The Brute Prison Bus, also known as the "Police Prison Bus"[1], is a bus featured in The Lost and Damned, Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online.
Design[]
The Lost and Damned[]
The Prison Bus takes elements from various heavy vehicles, where the cowl (hood) design is based on the International Harvester S-Series, although lacking its distinctive power bulge. The headlights and grille bear a loose resemblance to the Chevrolet Kodiak. As for the bus body, the design is loosely based on the Blue Bird CV200 body.
The vehicle's design is comparable to that of a typical American school bus, but has been modified for prison inmate transportation and protection for the Alderney State Correctional Facility. The front section bears strong similarities with the Yankee, but the bumper is much bulkier and has additional vent details on the outer sides and a Liberty City license plate attached in the center, while the end of the nose/hood has a shorter height and a slightly longer overhang. The grille is rectangular in shape and has five horizontal and three vertical elements, while the headlight housings contain square main units on the upper side and rectangular indicators on the lower side.
On the sides, the vehicle has various protruding lines passing through the lower half of the body, inward-gliding doors on the right-hand side, and dual exhaust pipes near the rear right wheel, while the upper half mostly consists of the large windshield, the square windows with three horizontal bars for the passengers, split windows for the driver, and rectangular rear-view mirrors. The roof area is rounded in shape and contains four circular hazard lights and three marker lights in the center, just above the windshield.
The rear of the vehicle mostly consists of a rear emergency door that serves as decoration and cannot be used (although it will open or detach in the event of collision or explosion), along with square windows with two horizontal bars and the same set of hazard and marker lights on the roof area. There are numerour circular tail lights on each side of the emergency door, consisting of amber units on the outer sides (that work as the main lights), red brake lights in the middle, smaller reverse units on the inner sides, and dual indicators on the lower corners. A bulky bumper can also be seen at the bottom, again with a Liberty City plate attached in the center.
The interior of the vehicle has the corresponding driver seat and ten seats for the passengers/prisoners. However, the vehicle only has capacity for the driver and three passengers like the regular Bus. The roof has a central rear-view mirror and three square lights that work in conjunction with the engine.
The vehicle is only available in a grayish light blue primary color with Alderney State Department of Corrections emblems and ASCF stencils on both sides and both ends of the roof. It also uses standard industrial wheels similar to the ones seen on the Benson, the Mule and the Phantom.
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
The bus returns to Grand Theft Auto V and Grand Theft Auto Online with the same design as in TLAD. However, the bumpers, grille, headlight housings and rear-view mirrors are finished in black rather than in a silver color, and the hazard lights work in conjunction with the engine. The interior remains largely identical, but the central mirror is removed and all the rear seats are functional, allowing up to 11 occupants including the driver. In the enhanced version, the vehicle uses analog truck dials.
The vehicle appears in a blue primary color and lacks the rust and worn paintwork from TLAD, while retaining the same wheel design. It also uses Bolingbroke Penitentiary State Prison emblems and BPSP stencils on both sides and both ends, as well as a white checkered pattern on both sides of the roof. Gruppe 6 logos can also be seen on the sides, just near the front part of the front fenders.
Current Design Gallery[]
Version History Gallery[]
Performance[]
The Lost and Damned[]
The Prison Bus performs much better than the Bus due to its shorter wheelbase and lighter construction. It has moderately good handling for a vehicle of its size and class, but given it is an armored vehicle, it suffers from poor acceleration, although it can still achieve considerably good top speeds. Its heavy weight also allows for the ability to push aside smaller vehicles with ease. The Prison Bus is also durable in head-on collisions, and its engine is rarely set aflame when severely damaged. The high suspension and the all-wheel-drive layout makes the vehicle a good performer off-road and on rough, uneven terrain.
The Prison Bus is powered by a twin-cam straight-4 cylinder with a turbocharger, coupled to a 5-speed gearbox in a front engine, all wheel configuration, with equal torque distribution. It shares the high-revving engine sound with the Bus.
