from the ground up around stability and passenger access. Initially called the Safety Bus and later the Safety Coach, the vehicle used a broad track and a low floor to reduce the risk of overturning during cornering and to make boarding easier. The company also produced touring and intercity designs, including the America cruising coach, the Fageol Flyer, parlor coaches, sightseeing buses, and double-decker configurations. The Super Twin, introduced in 1938, was a large articulated diesel-electric bus with capacity for approximately 58 passengers. Fageol trucks earned a reputation among operators partly because of their dual-range, mid-mounted transmissions. This arrangement provided very low gearing for heavy hauling while also allowing higher road speeds when carrying lighter loads. The trucks were visually distinctive, often carrying a large number seven on the front of the radiator. Fageol later produced specialized vehicles such as the TC CargoLiner, introduced in 1950 and promoted as a truck resembling a trailer without a separate tractor unit. The company’s truck range covered several payload classes, from approximately one-and-a-half-ton vehicles to heavy five-to-six-ton models. The corporate structure and ownership changed repeatedly. Fageol-related operations included the Fageol Motors Company and Fageol Motor Sales Company in Oakland, as well as a Fageol Motors Company of Ohio operation that operated first in Cleveland and later in Kent. The Fageol brothers left the business in 1927 and established Twin Coach in Kent, Ohio, continuing their involvement in bus manufacturing. During the Great Depression, the Oakland company entered receivership. Its bank reorganized the business as Fageol Truck and Coach. In 1938, T. A. Peterman acquired the factory and its contents, and the first Peterbilt truck was produced there in 1939, linking the former Fageol facility to the subsequent development of Peterbilt. Fageol buses also had an international operating legacy. South Australian Railways used several Fageol buses and converted some into railcars at the Islington Railway Workshops beginning in 1932. The conversions operated first on the narrow-gauge Eyre Peninsula Railway, with some later transferred to the Kingston–Naracoorte line. Because the original vehicles were designed for roads rather than rails, their ride quality was poor; the last Fageol-derived railcar was condemned in 1961. Bus manufacturing associated with Fageol Twin Coach continued until 1953, when the bus operation was absorbed by Flxible. Fageol is therefore chiefly remembered as an early American specialist in innovative buses and heavy trucks rather than as a surviving independent automotive brand.
History
Fageol originated in Oakland, California, through the work of brothers Rollie, William, Frank, and Claude Fageol. Before the company’s formal establishment, the brothers participated in a transport project for the 1915 Panama–Pacific International Exposition. The exposition covered a large site and attracted millions of visitors, creating demand for internal passenger transportation. Their response was an Auto Train, or trackless train, consisting of a Ford-powered road vehicle pulling two or three low-floor open passenger cars. The project helped establish the commercial and engineering direction that led to Fageol Motors. The company was founded in 1916 with plans to manufacture trucks, farm tractors, and automobiles. Its initial tractor was based on the Hamilton walking tractor developed by Rush E. Hamilton of Geyserville, California. Fageol first marketed a rebranded Hamilton machine and later worked with Hamilton and designer Horatio Smith to adapt the tractor for conditions and operating requirements on the West Coast. The tractor venture was eventually sold to Great Western Motors of San Jose around 1923, and Hamilton and Smith joined that company. Fageol also pursued luxury automobiles. Frank and William Fageol, working with L. H. Bill, developed a high-priced touring speedster using a Hall-Scott overhead-camshaft six-cylinder engine. The vehicle was intended to be among the most expensive American automobiles of its period, but the supply of Hall-Scott engines was disrupted when the government redirected production toward aircraft engines during World War I. As a result, only a few examples were completed. Other Fageol automobile experiments included the Fageol 100, Supersonic, and PataRay or Fageol Special, but none transformed the company into a mass-market car producer. Commercial vehicles became the central business. In 1921 Fageol introduced a bus designed specifically as a complete bus rather than as a body mounted on a separate truck chassis. Its broad stance and low floor were intended to improve cornering stability and passenger access. The vehicle was first known as