Mercedes Benz S80-DD
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The Mercedes Benz S80 is an experimental vehicle for the O 405 from the O 305. There are several manufacturers producing the S80 models, like MAN for the future SL202 from the SL200. O 405, SL202 and the like are called VÖV-II buses. As the low-floor bus concept was introduced in the late 1970s and manufacturers try to get a low entrance with smaller tyres. The S80s used small tyres, but buses developed from the S80 did not use. A total of 13 S80 single deck buses were built by Mercedes Benz.
The S80-DD is a very special case. Traditionally all double-deckers in Berlin were built by MAN, like the SD200, SD202, and ND202. but Mercedes Benz tried also to come into this deal. So they built on the platform of the S80 a double-decker - the S20-DD in Hamburg in 1982. The bus was sent to Berlin, but it had never been used by BVG. It was then kept by the Daimler Benz branch in Berlin. In 1987, the bus was rebuilt to a conference bus in Berlin. In 1996, the bus was sold to Becker Reisen in Tostedt as WL-ST 500. The roof of the bus was opened in the middle area in around 1998 and a large skylight was fitted to the open roof. This bus is still in service as a sightseeing bus.
This bus is one of the only two double-deckers built intentionally by Mercedes Benz. The other bus was a double-deck O 404DD based on the O 404 coach chassis. The other double-deckers are from the decision of operators themselves, like the O 305s bodied with Vetter, Busaf, Alexander, etc.
Vehicle Identification no. (VIN):
307.000-13-DD0001
Body make: Fahrzeugwerkstätten Falkenried GmbH (FFG) in Hamburg
Recognition of vehicle and information courtesy: Manfred Schwanke and Martin Rimmele
Specifications:
Length: 11.350m
Width: 2.5m
Engine: Mercedes Benz OM 427h 6 cylinder in line
Power: 147kW
Displacement: 11.970 litres
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Page created: 16 April 2003
Last updated: 10 May 2009