[Letterhead of Arthur Andersen LLP]
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
    As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the inclusion in
this Registration Statement of our report dated December 5, 1996 on the
financial statements of Blue Bird Corporation and subsidiaries as of November 2,
1996 and October 28, 1995 and for the three years in the period ended November
2, 1996 and to all references to our firm included in this Registration
Statement.
 
                                          Arthur Andersen LLP
 
Atlanta, Georgia
January 6, 1997