Bob Gurr

Greetings family, friends and Disney buddies!  Today's brief backstory, inspired by a vintage Disneyland postcard, is about Disney Legend Bob Gurrthe creator of most of the park's ride vehicles........Bill

MUSINGS OF A THEME PARK FAN

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DISNEYLAND OMNIBUS

Disneyland’s 5/8 scale doubledecker Omnibus carries hundreds of passengers daily on a fun filled tour of Main Street. Camera fans especially like the unique angles the Omnibus’s second deck provides.

In 1952, twenty three year old recent Art Center College of Design graduate with a brief stint as an industrial designer for the Ford Motor Company, Robert Henry “Bob” Gurr was tagged by Walt Disney’s WED Enterprises to consult on the design of the miniature Autopia cars planned for Disneyland’s Tomorrowland. Impressed with his skill and knowledge, Gurr was hired as a full time designer dedicated to the design and construction of Disneyland naming himself Director of Special Vehicle Development. During his forty year tenure as one of Disney’s first Imagineers and designer of Disneyland’s Autopia cars, Gurr designed the Omnibus and the other Main Street USA vehicles, the Monorail, 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea Submarine Voyage, Matterhorn Bobsleds, Phantom Boats, Haunted Mansion “Doom Buggies” and the Fantasyland classic dark ride vehicles. Gurr “retired” in 1981 to establish his own design firm and continued consulting with Walt Disney Productions, Universal Studios and other amusement park clients. Bob Gurr was named as a Disney Legend and has a window dedicated to him on Main Street USA. 

Autographed 1958 Postcard from the collection of Bill Ralph