What is up with 8919, 8381 and 8386?

[Micstromme 20]

There are some things that I have noticed regarding some of East New York and Flatbush Depots.

 

First, 8919 of East New York Depot: This bus has similar qualities of the latter 9300's-9600's. It has carpet upholstered seats, and its fleet does not have those formats. What is with that?

 

Second, 8381 and 8386 of Flatbush Depot:

 

a) 8381 has features and exterior of the early days of the 8400s. Those buses used to have the side destination panel to the southern tip of the window and then moved upwards, perhaps to modernize the settings of the buses. Although a few of the 8400s and 8500s are still in original format, the majority have been modernized. 8381, not of this era (before this era) has this destination sign on the southern tip of the window.

 

Again, 8386 is also weird in many respects. Just like 8565 and 8566, their main destination signs resemble later models. The flip sign destination symbols are implemented on these buses. Whilst these effects confuse some of us (not me, but others) on 8565 and 8566 (1993 RTS model), this is very odd for a 1990-91 model.

 

What is the situation behind these odd traits for these buses?

[nycbusfan 2]

8914 also has carpet seating.

[Bee Flexible #823 0]

8919-if the rear of the bus was painted white, then it was upgraded to a Level 2 thus it also receives carpeted seats.

8381-was a test model bus for the lower positioned destination sign.

8386-originally had a roll sign upon its arrival to MTA Bus and was replaced with a Nova-Style front computer sign.