the Safety Bus and later as the Safety Coach. Fageol expanded this concept into sightseeing, intercity, touring, and double-decker buses. Its products included the America cruising coach, Fageol Flyer, parlor cars, rear double-decker parlor coaches, and other specialized passenger vehicles. A Twin Coach 44S was produced in cooperation with J. G. Brill Company and Twin Coach. The Super Twin, launched in 1938, was a large articulated diesel-electric bus capable of carrying about 58 passengers. Fageol’s trucks were recognized for their distinctive styling and driveline layout. Many displayed a prominent number seven on the radiator front. More importantly, the trucks used dual-range, mid-mounted transmissions that gave operators a wide spread of ratios. This allowed slow, controlled movement under heavy load while preserving useful road speeds on lighter runs. The company produced trucks in several payload categories, including roughly one-and-a-half-ton, two-and-a-half-ton, three-and-a-half- to four-ton, and five- to six-ton classes. In 1950 it introduced the TC CargoLiner, a specialized vehicle promoted as a trailer without a tractor. A later straight-truck design associated with Twin Coach received a 1953 patent credited to Louis J. Fageol and influenced the conventional straight-truck layout. The Fageol brothers departed in 1927 to form Twin Coach in Kent, Ohio, where they continued producing buses. The Oakland operation remained under the leadership of president L. H. Bill, but the Great Depression weakened the business and it entered receivership. The bank took control and reorganized it as Fageol Truck and Coach. In 1938 T. A. Peterman bought the factory and its contents. The first Peterbilt truck was produced at the former Fageol facility in 1939, marking a major transition from the Fageol name to the Peterbilt lineage. Fageol vehicles were also used outside the United States. South Australian Railways operated Fageol buses and converted four of them into railcars at Islington Railway Workshops beginning in 1932. The vehicles first ran on the narrow-gauge Eyre Peninsula Railway, and some were later moved to the Kingston–Naracoorte route after that line was converted to broad gauge. The road-bus origins made the railcars uncomfortable in service, and the final Fageol railcar was condemned in 1961. Bus manufacturing connected with Fageol Twin Coach continued until 1953, when the bus operation was absorbed by Flxible. Fageol subsequently survived mainly as a historical name associated with early American bus engineering, heavy trucks, and the industrial lineage leading to Twin Coach and Peterbilt.
- 1961
Last Fageol-derived South Australian railcar condemned
[1]The final Fageol bus converted for South Australian railway service was condemned.
- 1953
Fageol bus manufacturing absorbed by Flxible
[1]The bus-manufacturing portion of Fageol Twin Coach was absorbed by Flxible, ending the main phase of Fageol-associated bus production.
- 1950
TC CargoLiner introduced
[1]Fageol manufactured the TC CargoLiner, an unconventional truck promoted as a trailer without a tractor.
- 1939
First Peterbilt produced at former Fageol facility
[1]The first Peterbilt truck was produced at the factory acquired from the reorganized Fageol business.
- 1938
Super Twin introduced and factory sold
[1]The large articulated Super Twin diesel-electric bus was introduced, while T. A. Peterman acquired the former Fageol factory and its contents after the company’s reorganization.
- 1932
South Australian bus-to-railcar conversions begin
[1]South Australian Railways began converting Fageol buses into railcars at the Islington Railway Workshops.
- 1927
Fageol brothers form Twin Coach
[1]The Fageol brothers left the Oakland company and established Twin Coach in Kent, Ohio, continuing in the bus business.
- 1923
Tractor business transferred to Great Western Motors
[1]Fageol’s tractor activity was sold to Great Western Motors of San Jose, with Rush Hamilton and Horatio Smith joining the acquiring company.
- 1921
Introduction of the Safety Bus
[1]Fageol introduced a purpose-built bus with a wide track and low floor. It was later marketed as the Safety Coach.
- 1916
Fageol Motors established in Oakland
[1]Rollie, William, Frank, and Claude Fageol founded the Oakland-based company to produce trucks, tractors, and automobiles.
Products and positioning
Specialist American manufacturer focused on stable, accessible buses, heavy-duty trucks, farm machinery, and unconventional transportation vehicles.
Bus · 1921
Fageol Safety Coach
Introduced in 1921 as the Safety Bus, this purpose-built passenger vehicle used a broad track and a low floor. The design sought to reduce rollover risk while making boarding and alighting easier. It became the foundation for Fageol’s reputation as an innovative bus manufacturer.
