Mercedes-Benz buses

The world's first motorised bus was built in Germany by Karl Benz in 1895, some years before Gottlieb Daimler also started to build and sell buses in Germany as well. By 1898 both Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, then rivals, were exporting their buses to Wales and England. Soon Daimler products were sold in the British Empire in a partnership with the British company Milnes. Milnes-Daimler developed a double-decker in 1902 and provided a bus for the first motorised bus service in the United Kingdom the following year. Though the company met success in selling buses throughout the British Empire, the partnership between Daimler and Milnes had to be undone due to the First World War.

1948 Mercedes-Benz OP3750 forward control coach

The Mercedes-Benz O 3500 touring coach based on the L 3500 truck

Due to economic hardships in the early 1900s, Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. merged into one company in 1926, two years after both companies signed an agreement of mutual interest. Thus, Daimler-Benz AG (also known as Mercedes-Benz) was formed. In the next year, the company presented its first combined bus range. By that time emphasis was given to diesel engines (as opposed to petrol engines) for commercial vehicles.

In 1951 Mercedes-Benz unveiled its first bus specifically designed for bus operation (and not derived from a lorry, as was the case of the other buses produced by the conmpany until then) - the O6600 H. With a payload of 6600 tons, the 11-metre-long vehicle was equipped with a six-cylinder, transverse-mounted rear engine delivering 145 hp, a lower frame than its predecessors, and an electric gearshift system.

In 1954 Mercedes-Benz unveiled its first semi-integral bus - the O321 H. The semi-integral design meant a reduction in weight, improvements in stability and body resistance. The O321 H also was the first to feature coil springs in the front-axle suspension. This 9.2-metre-long vehicle (a 10.9-metre version was later unveiled) also featured a rear-mounted engine. The first version was available with an output of 110 hp, and a later optional 126-hp version was made available. More than 30,000 units of the O321 H complete bus and its platform were sold around the world, a mark which places it as the best-selling bus of its time and, until today, one of the most successful models by Mercedes-Benz.

Some time after that, the company launched a bus model with the engine horizontally mounted in the wheelbase, under the floor - the O317. This was the only bus built by Mercedes-Benz with a centre engine. The engine of the O317 delivered 192 hp. This model was made available in 12-metre-long and [later] 11-metre-long versions. It was equipped with air suspension and double-boarding doors. The placement of the engine within the wheelbase made it possible for conversion firms to make semi-double-deckers and articulated buses based on the O317.

In 1959 the O321 H was joined by the O322 H, a 10-metre-long urban bus. Its characteristics were very similar to those of the O321 H, the main differences being the suspension (pneumatic in the O322), the longitudinal-mounted engine and the pneumatically-assisted brake system with a bus-stop brake.

In 1965, the O302 was unveiled as the successor of the O321 H. It was available in a wide variety of versions for urban, rural and coach application, most of the more than 32,000 units of the O302 sold worldwide were of the coach version. In Brazil, the O321 was joined by the O326 in 1966 and remained in the range until 1970, when it was succeeded by the O362.

In Europe, the O302 was succeeded by the O303 coach range in 1974. The O303 was the first Mercedes-Benz bus to feature innovations, such as the use of V-engines, the Electronic Power Shift System (EPS), anti-lock braking system (ABS) and acceleration skid control. It was also the best-selling bus ever manufactured - some 38,000 units were sold worldwide, including integral-bus and platform versions. (Note: the anti-locking braking system and the acceleration skid control were available for the O303 from 1981 onwards.) The O302 and O303 were licence-built in several countries, including Yugoslavia (by Sanos) and Greece (by Biamax) where local variants were introduced. Biamax produced a "hybrid" variant called O302S2 using O302 mechanicals and front, and O303 design for the remaining body.

In 1991, Daimler-Benz presented the O404 coach range as the successor to the O303 (though the O303 was produced until 1992). Amongst the main features of the O404 were the sheet metal stampings, disc brakes, independent front wheel suspension and the V-engine range delivering up to 381 hp. It was also the first integral coach from Mercedes-Benz to be available in a double-deck version.

In 1992, the O404 was joined by the Turkish-built O340, a high-deck coach based on the O303 and aimed at a lower-price end of the bus market. This model was redeveloped in 1994 and renamed O350. Engine options included the 381 hp V8 unit available to the O404.


