CBM introduced the TDU850 in 1980 to serve this particular sector, followed in 1983 by the 220B. When CBM folded in 1986 Renault took on production of the 220B as the Renault R212, however subcontracted production of the bus to Heuliez. From 1989, the design was reborn as the Heuliez GX77H. Belgian constructor Van Hool marketed two small bus designs in France, the AU138 in the mid-1980s, followed by the A508.Other home-grown designs to compete in this area have been the short-lived Amiot TU35, the Gruau MG36/MG41/MG50 and the Gépébus Oréos 55.

CTP, Perpignan nos. 502 (1502 RA 66) and 501 (1501 RA 66) - September 1999
The Amiot TU35 is a rare breed, and the chance to photograph two together was not to be missed. This shot shows half of Perpignan's fleet of the type. They have since been replaced by van-derived Mercedes minibuses.

CTP, Perpignan no. 503 (2503 RA 66) - September 1999
Another view of one of Perpignan's TU35s, this time showing the rear exit. These diminutive buses operated rather infrequent services serving rather obscure parts of the town, and finding one to travel on took persistence...

The little TU35 was based around a rear-engined underframe with a turbocharged 4-cylinder Renault engine, built by Ponticelli. Onto this is mounted a two-door body with rather large windows and headlights mounted in the front bumper assembly.

Amiot produced their first prototype of the TU35 in 1986, however it was 1988 before production (for want of a better word) began. Unfortunately, the Amiot concern folded after only fourteen vehicles had been built. The buses went to Perpignan (four), St. Malo (two), RATP (one), St. Chamond (one), Toulon (four) and Bus Verts du Calvados (two, for Bayeux town services).

Despite the small numbers produced, there are two distinct variations on the TU35. Some buses were built with the exit door at the rear (including those for St. Malo, Perpignan and Toulon), while others have a central exit (including the Bayeux buses and the Paris example).

The Bayeux vehicles were still running in 1998, however one at least has now been donated to the Paris transport museum for display when it finally settles in its new home at Colombes. The Perpignan buses were still in operation when I visited in 1999 (although I believe they have been replaced by Mercedes minibuses since then). At least one of the Toulon buses was known to have seen further service in the Marseille area, while RATP's example served subsequently in Roanne and is now in Digne-les-Bains. St. Malo's buses are believed to still be in use there. Any other news on the current whereabouts of these little buses would be welcomed!

When the Amiot business folded, the reins were taken up by Gruau, a manufacturer previously better known for van-converted minibuses. Gruau revamped the design and called it the MG36. There were some styling changes, including raising the headlamps, however visually the MG36 looks quite similar to the TU35 that preceded it. Despite their diminutive size, Gruau MG36s all have two doors - all the buses known to exist have an entrance at the front and centre exit. Visually, the bus looks rather like a much bigger vehicle that shrank in the wash, with very small wheels that are dwarfed by the size of the body and windows! Inside are usually seats for 17 passengers. 

Thankfully, production of this design by Gruau lasted rather longer than it had done with Amiot. A couple of mildly modified versions of the MG36 (known as the MG41 and MG50) followed, but the changes are so minor I have yet to work out what they are! Production of the bus continued until around 1996.

To travel on a Gruau midibus is a rather bouncy experience - the bus' small wheels and short wheelbase giving a very lively ride.

As with most small buses, Gruaus tended only to be sold in small batches. Significant sales were 15 to Lyon and eight to Caen, but usually only one or two buses of this type are to be found in any one fleet.