Articulated bus · 1938
Fageol Super Twin
Introduced in 1938, the Super Twin was a large articulated diesel-electric bus. It had a capacity of approximately 58 passengers and represented Fageol’s effort to provide high-capacity urban or intercity transportation.
Truck
Fageol Heavy Trucks
Fageol produced trucks across several payload classes, from approximately one-and-a-half-ton vehicles to five- and six-ton heavy haulers. Their dual-range, mid-mounted transmissions offered unusually broad gearing for both low-speed hauling and faster road operation.
Specialized truck · 1950
TC CargoLiner
The TC CargoLiner, introduced in 1950, was an unconventional commercial vehicle promoted as a trailer without a tractor. It reflected Fageol’s continuing interest in integrated and specialized freight-transport designs.
Luxury automobile
Fageol Four Passenger Touring Speedster
This high-priced touring automobile used a Hall-Scott overhead-camshaft six-cylinder engine. Production was extremely limited because Hall-Scott engine supply was redirected to wartime aircraft production.
Farm tractor
Fageol Tractor
Fageol marketed a version of Rush Hamilton’s walking tractor and later worked with Hamilton and Horatio Smith to adapt the machine for West Coast operating conditions. The tractor business was sold to Great Western Motors around 1923.
Bus
Fageol Flyer
The Fageol Flyer was one of the company’s named bus and coach products, forming part of a range that also included sightseeing buses, cruising coaches, parlor cars, and double-decker designs.
Automobile
Fageol 100
The Fageol 100 was one of several passenger-car projects associated with the company. It remained a limited historical program rather than becoming a high-volume production automobile.
Automobile
Fageol Supersonic
The Supersonic was an experimental or limited-production Fageol automobile project. Available reference material identifies the model but does not establish substantial series production.
Automobile
PataRay / Fageol Special
Known also as the Fageol Special, the PataRay was another limited automobile associated with the company’s attempts to move beyond commercial vehicles.
Brand decisions
1953
Absorption of the bus operation by FlxibleM&ABackground
Bus manufacturing associated with Fageol Twin Coach continued after the original Oakland company’s reorganization and ownership changes.
Action taken
The bus-manufacturing portion of the business was absorbed by Flxible.
Aftermath
Fageol ceased to have an independent role as a major bus manufacturer.
1938
Sale of the factory and assets to T. A. PetermanM&ABackground
After the company’s depression-era financial difficulties, its bank-controlled successor no longer operated as an independent long-term manufacturer.
Action taken
T. A. Peterman acquired the factory and its contents.
Aftermath
The former Fageol facility produced the first Peterbilt in 1939, connecting the site to Peterbilt’s early manufacturing history.
1932
Reorganization as Fageol Truck and CoachStrategyBackground
The Great Depression pushed the Oakland business into receivership.
Action taken
The bank assumed control and reorganized the company under the Fageol Truck and Coach name.
Aftermath
The reorganization preceded the eventual sale of the factory and assets to T. A. Peterman in 1938.
1927
Departure of the Fageol brothers and creation of Twin CoachStrategyBackground
The founding family members left the Oakland operation after establishing the company’s early vehicle programs.
Action taken
The brothers formed Twin Coach in Kent, Ohio, continuing to manufacture buses.
Aftermath
Fageol and Twin Coach became separate but historically connected bus-manufacturing businesses.
1923
Transfer of tractor operations to Great Western MotorsM&ABackground
Fageol’s tractor activity had begun with a relabeled Hamilton walking tractor and later received design work for West Coast conditions.
Action taken
The tractor business was sold to Great Western Motors of San Jose.
Aftermath
Rush Hamilton and Horatio Smith joined Great Western Motors, while Fageol concentrated more heavily on trucks and buses.
1921
Launch of the Safety BusProduct launchBackground
Fageol sought to address passenger safety and boarding access in bus design.
Action taken
The company introduced a purpose-built bus with a low floor and wide track, later renaming it the Safety Coach.
Aftermath
The model helped establish Fageol as an innovative bus manufacturer and led to a broader range of touring and passenger coaches.
Sources1 sources
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