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Mercedes-Benz buses The world's first motorised bus was built in Germany by Karl Benz in 1895, some years before Gottlieb Daimler also started to build and sell buses in Germany as well. By 1898 both Karl Benz and Gottlieb Daimler, then rivals, were exporting their buses to Wales and England. Soon Daimler products were sold in the British Empire in a partnership with the British company Milnes. Milnes-Daimler developed a double-decker in 1902 and provided a bus for the first motorised bus service in the United Kingdom the following year. Though the company met success in selling buses throughout the British Empire, the partnership between Daimler and Milnes had to be undone due to the First World War. 1948 Mercedes-Benz OP3750 forward control coach The Mercedes-Benz O 3500 touring coach based on the L 3500 truck Due to economic hardships in the early 1900s, Daimler Motoren Gesellschaft and Benz & Cie. merged into one company in 1926, two years after both companies signed an agreement of mutual interest. Thus, Daimler-Benz AG (also known as Mercedes-Benz) was formed. In the next year, the company presented its first combined bus range. By that time emphasis was given to diesel engines (as opposed to petrol engines) for commercial vehicles. In 1951 Mercedes-Benz unveiled its first bus specifically designed for bus operation (and not derived from a lorry, as was the case of the other buses produced by the conmpany until then) - the O6600 H. With a payload of 6600 tons, the 11-metre-long vehicle was equipped with a six-cylinder, transverse-mounted rear engine delivering 145 hp, a lower frame than its predecessors, and an electric gearshift system. In 1954 Mercedes-Benz unveiled its first semi-integral bus - the O321 H. The semi-integral design meant a reduction in weight, improvements in stability and body resistance. The O321 H also was the first to feature coil springs in the front-axle suspension. This 9.2-metre-long vehicle (a 10.9-metre version was later unveiled) also featured a rear-mounted engine. The first version was available with an output of 110 hp, and a later optional 126-hp version was made available. More than 30,000 units of the O321 H complete bus and its platform were sold around the world, a mark which places it as the best-selling bus of its time and, until today, one of the most successful models by Mercedes-Benz. Some time after that, the company launched a bus model with the engine horizontally mounted in the wheelbase, under the floor - the O317. This was the only bus built by Mercedes-Benz with a centre engine. The engine of the O317 delivered 192 hp. This model was made available in 12-metre-long and [later] 11-metre-long versions. It was equipped with air suspension and double-boarding doors. The placement of the engine within the wheelbase made it possible for conversion firms to make semi-double-deckers and articulated buses based on the O317. In 1959 the O321 H was joined by the O322 H, a 10-metre-long urban bus. Its characteristics were very similar to those of the O321 H, the main differences being the suspension (pneumatic in the O322), the longitudinal-mounted engine and the pneumatically-assisted brake system with a bus-stop brake. In 1965, the O302 was unveiled as the successor of the O321 H. It was available in a wide variety of versions for urban, rural and coach application, most of the more than 32,000 units of the O302 sold worldwide were of the coach version. In Brazil, the O321 was joined by the O326 in 1966 and remained in the range until 1970, when it was succeeded by the O362. In Europe, the O302 was succeeded by the O303 coach range in 1974. The O303 was the first Mercedes-Benz bus to feature innovations, such as the use of V-engines, the Electronic Power Shift System (EPS), anti-lock braking system (ABS) and acceleration skid control. It was also the best-selling bus ever manufactured - some 38,000 units were sold worldwide, including integral-bus and platform versions. (Note: the anti-locking braking system and the acceleration skid control were available for the O303 from 1981 onwards.) The O302 and O303 were licence-built in several countries, including Yugoslavia (by Sanos) and Greece (by Biamax) where local variants were introduced. Biamax produced a "hybrid" variant called O302S2 using O302 mechanicals and front, and O303 design for the remaining body. In 1991, Daimler-Benz presented the O404 coach range as the successor to the O303 (though the O303 was produced until 1992). Amongst the main features of the O404 were the sheet metal stampings, disc brakes, independent front wheel suspension and the V-engine range delivering up to 381 hp. It was also the first integral coach from Mercedes-Benz to be available in a double-deck version. In 1992, the O404 was joined by the Turkish-built O340, a high-deck coach based on the O303 and aimed at a lower-price end of the bus market. This model was redeveloped in 1994 and renamed O350. Engine options included the 381 hp V8 unit available to the O404.
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