Jump to content

Neoplan Jumbocruiser

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Neoplan Jumbocruiser
Neoplan Jumbocruiser N138-4
Overview
ManufacturerNeoplan
Production1975–1992
AssemblyGermany
Body and chassis
ClassCommercial vehicle
Body styleArticulated double-deck multi-axle city coach
LayoutRear-engine design
Powertrain
Engine
  • Mercedes-Benz Serie 400
    • OM404: 19.12 liter, 12-cylinder
    • OM442LA: 14.62 liter, 8-cylinder
Chronology
SuccessorNeoplan Megaliner

The Neoplan Jumbocruiser was an articulated double-deck multi-axle city coach built by Neoplan Bus GmbH between 1975 and 1992. At 18 metres (59 ft) in length, 2.5 m (8 ft 2 in) wide and 4 m (13 ft) in height,[1] it has a capacity for 170 passengers.

History

[edit]
The last model of the Neoplan Jumbocruiser had a different axle formula due to its rear-mounted engine.

The Jumbocruiser was first manufactured in 1975 but never went into full-scale production.[1]

One Jumbocruiser, with 'extremely comfortable seating' for 80 passengers, operated a route from Belgium to Spain on high-intensity service and traveled some 160,000 km (99,000 mi) from new. This vehicle was involved in a rollover accident, initially claimed as a design fault, but the parties concerned eventually agreed that it was due to driver error while handling a cup of coffee.[2]

This model was then rebuilt by Jumbocruiser Ltd (no connection) of Bristol in England. They used the services of Richard Cœur de Lyon (now called the Caross Center) near Mons in Belgium to completely strip the coach and rebuild it to a more modern design, and with modified suspension.[2] The engine, gearbox, braking system, wiring looms, and the dashboard were replaced and upgraded. A new dashboard with semi-digital wrap-around unit was installed in place of the original rust-prone flat unit. Modern front and end caps were fitted, and were eventually reduced after they were found to be too wide. The vehicle was tested by Vehicle and Operator Services Agency in the UK in November 2006[2] and by 2007 Jumbocruiser Ltd. began to market the bus as a "rock 'n' roll" star sleeper bus,[citation needed] but had sold it by February 2010.[3]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b "History from 1972 to 1975". Neoplan. Archived from the original on 14 May 2008. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
  2. ^ a b c "Jumbo Cruiser Diary". Retrieved 24 February 2010. At first the insurance company claimed against Neoplan for making an unsafe vehicle but eventually it was established the cause was due to driver error while handling a cup of coffee at speed
  3. ^ "home". Jumbocruiser Ltd. Retrieved 24 February 2010.
[edit]

Media related to Neoplan Jumbocruiser at Wikimedia Commons