The first Model 05 Eagles appeared very similar to the Model 01, including the rounded end cap over the windshield, but the defining difference was the reversal in positions of the driving axle with the tag. The main rear axle was placed behind the tag to increase the space for underfloor luggage; this change had the disadvantage of slightly increasing the turn radius. Other visible external differences are a backup light that replaced the center taillamp in the vertical cluster on each side, an amber marker lamp added just above the fourth passenger window from the front, and the change from four baggage compartment doors to three.

The 1969 Model 05 adopted the new-look appearance generally associated with the Model 05. The angular upper body part, flush marker lamps and squared bumpers remained as Eagle designators until the Model 10 was introduced in 1980. No visible changes were made to the 05 Eagles until 1974 when the lightening bolt was removed from the sides and replaced with silver siding of uniform height from front to rear.

The last Golden Eagles, a short run of 12 buses, were produced in 1971 as enhanced versions of the Model 05.
The large Silver Eagle insignia on the coach sides and the raised letters identifying the bus line were changed from raised assemblies to decals in 1975. The last Eagles for the American market were built by Bus & Car in 1976, the same year that Silver Eagle decals were deleted from Brownsville production and the buses were then identified as Eagles, dropping "Silver." The 1976 buses received square turn indicators in each of four positions.

In 1977, the side-mounted turn signals were eliminated. The front signals were changed to round lenses in the following year.
The Belgian plant continued to produce Eagles for two years after Brownsville deliveries began, building 20 Model 05s for South Africa, 24 for Australia, and others for Ireland and England, all right-hand drives. During this time, the Belgian plant was sold to MOL, N.V., a Belgian producer of trailers and heavy trucks. MOL retains the Eagle name and emblem for use in the European market.

All but two of the 1969-1971 Golden Eagles were rebuilt into regular Model 05 Eagles at Brownsville and some Trailways shops during the late 1970s. Some were converted into combination freight/passenger buses, of which about 30 were operating on selected Trailways routes in 1983.

Late in 1979, some of the Model 10 features began to appear on what were still designated the Model 05. One-piece windows replaced the more complicated windows with the small opening vents at the top which had been on all Eagles up to that time. Roof hatches were installed as emergency exits and the rear window emergency exit was eliminated.

The last Model 05s, built in 1980, were externally identical to the Model 10 including Model 10 front and rear crowns but had none of the mechanical changes to be introduced on the Model 10.
Information from the Bus World Encyclopedia of Buses - 1988