TLAD Overview[]
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engines | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 87 / 140 | 5 | N/A | AWD 50% FWD 50% RWD |
7500 / 16535 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
N/A | N/A | 5 | F4 DOHC Turbocharged Inline-4 (In-game model) | AWD | Cannot be observed |
Grand Theft Auto V and Online[]
The performance of the Prison Bus is rather basic for a vehicle of this type: being a slow and heavy vehicle, but it makes up for the weight and the armor. The Prison Bus still has a high top speed for a bus, in its class, but has poor braking and average handling, apart that it can tip over to the side at high speeds, making fast cornering considerably dangerous. The RWD layout makes this vehicle less powerful off-road than in TLAD and will struggle at climbing up pronounced slopes, but is still able to sort out uneven terrain thanks to the suspension.
The Prison Bus is powered by the same modeled twin-cam straight 4 with a turbocharger featured in TLAD. This time, however, it is coupled to a 4-speed gearbox in a front engine, rear wheel drive layout. The engine sound is roughly similar to that of the other buses in the game.
GTA V and Online Overview[]
Acceleration (0-60 mph in Seconds) |
Top Speed (mph / kmh) |
Gears | Engine | Drivetrain (FWD / RWD / AWD) |
Mass (kg / lbs) |
Fuel Tank Size (litres) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
N/A | 56 / 90 | 4 | N/A | RWD | 9000 / 19842 | 120 |
N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A | N/A |
N/A | N/A | 4 | FR DOHC Turbocharged Inline-4 (In-game model) | RWD | Cannot be observed | Cannot be observed |
Gallery[]
Videos[]
Prominent Appearances in Missions[]
The Lost and Damned[]
- Off Route - Thomas Stubbs sends Johnny Klebitz to rescue many prisoners and take them to a few boats in order to set them free. In order to avoid subsequent the Prison Bus is thrown in the water.
- Get Lost - The Prison Bus only makes a minor appearance during the raid at the Alderney State Correctional Facility, where it is seen parked next to the entrance.
- The Prison Bus is a prominent vehicle during the multiplayer match Witness Protection, where defenders (as the NOOSE Team) must protect the vehicle, while the attackers (as The Lost MC) have to destroy it.
Grand Theft Auto V[]
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
Missions[]
- Bust Out - Up to four players are sent by Lester to rescue Gustavo, who is held in a Prison Bus. The player(s) have to intercept the Bus and take Gustavo to Lester's Warehouse in Murrieta Heights.
Heists[]
- Prison Break - Bus - Four players have to steal a Prison Bus as a setup of the main heist. The vehicle is transporting a high-level prisoner and is being escorted by an FIB Buffalo and a Police Maverick. As the ambush team takes out the security and losing the wanted level, they store the Prison Bus to a scrapyard near Sandy Shores.
- The Prison Bus is used in the heist finale. While the player assigned as Demolition have to get rid of the scheduled Prison Bus, the players assigned as Officer and Prisoner should use the vehicle stolen in the setup mission, in order to get access to the penitentiary. After getting in, two players, disguised as a cop and a prisoner respectively, start shooting at the prison guards and the NOOSE team in order to rescue Maxim Rashkovsky.
MC Contracts[]
- Jailbreak - The player must hijack a Prison Bus before it reaches the prison, then drive the prisoners to the getaway Buzzards while having a 3-star wanted level.
The Diamond Casino Heist[]
- Heist Prep: Vault Keycards (Prison Guard scenario) - The player is instructed to hijack a Prison Bus in order to infiltrate the prison, take out the guard with the keycard and leave the facility.
Robbery Contracts[]
- The Prison Contract (finale) - After raiding the Bolingbroke Penitentiary, the player is sent by Sessanta and KDJ to rescue Lil' Dee, who is held in a Prison Bus.
Locations[]
The Lost and Damned[]
The Prison is notably rare and it is one of the unique vehicles.
- Only used during Off Route, where Johnny must hijack it full of inmates. To obtain it, the player must park the bus at a safehouse parking lot (The GTA IV ones or the clubhouse), move a safe distance away, and then kill themselves.
