HERSHEY, Pa. -- A pair of scissors in the hands of a fifth-generation member of the Michaud family cut a red ribbon as a restored General Motors coach, named Little Spike, was presented to visitors attending the annual meeting and dinner of the Museum of Bus Transportation here late last month.

Amanda Michaud, six-year-old daughter of Jim Michaud, performed the honors as her father and grandfather, Spike Michaud, looked on.

Little Spike is a look-alike 1946 GM PD 3701 which was restored to original condition for the Michaud family by ABC Companies at its Camden, N.J. facility and added to the museum fleet of retired buses.

The coach is actually a PD 3703 that was found several years ago by the late Bob Redden at Western New York Bus Lines, and restored to look both new and like a 3701 that once was in the fleet of Michaud Bus Lines.

The 3701/3703 is the third vehicle that has been restored for the museum by ABC Companies. Museum board member Bob Beard thanked the company and the Cornell family for its strong involvement.

The late J. Alex Michaud, known to family and friends as "the Commodore" because of his naval service, named many buses in the Michaud fleet after his children, but the original Little Spike coach was lost and untraceable.

Spike Michaud and son Jim have long been supporters of the museum and dreamt of placing a restored bus on the display floor. The Michauds thanked the museum and its volunteer officers, board members and docents for supporting their effort.

The museum's annual meeting and dinner provides members and guests with both a financial and activity update on the institution, and is combined with a day of social events. The after-dinner speaker was Dave Millhouser of ABC Cos.

The Museum of Bus Transportation's next public event is the Spring Fling Bus Show and Flea Market on the first Saturday in June.

The museum is North America's only showcase display of school, transit and intercity coaches. For more information, go to www.busmuseum.org.