- The bus also can be seen in the mission "Get Lost" when the player must break into the Alderney State Correctional Facility and then when he is breaking out. Although cannot be entered, is still possible to obtain it, but requires time and patience: When the player is tasked to leave the facility, they have to leave the bike without exiting the gate; then taking a heavy vehicle while keeping the camera where the bus is parked (any vehicle should be able to push the vehicle, but an SUV like a Patriot or a Cavalcade would be easier). After that, they have to push the bus out of the gate (moving the bike if necessary) and, once both vehicles are out, drive the bike outside the facility (Careful, entering again will cause a wanted level of 3 stars). The player must keep pushing the vehicle to the Lost MC Clubhouse (is recommended to push with the rear of the stolen vehicle to avoid damage), while having to switch between the bike and the vehicle, because the bus vanishes when is too far away or if the bike is too far away or severely damaged, the mission fails. Once the player arrives at the club, one must place the bus in the parking lot, put the stolen vehicle out of there, take the bike and finish the mission. After finishing the game and once gaining control of the protagonist, the player can drive to the clubhouse for the vehicle. If done correctly; the Prison Bus should be parked on there, available to enter and drive.
TLAD Multiplayer[]
- In multiplayer, players can race with the prison bus when the vehicle class is selected as "Trucks".
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- Found parked in numerous spots in the Bolingbroke Penitentiary. By entering the prison through the front gate and continuing straight down the road leading directly through the buildings, one will eventually run up against an immobile, locked gate through which several prison buses can be seen. The only ways to obtain them are to circle around the prison until reaching a gap between two prison buildings leading to the courtyard. Obtaining it is highly dangerous, due to the four stars wanted level acquired when trespassing the prison. Alternatively, it is possible to use a Cargobob to lift the vehicle and take it to a safe area; if the player is quick enough, he will get only a two stars wanted level.
- In the enhanced version, however, the Cargobob is unable to lift the Prison Bus.
- In the mission Father/Son, when reaching the port city bridge, a Prison Bus will come from the opposite side of the bridge. To obtain it, the player must use the Sentinel as a barricade to get in it (as it will not stop by putting the car in front of it). Later, they have to destroy the Sentinel until the mission fails and, subsequently, cancelling to repeat it. After that, the player will appear riding it.
Grand Theft Auto Online[]
- A Prison Bus is featured during a mission for Lester, in which the player(s) must stop the bus and rescue a prisoner on board, but it cannot be kept after the mission is complete.
- Can be purchased on Warstock Cache & Carry for $550,000, after completing The Prison Break.
- After the Cunning Stunts: Special Vehicle Circuit update, the vehicle is now available to players who have not completed the heist at the "full" cost of $731,500.
Trivia[]
The Lost of Damned[]
- The hazard lights are modeled like "tinted windows", showing the inside in a certain angle. This was later corrected in GTA V and GTA Online.
- The Prison Bus, along with the Annihilator and Lifeguard, are the only police vehicles with a radio in single player.
- The Prison Bus only seats four occupants like the normal Bus, but in the mission Off Route, Johnny and the six prisoners will be in the same vehicle.
- The prisoners are actually placed within the vehicle rather than being actual passengers, as their feet clip through the bus' floor and are seen from the rear wheel wells if accelerating and then braking.
- Despite being associated with the law enforcement, the Tollbooths still consider it a civilian vehicle.
- Unlike the Bus, the player can pick up prostitutes and pay for their services. This also causes an unintended effect: the animation for the third "service" will be distorted, as the prostitute will slowly move towards the driver's seat while performing the animation, then moving back to the seat when the service is done.
- The fourth window on the left side (starting from the driver's split windows) will always have a missing glass pane. This cannot be fixed in any way.
Grand Theft Auto V[]
- In the original version (PlayStation 3/Xbox 360) of the game, the bus was named "Police Prison Bus" upon entry. In the enhanced version (PlayStation 4/Xbox One/PC) of the game, the bus is named simply "Prison Bus".
See Also[]
- Bus - Another vehicle with a similar design in Grand Theft Auto, Grand Theft Auto III, Grand Theft Auto: Vice City and Grand Theft Auto: Liberty City Stories.
- School Bus - Its wrecks found in Grand Theft Auto IV and its episodes share a similar design to the Prison Bus.
- Festival Bus - Civilian/recreational variant featured in Grand Theft Auto Online as part of the After Hours update.
- Police Stockade - Another inmate transport vehicle featured in Grand Theft Auto IV, based on the Securicar.